Evaluation of aircraft emission at Tribhuvan international airport and its contribution to air quality in Kathmandu, Nepal

The recent rise in the number of aircraft flights and the subsequent increase in emissions has raised concerns worldwide, and this increasing trend is expected to continue. This research provides an overall estimation of the landing and take-off cycle (LTO) emissions from Tribhuvan International Air...

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Main Authors: Dikra Prasad Bajgai, Kundan Lal Shrestha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-01-01
Series:Atmospheric Environment: X
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590162123000047
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author Dikra Prasad Bajgai
Kundan Lal Shrestha
author_facet Dikra Prasad Bajgai
Kundan Lal Shrestha
author_sort Dikra Prasad Bajgai
collection DOAJ
description The recent rise in the number of aircraft flights and the subsequent increase in emissions has raised concerns worldwide, and this increasing trend is expected to continue. This research provides an overall estimation of the landing and take-off cycle (LTO) emissions from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) as well as the associated contribution of these emissions to ambient air quality in Kathmandu valley. The aircraft emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), sulfur dioxide (SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM10, and PM2.5), and black carbon (BC) during the LTO are estimated for recent 20 years by using the emission factor method. The corresponding contribution to ambient air quality was simulated using AERMOD and Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) models. The research reveals that total LTO emissions by aircraft at TIA range from 898 to 2123 tonnes per year (2000–2019). The average LTO emissions of NOx, CO, HC, VOC, SO2, PM10, PM2.5, and BC were around 14512, 8142, 2387, 1737, 1247, 481, 472, and 231 tonnes respectively during the period of 20 years. The highest aircraft emission was shown in taxi/idle mode for the LTO cycle, with major constituents being HC and CO. The LTO emissions and their effect on air quality have continually increased. The highest contribution of the LTO emissions on air quality was found in the pre-monsoon season. The dominant pollutants in TIA were nitrogen oxides and its average 24-h concentration was 158.1 μg/m3, which exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) limit value. Hence, LTO emission significantly contributed to ambient air quality in Kathmandu city.
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spelling doaj.art-8c3b14c6d27d4700adbea7d6f7ca93542023-03-14T04:08:56ZengElsevierAtmospheric Environment: X2590-16212023-01-0117100204Evaluation of aircraft emission at Tribhuvan international airport and its contribution to air quality in Kathmandu, NepalDikra Prasad Bajgai0Kundan Lal Shrestha1Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Kavre, NepalCorresponding author.; Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Kavre, NepalThe recent rise in the number of aircraft flights and the subsequent increase in emissions has raised concerns worldwide, and this increasing trend is expected to continue. This research provides an overall estimation of the landing and take-off cycle (LTO) emissions from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) as well as the associated contribution of these emissions to ambient air quality in Kathmandu valley. The aircraft emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), sulfur dioxide (SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM10, and PM2.5), and black carbon (BC) during the LTO are estimated for recent 20 years by using the emission factor method. The corresponding contribution to ambient air quality was simulated using AERMOD and Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) models. The research reveals that total LTO emissions by aircraft at TIA range from 898 to 2123 tonnes per year (2000–2019). The average LTO emissions of NOx, CO, HC, VOC, SO2, PM10, PM2.5, and BC were around 14512, 8142, 2387, 1737, 1247, 481, 472, and 231 tonnes respectively during the period of 20 years. The highest aircraft emission was shown in taxi/idle mode for the LTO cycle, with major constituents being HC and CO. The LTO emissions and their effect on air quality have continually increased. The highest contribution of the LTO emissions on air quality was found in the pre-monsoon season. The dominant pollutants in TIA were nitrogen oxides and its average 24-h concentration was 158.1 μg/m3, which exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) limit value. Hence, LTO emission significantly contributed to ambient air quality in Kathmandu city.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590162123000047Aircraft emissionWRF ModelingAERMODTribhuvan international airportLTO
spellingShingle Dikra Prasad Bajgai
Kundan Lal Shrestha
Evaluation of aircraft emission at Tribhuvan international airport and its contribution to air quality in Kathmandu, Nepal
Atmospheric Environment: X
Aircraft emission
WRF Modeling
AERMOD
Tribhuvan international airport
LTO
title Evaluation of aircraft emission at Tribhuvan international airport and its contribution to air quality in Kathmandu, Nepal
title_full Evaluation of aircraft emission at Tribhuvan international airport and its contribution to air quality in Kathmandu, Nepal
title_fullStr Evaluation of aircraft emission at Tribhuvan international airport and its contribution to air quality in Kathmandu, Nepal
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of aircraft emission at Tribhuvan international airport and its contribution to air quality in Kathmandu, Nepal
title_short Evaluation of aircraft emission at Tribhuvan international airport and its contribution to air quality in Kathmandu, Nepal
title_sort evaluation of aircraft emission at tribhuvan international airport and its contribution to air quality in kathmandu nepal
topic Aircraft emission
WRF Modeling
AERMOD
Tribhuvan international airport
LTO
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590162123000047
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AT kundanlalshrestha evaluationofaircraftemissionattribhuvaninternationalairportanditscontributiontoairqualityinkathmandunepal