Air Pollution Potential of Dhanbad Coalfield Area

Abstract

The present work is to assess the air pollution potential of in around Dhanbad Coalfield Area. The percent Inversion, Mixing Height and Ventilation co-efficient of this location have been calculated diurnally and seasonally using the radiosonde data upto 700 milli bars (mb) collected forRanchi, the nearest available station. It has been found that ground based inversion was the minimum (5%) in monsoon and maximum (76%) in winter. In the upper air percent frequency of inversion was low in comparison to ground base.The mean minimum mixing height (161 m) was found to be the maximum in Post Monsoon whereas the mean maximum mixing height (1709 m) was observed maximum for summer.The value of ventilation coefficient was nearly the same for January, August and October.April had the highest minimum and maximum ventilation coefficient.Applying Gross's (1970) criteria of pollution potential in the present study, it was concluded that in all theseasons, pollution potential was higher except in April in afternoon. Since the value of afternoon ventilation coefficient was higher than the morning one in all the seasons,the potential may be predicted to decrease gradually with time by afternoon.