Studies on Meteorological Parameters and Mixing Height in Gold Mining Area

Gold mining at Kolar Gold Fields is closed but some industries in this area are in operation and some may like to be established. Data on atmospheric and meteorological parameters were generated using SODAR (Sound Detection and Ranging) and automatic weather station in different seasons. Over 2000 sodar echograms were recorded and classified into six categories like rising layer, thermal plume (free), ground based layer (spiky top), ground based layer (flat top), ground based multiple layers and dot echo structures. Using echograms, unstable period was determined to know the diluting capability of atmosphere for pollutants in the seasons. The highest duration of mixing heights revealed the period of highest dispersion. Based on the sodar echograms and mixing height, stability classes for the different times of the day were evaluated, which can be used for the estimation of dispersion coefficients. Influence of wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, solar radiation and rainfall on mixing heights was studied. Statistical model was developed for the prediction of mixing height. Model adequacy was checked using F-statistics, normal distribution curve and correlation between predicted and measured values of mixing heights.