Absorption of ammonia from atmospheric plumes by natural water surfaces

A simple model is presented that incorporates the major features of atmospheric transport and diffusion of a NH3 plume together with aqueous absorption as the plume traverses a water surface. The model is based on the well-known concept of the deposition velocity, although empirical data concerning the latter is quite meager. A specific application is considered to the gas release from a NH3 stripper of a hypothetical sewage treatment plant, and it is concluded that NH3 absorption by adjacent water masses could be considerable.