Title: A review of dispersion modelling of agricultural emissions with non-point sources

Authors: Jenny Stocker; Andrew Ellis; Steve Smith; David Carruthers; Akula Venkatram; William Dale; Mark Attree

Addresses: Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd., 3 Kings Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1SJ, UK ' Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd., 3 Kings Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1SJ, UK ' AS Modelling & Data Ltd., Twin Oaks, Haughton Village, Shifnal, TF11 8HR, UK ' Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd., 3 Kings Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1SJ, UK ' University of California, Bourns Hall A343, Riverside, CA 92521, USA ' Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd., 3 Kings Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1SJ, UK ' Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd., 3 Kings Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1SJ, UK

Abstract: This paper presents a review of pollutant dispersion modelling from non-point sources, focused on agricultural and bioaerosol sources. Relevant non-point source characteristics were collated from a literature review. These values were used to describe a 'typical' agricultural source using line, area, volume and jet source types in the plume dispersion models ADMS and AERMOD; predicted downwind pollutant concentrations are compared. The modelling shows that predicted ground-level concentrations beyond approximately 100 m downwind are similar for the majority of non-point source types. ADMS and AERMOD were used to represent releases from four sheds housing intensively farmed poultry as a case study. When the emission and volume flow rates used in the modelling were derived from measurements, the models give reasonably accurate predictions. However for releases with non-negligible efflux, modelling using non-point sources allowing for the momentum and buoyancy of the release has much better agreement with observations than those that do not.

Keywords: dispersion; ammonia; odour; non-point sources; agriculture; poultry; ADMS; AERMOD.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2017.089410

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2017 Vol.62 No.2/3/4, pp.247 - 263

Received: 22 Aug 2016
Accepted: 02 Feb 2017
Published online: 23 Jan 2018 *

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