Abstract
Abstract. The Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) is among the largest lignite based power plants in South East Asia. The four elevated stacks from this power plant emanate a substantial amount of sulphur dioxide into a tropical boundary layer. Sulphur dioxide being a soluble pollutant gas is absorbed by falling raindrops. This is a first study that quantifies the scavenging action of the North Eastern monsoonal rains from a lignite based power plant. We find that although the North Eastern monsoonal rains have a preponderance of very large droplets, the contribution of the small droplets cannot be neglected. We expect that the estimated scavenging coefficients can be used by large eddy and climate models.
Highlights
The Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) Township is located on the South Eastern tip of the Indian sub-continent
The NLC Township is located on the South Eastern tip of the Indian sub-continent
Discrepancies observed between the Drop Size Distribution (DSD) measurements and the exponential models have led us to use other distributions such as the log-normal distribution which we describe
Summary
The NLC Township is located on the South Eastern tip of the Indian sub-continent (see Fig. 1). The prevailing winds in Neyveli are mainly South-westerly between May and September and North-westerly during the rest of the year. In this paper our main focus of attention will be on the scavenging action of the North Eastern monsoonal rains. If the monsoon rain water is mixed with oxides of sulphur it might adversely affect crop production in India. Around September, with the sun fast retreating south, the northern land mass of the Indian subcontinent begins to cool off rapidly. Out of the 60 rainy days in a year, the highest rainfall intensity occurs in the month of October over Neyveli. The partitioning of sulphur dioxide between the gas phase and the liquid phase ensures that the dissolved oxides of sulphur are deposited on crops causing them injury and affecting crop production
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
