DISPERSION OF ODORS FROM GROUND-LEVEL AGRICULTURAL SOURCES

In this paper the problem of predicting the dispersion of odours from areal sources is addressed. A model for predicting the odour concentration from these sources is developed, the main features of which are an improved representation of the source and an ability to accommodate a non-axial wind direction. It is demonstrated that the methods used previously underestimate concentrations close to the source. The sensivitity of the concentration predictions to variation in the model parameters is assessed. The wind speed and odour emission rate are shown to be the most important variables in the prediction of downwind concentration. Other parameters of importance are the atmospheric stability and the roughness height of the ground surface. © 1993 Silsoe Research Institute.