Abstract for presentation at 14th IUAPPA World Congress

The purpose of this paper is to combine: (1) LIDAR-measured height profiles of (attenuated) laser backscatter from a dust plume; (2) Simultaneous ground-level (in situ) measurements of particulate matter and meteorological parameters; and (3) Air dispersion modelling, to improve our understanding of the atmospheric dispersion of dust particles. This combination of techniques is a novel study of a dust plume observed in the boundary layer.
The source of the dust plume was a dragline machine operating at an open-cut coal mine. The dust plume was observed to fumigate part of a shallow valley up to a height of approximately 350 metres above ground level; refer to Holdsworth et al. (2005). These LIDAR results provide a unique view of the backscatter height-profiles from coal mine particles passing overhead a vertically-pointing LIDAR.
The focus of this paper was air dispersion modelling of the LIDAR-measured dust plume using Ausplume, Calpuff and TAPM. The modelling has been constrained by comparisons of model flagpole receptor results with the LIDAR and in situ measurements of particulate matter. Meteorological data from a mine site close to the LIDAR position have been incorporated in the modelling.
The model results for transport of the particles over the LIDAR station and discussion are provided in the main body of the paper. The conclusion is that LIDAR provides a valuable adjunct to standard air quality monitoring and modelling techniques. A simply engineered, vertically-pointing LIDAR installed alongside standard monitoring equipment has added greatly to our understanding of dust dispersion events.