Why Are Smoke Stacks So Tall?

Modern manufacturing naturally has emissions, or smoke, that needs to be expelled from an industrial production facility. Smoke stacks provide a means to discharge this waste away from the surrounding population, reports the "El Paso Times."

Significance

• There are two main reasons why the smoke stacks require such height. Heat rises, and as it ascends up the column, the heat will eventually emerge high in the sky allowing safe dispersing into the loftier altitudes away from people and wildlife. Also, the heat within a large stack creates a natural current pulling smoke from its source below up into the column.

Size

• The height of smoke stacks requires levels of concrete to be built in layers, awaiting curing before beginning the next level, to ensure the structure's integrity.

Interesting Fact

• According to "The New York Times," large ship smoke stacks have been found to produce tinier particles contributing to cloud formation, reflecting more of the sun's infrared light back into space.