Adaptive finite element simulation of stack pollutant emissions over complex terrains

► We introduce a new methodology for 3-D air pollution simulation over complex terrain. ► We develop an adaptive tetrahedral mesh generator that includes orography and stacks. ► A mass-consistent model determines an ambient wind field adapted to the orography. ► A local mesh refinement along the Gaussian plume allows to model the stack emissions. ► We solve the convection-diffusion-reaction problem with a finite element method.