The effect of atmospheric conditions on plume rise

Abstract

The buoyant rise of chimney plumes is discussed for relatively large distances from the source, where atmospheric turbulence is the dominant cause of mixing (rather than turbulence due to the plume's own upward motion). A simple theory is developed which shows a number of different shapes plumes can have under different atmospheric conditions (particularly in an unstable environment).Experimental data are then presented, which were collected in the field near Toronto, with reasonably detailed supporting information on the atmospheric temperature structure. These (and earlier results) often show quite complex plume behaviour at large distances from the source, which can, however, be readily understood in terms of the simple theory presented.