Update of model calculations for a planned aluminium smelter at Hraun, Iceland.

Abstract

NILU has carried out a comparison of recent meteorological measurements at Hraun in Reydarfjördur with measurements at Mjöeyri in Eskifjördur, in the eastern part of Iceland and has updated the model calculations for a planned aluminium smelter at Hraun using the meteorological measurements at Hraun. Four alternatives for the smelter’s production of aluminium were considered: 120,000 (ALT. 1), 240,000 (ALT. 2), 360,000 (ALT. 3) and 480,000 (ALT. 4) tons of aluminium per year. Long-term dispersion calculations were done for one year average SO2 and PM10 concentrations and 6 months average gaseous and total fluorides, during the growing season. Dispersion calculations were also executed for a typical day with high impact of the pollution from the smelter on the population, for SO2 and PM10, and on the vegetation, for gaseous fluorides.