How wind distributes air pollution
Environmental Protection Agency studies have found that pollutants tend to follow certain paths in summer and winter.
In summer, morning pollution follows one of two general pathways:
Emissions north of Brisbane stagnate over the central business district in the morning, then, in the early afternoon, travel back to their source on a sea breeze, and head inland past Ipswich and to the Boonah region.
Emissions from the mouth of the Brisbane River move over southern suburbs towards the coast in the morning, then turn south in the middle of the day and late afternoon, and are transported to Beaudesert region.
Afternoon pollution also follows two general pathways. Emissions from north of Brisbane stagnate west of Ipswich during the evening, then return over the central business district the next morning. Emissions from Brisbane’s southern suburbs stagnate near Boonah overnight and head further south the next day.
In winter, Brisbane’s morning pollution tends to travel north towards Deception Bay, then continue recirculating between Brisbane and this northern destination. Afternoon emissions tend to travel south-west to Ipswich in the evening and early morning, then move north to Deception Bay, and finally return to Brisbane.
Last updated: 07 April 2006
