Atmospheric Tracer Investigation of Fugitive-Emissions Transport in the Colorado Oil Shale Region

摘要

Atmospheric tracer experiments were conducted in July 1981 to investigate transport and dispersion of fugitive emissions in the complex terrain near the federal oil shale lease Tract C-e in Colorado. In anticipation that spent-shale disposal areas could become prime fugitive emissions sources, the atmospheric tracer gas SF sub 6 was released from a proposed spent shale disposal area. The SF sub 6 tracer gas release rate was 26 kg/h. The tracer release height was near respiration height (about 1.5 m). Airborne SF sub 6 tracer gas concentrations were sampled at 32 radio-controlled bag-sampling stations (15 minute sampling times) and along roads with syringe grab-samplers. Sampling sites were from 0.6 to 13-km from the tracer-gas release site. There were four experimental time periods for releasing and sampling tracer gas, two evening and two morning time periods. Results include information on the following: a time-history of pollutant concentration changes upwind and in gulches before, during, and after sunrise; identification of major transport flow paths in the evening and morning; and pollutant mixing and channeling in valleys and downwind of valley confluences. (ERA citation 09:021940)