Simulation of Atmospheric Dispersion of Elevated Releases from Point Sources in Mississippi Gulf Coast with Different Meteorological Data

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Anjaneyulu Yerramilli²  Challa Venkata Srinivas²  Hari Prasad Dasari²  Francis Tuluri²  Loren D. White¹  Julius M. Baham²  John H. Young²  Robert Hughes²  Chuck Patrick²  Mark G. Hardy³ 

[1] Department of Physics, Atmospheric Science and General Sciences, Jackson State University, 1400, Lynch Street, Jackson MS 39217, USA; E-Mail:;Trent Lott Geospatial Visualization Research Centre, Mississippi e-Center, Jackson State University, 1230 Raymond Road, Jackson MS 39204, USA; E-Mails:;College of Science, Engineering &Technology, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch Street, Jackson MS 39217, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: Meteorological data;    HYSPLIT model;    dispersion estimates;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph6031055

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Atmospheric dispersion calculations are made using the HYSPLIT Particle Dispersion Model for studying the transport and dispersion of air-borne releases from point elevated sources in the Mississippi Gulf coastal region. Simulations are performed separately with three meteorological data sets having different spatial and temporal resolution for a typical summer period in 1–3 June 2006 representing a weak synoptic condition. The first two data are the NCEP global and regional analyses (FNL, EDAS) while the third is a meso-scale simulation generated using the Weather Research and Forecasting model with nested domains at a fine resolution of 4 km. The meso-scale model results show significant temporal and spatial variations in the meteorological fields as a result of the combined influences of the land-sea breeze circulation, the large scale flow field and diurnal alteration in the mixing depth across the coast. The model predicted SO₂ concentrations showed that the trajectory and the concentration distribution varied in the three cases of input data. While calculations with FNL data show an overall higher correlation, there is a significant positive bias during daytime and negative bias during night time. Calculations with EDAS fields are significantly below the observations during both daytime and night time though plume behavior follows the coastal circulation. The diurnal plume behavior and its distribution are better simulated using the mesoscale WRF meteorological fields in the coastal environment suggesting its suitability for pollution dispersion impact assessment in the local scale. Results of different cases of simulation, comparison with observations, correlation and bias in each case are presented.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2009 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.