Atmospheric dispersion modelling of the fugitive particulate matter from overburden dumps with numerical and integral models

The present work addresses the problem of atmospheric dispersion of particulate matter (PM) from the overburden dumps of a mine, using a steady-state Lagrangian numerical model (commercial CFD software) and the integral model AERMOD (U. S. EPA). The analysis includes most of the complex physical phenomena in atmospheric diffusion. In the vicinity of the city of Amyndaion in Northern Greece, there is a large mine that provides lignite for the thermal power stations of the Hellenic Public Power Corporation. The excavated land is dumped in nearby open pits, which are planned to be extended towards South. These pits are sources of air-suspended particulate matter that can affect the nearby residential areas. The numerical model was applied for a number of specific meteorological scenarios, while the integral model for five years period. The results from both models showed an increase on the concentration levels, near the residential area, of two orders of magnitude if the dumps expand Southern. The models inter-comparison was based solely on the average yearly concentration and showed a fair agreement. Nevertheless, the numerical model tends to underestimate the concentration levels mainly because of the limited number of particles employed in the Langrangian model and the lack of wind-meandering. (C) Author(s) 2011. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.