METEOROLOGICAL POTENTIAL FOR AIR POLLUTANT DISPERSION IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS ALONG THE EAST COAST OF TAMILNADU

摘要

Many air pollution episodes occurred in the past decades were associated with the worst meteorological conditions like strong inversion and low mixing height apart from higher emission concentration. Quantitative study of meteorological potential with air pollution in a region is essential for environmental siting of industries, risk assessment for accidental release, etc. Generally, the coastal areas are potential sites for promotion of industrial activities because of the proximity of water and marine transport. Rapid growth of industries and high traffic volume in coastal urban area, Chennai, along the East Coast of Tamilnadu necessitated for the study of exploring the prevailing meteorological potential for air pollutant dispersion. Karaikal, another coastal rural area along the East Coast with industrial and traffic growth was also considered in this study. Upper radiosonde data and surface micrometeorological data relevant to the study areas were acquired from India Meteorological Department, Pune. Using the data, the spatial and temporal variations of wind speed and directional changes, the mixing height variation and atmospheric stability classes with respect to time and space, and the nature of inversion and its occurrence were worked out for the two study areas. From this the worst and favourable conditions for air pollutant dispersion were identified.