Meteorological conditions leading to poor air quality

• any meteorological conditions which inhibit plume stretching and diffusion will decrease atmospheric dilution of pollutants and increase ambient concentrations
• stable, low-wind conditions which lead to stagnation can be associated with poor AQ
• these conditions tend to occur under anti-cyclonic conditions which result in subsidence and nocturnal inversions
• MSC may provide estimates of ventilation and mixing heights used in issuing permits for open burning, etc.
• unlike most other pollutants particulates of crustal origin (dust) may be suspended during dry, windy conditions
• [OH Oke 9.2, 9.3; Ahrens 17.3]