Which statement correctly describes plume dispersion?

Which statement correctly describes plume dispersion?

• A. A pattern associated with energy release forms a cone
• B. A pattern is driven by atmospheric pressure differences and carried away by air currents
• C. A liquid pattern moving downhill under gravity
• D. A collection of liquid in low-lying areas

Answer: (B)

Plume dispersion describes how contaminants spread through the air after a release. The main idea is that the substance is carried by the moving air, driven by pressure differences in the atmosphere, and mixed by turbulence as it travels downwind. The statement that best matches this is that the plume is driven by atmospheric pressure differences and carried away by air currents. The other descriptions refer to different scenarios—an energy-release cone, a liquid sliding downhill under gravity, or pooling in low-lying areas—and don’t capture how an airborne contaminant is advected and dispersed by wind and atmospheric mixing.

Plume dispersion describes how contaminants spread through the air after a release. The main idea is that the substance is carried by the moving air, driven by pressure differences in the atmosphere, and mixed by turbulence as it travels downwind. The statement that best matches this is that the plume is driven by atmospheric pressure differences and carried away by air currents. The other descriptions refer to different scenarios—an energy-release cone, a liquid sliding downhill under gravity, or pooling in low-lying areas—and don’t capture how an airborne contaminant is advected and dispersed by wind and atmospheric mixing.