Role of the atmosphere

• Transformations: chemical reactions, production of secondary pollutants (e.g. ozone)
• Removal: settling, scavenging, adsorption, impaction
• Transport and Dispersion: stability, turbulence, wind
  • wind acts to both transport and dilute pollutants
  • the mean wind stretches the plume [OH Boubel 19-2]
  • turbulence diffuses the plume
  • ``the solution to pollution is infinite dilution'' (!)