Nonlinear regression for modeling censored one-dimensional concentration profiles of fugitive dust plumes

Dust plumes were generated by farm equipment during standard field preparat ions and harvest operations. Light detection and ranging (lidar) measuremen ts of dust particle concentrations in the plumes were censored by an upper detection limit. The nonstandardized Gaussian curve, with range values as t he argument, was used as a model for the one-dimensional plume profile. Max imum likelihood estimates for the Gaussian plume equation were found in ord er to make inferences concerning plume characteristics.