Abstract
An experimental study has been carried out using a rotating water channel in order to investigate the effect of surface roughness on the vertical dispersion of plume within boundary layer. Dispersion measurements of tracers released from two sources with different height at neutral conditions over various rough terrain ranging from rural to urban have been performed. Various values of roughness length were simulated by combining of 4 stream velocities and 3 roughness element conditions. Dispersion measurements have also been made for rough terrain where high buildings are locally concentrated. Values of $\sigma$z increase with roughness and this tendency appears to apply both cases of with and without locally concentrated high buildings. The comparisons of the Bowne's nomogram on $\sigma$2 vs x relationship and the measurements of $\sigma$2 with roughness show good accordance in $\sigma$2 distribution at stability D class over rural, suburban and urban terrain. For constant roughness length the $\sigma$2 values of plumes from lower source height are smaller than those of plumes from higher source at short downwind distance, but this relationship becomes reverse as distance increases. Crossing appears to be made before about 2km. The value of constant I in McMullen's equation $\sigma$2=exp [I+J(In x) + K(In x)2] appears to increase with roughness length, however, the relationships between other constants and roughness have been confirmed. The values of $\sigma$2 for various downwind distances, estimated by using an equation which is employed in ISC (Industrial Source Complex) dispersion model for areas where high buildings are locally assembled, are in accordance with measurements from water channel experiments.
