Effect of a Change of Atmospheric Stability on the Growth Rate of Puffs Used in Plume Simulation Models

Abstract

The dependence of plume growth rate on plume size is discussed. It is shown that the growth rates estimated by techniques used in some widely distributed puff models can be in error by as much as two orders of magnitude, although the errors are more commonly on the order of 10%. The concept of virtual travel distance is shown to provide a more realistic representation of the physical processes involved in plume growth after a change in atmospheric stability.