Assessment of Air Pollution Mitigation Measures on Secondary Pollutants PM<sub>10</sub> and Ozone Using Chemical Transport Modelling over Megacity Delhi, India

Sporadic efforts have been introduced to control emissions in Delhi, but the air quality has declined further due to the rapid development of different sectors. In this study, the impact of various mitigation scenarios on air quality for PM<sub>10</sub>, ozone, and its precursors are stu...

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Main Authors: Medhavi Gupta, Manju Mohan, Shweta Bhati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-04-01
Series:Urban Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/6/2/27
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author Medhavi Gupta
Manju Mohan
Shweta Bhati
author_facet Medhavi Gupta
Manju Mohan
Shweta Bhati
author_sort Medhavi Gupta
collection DOAJ
description Sporadic efforts have been introduced to control emissions in Delhi, but the air quality has declined further due to the rapid development of different sectors. In this study, the impact of various mitigation scenarios on air quality for PM<sub>10</sub>, ozone, and its precursors are studied using a chemical transport model, namely WRF-Chem. The Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research emission inventory was modified and introduced into the WRF-Chem model to assess the impact of selected emission control scenarios on different sectors. The simulations were conducted with reduced emissions for these sectors over the study domain: (a) implementation of Bharat Stage—VI norms in the transport sector, (b) conversion of fuel from coal to natural gas in the energy sector, and (c) fuel shift to LPG in the residential sector. The transport sector noted a decrease of 4.9% in PM<sub>10</sub>, 44.1% in ozone, and 18.9% in NOx concentrations with emission reduction measures. In the energy sector, a marginal reduction of 3.9% in NOx concentrations was noted, and no change was observed in PM<sub>10</sub> and ozone concentrations. In the residential sector, a decrease of 8% in PM-10, 47.7% in ozone, and 49.8% in NOx concentrations were noted. The VOC-to-NOx ratios were also studied, revealing the ozone production over the study domain was mostly VOC-limited. As the inclusion of control measures resulted in varying levels of reduction in pollutant concentrations, it was also studied in the context of improving the air quality index. The WRF-Chem model can be successfully implemented to study the effectiveness of any regulated control measures.
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spelling doaj.art-386b7c95d40c42ec987cc1fb6707e2622023-11-23T19:19:33ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512022-04-01622710.3390/urbansci6020027Assessment of Air Pollution Mitigation Measures on Secondary Pollutants PM<sub>10</sub> and Ozone Using Chemical Transport Modelling over Megacity Delhi, IndiaMedhavi Gupta0Manju Mohan1Shweta Bhati2Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, IndiaCentre for Atmospheric Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, IndiaCentre for Atmospheric Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, IndiaSporadic efforts have been introduced to control emissions in Delhi, but the air quality has declined further due to the rapid development of different sectors. In this study, the impact of various mitigation scenarios on air quality for PM<sub>10</sub>, ozone, and its precursors are studied using a chemical transport model, namely WRF-Chem. The Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research emission inventory was modified and introduced into the WRF-Chem model to assess the impact of selected emission control scenarios on different sectors. The simulations were conducted with reduced emissions for these sectors over the study domain: (a) implementation of Bharat Stage—VI norms in the transport sector, (b) conversion of fuel from coal to natural gas in the energy sector, and (c) fuel shift to LPG in the residential sector. The transport sector noted a decrease of 4.9% in PM<sub>10</sub>, 44.1% in ozone, and 18.9% in NOx concentrations with emission reduction measures. In the energy sector, a marginal reduction of 3.9% in NOx concentrations was noted, and no change was observed in PM<sub>10</sub> and ozone concentrations. In the residential sector, a decrease of 8% in PM-10, 47.7% in ozone, and 49.8% in NOx concentrations were noted. The VOC-to-NOx ratios were also studied, revealing the ozone production over the study domain was mostly VOC-limited. As the inclusion of control measures resulted in varying levels of reduction in pollutant concentrations, it was also studied in the context of improving the air quality index. The WRF-Chem model can be successfully implemented to study the effectiveness of any regulated control measures.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/6/2/27WRF-Chempollution mitigationEDGAR emissionsVOC/NOxair quality indexmegacity Delhi
spellingShingle Medhavi Gupta
Manju Mohan
Shweta Bhati
Assessment of Air Pollution Mitigation Measures on Secondary Pollutants PM<sub>10</sub> and Ozone Using Chemical Transport Modelling over Megacity Delhi, India
Urban Science
WRF-Chem
pollution mitigation
EDGAR emissions
VOC/NOx
air quality index
megacity Delhi
title Assessment of Air Pollution Mitigation Measures on Secondary Pollutants PM<sub>10</sub> and Ozone Using Chemical Transport Modelling over Megacity Delhi, India
title_full Assessment of Air Pollution Mitigation Measures on Secondary Pollutants PM<sub>10</sub> and Ozone Using Chemical Transport Modelling over Megacity Delhi, India
title_fullStr Assessment of Air Pollution Mitigation Measures on Secondary Pollutants PM<sub>10</sub> and Ozone Using Chemical Transport Modelling over Megacity Delhi, India
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of Air Pollution Mitigation Measures on Secondary Pollutants PM<sub>10</sub> and Ozone Using Chemical Transport Modelling over Megacity Delhi, India
title_short Assessment of Air Pollution Mitigation Measures on Secondary Pollutants PM<sub>10</sub> and Ozone Using Chemical Transport Modelling over Megacity Delhi, India
title_sort assessment of air pollution mitigation measures on secondary pollutants pm sub 10 sub and ozone using chemical transport modelling over megacity delhi india
topic WRF-Chem
pollution mitigation
EDGAR emissions
VOC/NOx
air quality index
megacity Delhi
url https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/6/2/27
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