On pollution potential at Visakhapatnam

Abstract

Climatology of ground based and elevated inversions, multiple inversions, their thickness, lapse rate and mean wind speed through their heights for Visakhapatnam based on 00 and 12 GMT ascents during December-March for the year 1974-78 suggests that pollution potential at Visakhapatnam is high during December-February. Mean monthly morning and afternoon mixing depths and ventilation coefficients are found to be low from December to February hence pollutant concentration is likely to increase if released into the atmosphere. The percentage frequency of days when the morning mixing depth and transport wind speed and the afternoon ventilation co-efficient and transport wind speed which satisfy the stipulated criteria for high pollution potential point out that control measures to alleviate the pollution problems are to be taken between December and February.