Inversion Break-up Fumigation?

A photo of Costerfield taken at 9.45am on 18 May, 2014 by local farmer, Neil Harris.

Here's a zoom and framing of the emission.

 

Sure, the scales are different, but check out the similarities to this pollution event in Locharron, Scotland.

That's what's known as a temperature inversion. The example from Costerfield pictured above shows the phenomenon on the northern side of the Wappentake Valley. Evidence of similar events along the Wappentake Creek, probably sourced from the Augusta mine's vent can be seen here.

"The mechanism of inversion break-up will have important effects for pollution dispersion (Whiteman and McKee 1978). Assuming that an elevated source has concentrated pollutants in the stable air of the valley floor, growth of the convective boundary layer leads to fumigation, or downward transport, of these pollutants to the valley floor through convective mixing of the boundary layer and the stable air above.This sequence is probable in wide shallow valleys where slope flows are less effective in removing air from the centre of the valley. If the convective boundary layer grows slowly, the pollutants sink as the core of the stable layer descends, producing high concentrations at ground level."

from Mountain Weather and Climate by Roger G. Barry, p. 217.

And then, in the wide, shallow Wappentake Valley, on cold mornings (and the mornings here are usually cold), there's this.

And this.

And this.

But...

"Oh no," said the various Departments. "That's not dust from the mine, that's just the usual morning mist you have in your valley, Neil. You just haven't noticed it before during the decades you've lived in Costerfield and gazed down on the valley each and every morning."

Working towards a predetermined position; there is no dust so therefore that dust you see isn't dust.

It's always the Costerfield Community that is mistaken; never the regulators; never the mine.

Did you know that the roads are dusty in Costerfield? It must be that.