AN APPLICATION OF CALPUFF DISPERSION MODEL TO A NON-STANDARD PROBLEM
Pulp and paper mill situated in the complex terrain of northern Slovakia, in the close vicinity of the city of Ružomberok, continuously releases to atmosphere 30 kg of water vapor per second. Impressive clouds above the industrial complex have given rise to concerns from the side of local citizens, suspecting the emissions to be responsible for the local increase in precipitation. Therefore, a complex study has been initiated, including model simulation of the dispersion of water vapor from the paper mill focused on the domain of 8 x 7 km in close vicinity of the paper mill. Phase conversions of water vapor in the atmosphere are a complex thermodynamic process involving many factors. However, we found out that for some practical applications a simplified approach is sufficient to assess the magnitude of the above mentioned effects. A combination of CALMET-CALPUFF models were applied to compute hourly concentrations of water vapor added to the atmosphere by emissions from the paper mill; these were compared to the hourly absolute humidity values as measured by the meteorological stations in the region, which are not supposed to be affected by the paper mill. The interest was focused on those hours in which the “background” absolute humidity was below saturation value, but additional vapor from the paper mill would bring the value to or above the saturation point. Winter periods of two years (2005, 2006) were modeled and analyzed, during which 66 hours occurred when the additional water from the paper mill caused the humidity to exceed the saturation point, compared to 478 hours with 100% background relative humidity, when the additional vapor from the mill could possibly strengthen the icing effect which would occur anyway. The study concludes that the contribution of the paper mill to total precipitation is negligible even in the close vicinity of the factory. However, in certain cases it can cause icings on a nearby E50 road communication; although these cases are not frequent, they can lead to fatal outcomes. The uncertainties associated with the study method are also discussed.
Coalescence Enhancement in large Multicell Storms Caused by the Emissions from a Kraft Paper Mill
Abstract While conducting a randomized seeding experiment, a storm was selected whose microphysical characteristics were so far from what was expected, given the existing thermodynamic environment, that some explanation was needed to account for the apparent errant behavior of this storm. More than a decade of sampling at −10°C using the project Lear jet has led to a simple classification technique, based on cloud-base temperature and buoyancy, which predicts the absence or presence, and to some extent the degree of coalescence (coalescence-freezing) precipitation growth in local convective storms. The unusual nature of this storm was recognized against this extensive microphysical database. The probable cause is attributed to emissions from a Kraft paper mill 10 km south of the storm's position. The mill had recently undergone an expansion program that had quadrupled its output of paper products. Using the radar characteristics of this unusual storm as a guide, a search of one season of radar data reveal...
Geographic And Environmental Influence On Maya Settlement Patterns Of The Northwest Yucatan: An Explanation For The Sparsely Settled Western Cenote Zone
Most settlement pattern research and GIS analysis of the ancient Maya of the Northern Yucatan have focused on water availability in a dry landscape where cenotes are often the only water source. While water is of paramount importance, permanent settlement secondarily requires farmable soil, a resource often as precious as water in many parts of the Yucatan. The dynamics between these resources reveal areas of ideal settlement and more challenging landscapes for which the Maya developed strategies to overcome environmental conditions. A region of the southwest "Cenote Zone", however, appears to have presented the ancient Maya with insurmountably poor environmental conditions despite abundant water resources. The lack of dense population and stone architecture in this area emphasizes the lack of a simple correlation between cenotes and settlement. This thesis uses GIS analysis to identify and explore such problematic settlement areas to better understand the factors and complexities involved in the more successful settlements of neighboring regions. iv This work is dedicated to my late father, who first introduced me to the Mundo Maya through a visit to the ruins of Tikal at the age of nine, and who instilled in me strength, curiosity, and a love for exploring the world. v ACKLOWLEDGEMENTS I'd like to acknowledge Dr. Arlen Chase and Dr. Diane Chase for providing such outstanding opportunities and instruction, and for leading by example both in the field and in the classroom. Dr. John Walker for his eye-opening perspectives, GIS instruction, inspiring hard-working attitude, and patience in the field. Dr. Clifford Brown and Dr. Walter Witschey for their invaluable correspondence and for their contributions to mapping and GIS data of Maya sites.