There are challenges to predict particulate concentrations from wind-generated mine surface emissions. While the common public perception is that they dominate emissions from mine or aggregate operations; in reality, windblown emissions from active mines areas or stockpiles are short lived (seconds, minutes) and generated by infrequent strong wind gusts.
This paper considers how gust-generated dust can be effectively modelled in regulatory applications. Three methods to estimate emissions from windblown dust are considered: an Environment Canada inventory approach in which emissions are generated for each period winds are above a threshold; an AP42 approach in which emissions from managed stockpiles are a linear function of wind speed, and: a more detailed AP42 approach in which the micrometeorology above stockpiles are accounted for.
For each of the emission estimation approaches, CALPUFF model results will be provided from mine surface and stockpiles. To provide perspective to the magnitude of windblown emissions over various averaging periods, emissions from a haul road will be also presented.
