Impact of biomass burning on pollutant surface concentrations in megacities of the Gulf of Guinea
In the framework of the Dynamics–Aerosol–Chemistry–Cloud Interactions in West Africa (DACCIWA) project, the tropospheric chemical composition in large cities along the Gulf of Guinea is studied using the Weather and Research Forecast and CHIMERE regional models. Simulations are performed for the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2018-02-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | https://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/18/2687/2018/acp-18-2687-2018.pdf |
| Summary: | In the framework of the Dynamics–Aerosol–Chemistry–Cloud Interactions in West
Africa (DACCIWA) project, the tropospheric chemical composition in large
cities along the Gulf of Guinea is studied using the Weather and Research
Forecast and CHIMERE regional models. Simulations are performed for the
May–July 2014 period, without and with biomass burning emissions. Model
results are compared to satellite data and surface measurements. Using
numerical tracer release experiments, it is shown that the biomass burning
emissions in Central Africa are impacting the surface aerosol and gaseous
species concentrations in Gulf of Guinea cities such as Lagos (Nigeria) and
Abidjan (Ivory Coast). Depending on the altitude of the injection of these
emissions, the pollutants follow different pathways: directly along the coast
or over land towards the Sahel before being vertically mixed in the
convective boundary layer and transported to the south-west and over the
cities. In July 2014, the maximum increase in surface concentrations due to
fires in Central Africa is ≈ 150 µg m<sup>−3</sup> for CO,
≈ 10 to 20 µg m<sup>−3</sup> for O<sub>3</sub> and
≈ 5 µg m<sup>−3</sup> for PM<sub>10</sub>. The analysis of the
PM<sub>10</sub> chemical composition shows that this increase is mainly related to
an increase in particulate primary and organic matter. |
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| ISSN: | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |