What is the term for the dispersion pattern of pollutants in the stack plume?

The term "plume shape" describes the dispersion pattern of pollutants as they are emitted from a stack. It reflects how pollutants spread and change in concentration as they move away from the emission source. Factors such as wind speed, atmospheric stability, and the physical characteristics of the emitted material influence the plume shape, resulting in distinct patterns such as Gaussian distributions or more complex shapes depending on the environmental conditions.

The term directly addresses how pollutants behave after they leave the stack, encompassing the various factors that contribute to the plume's dimensions and concentration gradients. Other options like "dispersion pattern," while related, do not specifically refer to the distinct characteristics of the plume itself in the context of emissions from a stack. Terms like "pollutant trajectory" focus on the path the pollutants take, rather than the overall shape or spread, and "concentration gradient" deals specifically with the variation in concentration rather than the entire pattern of the plume. Thus, "plume shape" is the most precise term for describing the dispersion dynamics in this context.