Air pollution dispersion modelling via spatial analyses (Land Use Regression—LUR) is an alternative approach to the standard air pollution dispersion modelling techniques in air quality assessment. Its advantages are mainly a much simpler mathematical apparatus, quicker and simpler calculations and a possibility to incorporate more factors affecting pollutant’s concentration than standard dispersion models. The goal of the study was to model the PM10 particles dispersion via spatial analyses in the Czech–Polish border area of the Upper Silesian industrial agglomeration and compare the results with the results of the standard Gaussian dispersion model SYMOS’97. The results show that standard Gaussian model with the same data as the LUR model gives better results (determination coefficient 71% for Gaussian model to 48% for LUR model). When factors of the land cover were included in the LUR model, the LUR model results improved significantly (65% determination coefficient) to a level comparable with the Gaussian model. A hybrid approach of combining the Gaussian model with the LUR gives superior quality of results (86% determination coefficient).
The PM10 concentrations in the studied region (Ostravsko-karvinská agglomeration, Czech Republic) exceed air pollution limit values in the long-term and pose a significant problem for human health, quality of life and the environment. In order to characterize the pollution in the region and identify the pollution origin, Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) was employed for determination of 34 elements in PM10 samples collected at a height of 90 m above ground level. From April 2018 to March 2019, 111 PM10 samples from eight basic wind directions and calm and two smog situations were sampled. The elemental composition significantly varied depending on season and sampling conditions. The contribution of three important industrial sources (iron and steelworks, cement works) was identified, and the long-range cross-border transport representing the pollution from the Polish domestic boilers confirmed the most important pollution inflow during the winter season.
The article is focused on mathematical modelling of gas pollutant
motion and dispersion in complex terrain of large scale geometry.
The problem is defi ned just for one accidental source of gaseous
NH3 (ammonia) and two variants of meteorological conditions
(inversion and isothermal stratifi cation of the atmosphere) in
the area of mountain valley. CFD code ANSYS Fluent 14.0 and
statistical software ALOHA 5.4.3 were used as a tool for getting
mathematical solution of the problem. There are not many case
studies worldwide that include inversion or isothermal stratifi cation
of the atmosphere because it is usually connected with small value
of air velocity that causes problems with mathematical solution for
most solvers and codes. Results of the study shoes not only the way
of both mathematical approaches cooperation but also the infl uence
of complex terrain and meteorological conditions on shape, size,
motion and dispersion of gas pollutant plume.