title: Aspects of atmospheric flow and dispersion of air pollutants in a mountainous basin.
abstract: The variety of physicogeographic characteristics, the complex topography and channeling of the synoptic/regional flow are among the main reasons for the formulation of local flow patterns, and consequently for the dispersion conditions in a mountainous area. In this paper, an attempt is made to investigate the mechanisms responsible for these phenomena and to explain the dispersion of air pollutants in a mountainous basin, especially the impingement of plumes released by elevated stacks. A coupled atmospheric and Lagrangian dispersion model was used for the analysis. As it was found significant, mesoscale circulation, such as lake effects in mountainous terrain, up/downslope and valley winds, was calculated. It was proved that the plume impingement, along with pollutant recirculation, could explain the nighttime maximum air-pollutant concentrations measured in the city of Kozani.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geotechnology and Environmental Engineering, Technological Education Institute of West Macedonia, Kozani, Greece. atria@kozani.teikoz.gr
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Triantafyllou
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kassomenos
mesh_terms: D000392:Air Movements; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000531:Altitude; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005544:Forecasting; D006115:Greece; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010507:Periodicity
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants