Session 9: Gaussian Plume Model Case Study

Gaussian Plume Model Case Study

This model can be built using virtually any computational tool. Spreadsheets, especially the newer ones with the ability to do table lookups, are particularly well-suited for this case study. A programming language such as Fortran or C, or tools like Mathematica or MathCAD, also are suitable computing environments for this project.

For this model, you will need ten input parameters:

the height of the stack above the ground (in meters)
the diameter of the opening of the stack (in meters)
the velocity of the gas emitted from the stack (in meters per second)
the temperature of the gas as it exits the stack (in degrees Celsius)
the rate at which pollution is emitted from the stack (in grams per second)
the atmospheric stability in terms of one of six categories
1. very unstable
2. moderately unstable
3. slightly unstable
4. neutral
5. somewhat stable
6. stable
the number of wind velocities that you wish to investigate
the wind velocities (separated by commas)
the number of distances downwind to calculate
the actual distances downwind (in meters, separated by commas)

The atmospheric stability categories accounts for the fact that a parcel of air changes temperature as it changes in altitude.

You have three options for studying the behavior of a Gaussian plume model:

download the model for Microsoft Excel (version 4.0) or the source code written in Fortran 77.
or follow the link below to the model interface page, which will allow you to run the model on a remote computer and then view the output.

On to Gaussian Plume Model Interface

Back to Gaussian Plume Model

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