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POWER PLANT STACK PLUMES IN COMPLEX TERRAIN: AN APPRAISAL OF CURRENT RESEARCH
Citation:
Koch, R., W. Biggs, P. Hwang, I. Leichter, AND K. Pickering. POWER PLANT STACK PLUMES IN COMPLEX TERRAIN: AN APPRAISAL OF CURRENT RESEARCH. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/7-77/020.
Description:
This report reviews the literature of scientific studies of the behavior of stack plumes from fossil-fueled electric power plants in complex (hilly or mountainous) terrain. Non-conservative chemical transformation and depletion, and conservative transport and diffusion of pollutants are considered. Studies of SO2 oxidation rates in power plant plumes are described and the primary mechanisms for conversion to sulfate are detailed. Scavenging of SO2 from plumes by precipitation is reviewed along with surface contact and deposition as important plume depletion processes. Current theories of airflow, turbulence and diffusion phenomena in complex terrain are described, and are exemplified through the review of sixteen field observation programs of the physical behavior of plumes from continuous elevated sources in complex terrain. The review discusses program objectives, data sampling methodologies, model-to-measurement comparisons associated with the field program conclusions. The types of models available to simulate plume behavior numerically are discussed in the contexts of these programs. In addition, results are reported of an independent GEOMET analysis of delta(y) and delta(z) relationships in the Gaussian plume model over complex terrain, using data from LAPPES and TVA field measurement programs.