ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on some of the practical considerations of the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere. Atmospheric dispersion is primarily accomplished by the wind movement of pollutants, but the character of the source of pollution requires that this action of the wind be taken into account in different ways. As the wind velocity increases, the degree of dispersion increases with a corresponding decrease in the ground-level concentration of the contaminant at the receptor site. Topography can also have a considerable influence on the horizontal transport and thus pollutant dispersion. Dispersion of air contaminants is strongly dependent on the local meteorology of the atmosphere into which the pollutants are emitted. Particulates suspended in a moving gas stream possess inertia and momentum and are acted upon by gravity. Electrostatic precipitators are satisfactory devices for removing small particles from moving gas streams at high collection efficiencies.
