Air quality in Delhi during the Commonwealth Games
Air quality during the Commonwealth Games (CWG, held in Delhi in October 2010) is analyzed using a new air quality forecasting system established for the games. The CWG stimulated enhanced efforts to monitor and model air quality in the region. The air quality of Delhi during the CWG had high levels...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2014-10-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/10619/2014/acp-14-10619-2014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818846341906825216 |
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| author | P. Marrapu Y. Cheng G. Beig S. Sahu R. Srinivas G. R. Carmichael |
| author_facet | P. Marrapu Y. Cheng G. Beig S. Sahu R. Srinivas G. R. Carmichael |
| author_sort | P. Marrapu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Air quality during the Commonwealth Games (CWG, held in Delhi in October
2010) is analyzed using a new air quality forecasting system established for
the games. The CWG stimulated enhanced efforts to monitor and model air
quality in the region. The air quality of Delhi during the CWG had high
levels of particles with mean values of PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> at the
venues of 111 and 238 μg m<sup>−3</sup>, respectively.
Black carbon (BC) accounted for ~ 10% of the
PM<sub>2.5</sub> mass. It is shown that BC, PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub>
concentrations are well predicted, but with positive biases of
~ 25%. The diurnal variations are also well captured, with
both the observations and the modeled values showing nighttime maxima and
daytime minima. A new emissions inventory, developed as part of this air
quality forecasting initiative, is evaluated by comparing the observed and
predicted species-species correlations (i.e., BC : CO; BC : PM<sub>2.5</sub>;
PM<sub>2.5</sub> : PM<sub>10</sub>). Assuming that the observations at these sites are
representative and that all the model errors are associated with the emissions,
then the modeled concentrations and slopes can be made consistent by scaling
the emissions by 0.6 for NO<sub>x</sub>, 2 for CO, and 0.7 for BC, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and PM<sub>10</sub>. The emission estimates for particles are remarkably good
considering the uncertainty in the estimates due to the diverse spread of
activities and technologies that take place in Delhi and the rapid rates of
change.
<br><br>
The contribution of various emission sectors including transportation,
power, domestic and industry to surface concentrations are also estimated.
Transport, domestic and industrial sectors all make significant
contributions to PM levels in Delhi, and the sectoral contributions vary
spatially within the city. Ozone levels in Delhi are elevated, with hourly
values sometimes exceeding 100 ppb. The continued growth of the transport
sector is expected to make ozone pollution a more pressing air pollution
problem in Delhi. The sector analysis provides useful inputs into the design
of strategies to reduce air pollution levels in Delhi. The contribution for
sources outside of Delhi on Delhi air quality range from ~ 25% for BC and PM to ~ 60% for day time ozone. The
significant contributions from non-Delhi sources indicates that in Delhi (as
has been show elsewhere) these strategies will also need a more regional
perspective. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:44:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bbbbf8f47bac40919b3368b22ee6988e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1680-7316 1680-7324 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:44:01Z |
| publishDate | 2014-10-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-bbbbf8f47bac40919b3368b22ee6988e2022-12-21T20:33:55ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics1680-73161680-73242014-10-011419106191063010.5194/acp-14-10619-2014Air quality in Delhi during the Commonwealth GamesP. Marrapu0Y. Cheng1G. Beig2S. Sahu3R. Srinivas4G. R. Carmichael5Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa city, USACenter for Global and Regional Environmental Research, University of Iowa, Iowa city, USAIndian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India) Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune, IndiaForschungszentrum Julich Gmbh, IEk-8:Troposphere, 52425 Julich, GermanyIndian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India) Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune, IndiaDepartment of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa city, USAAir quality during the Commonwealth Games (CWG, held in Delhi in October 2010) is analyzed using a new air quality forecasting system established for the games. The CWG stimulated enhanced efforts to monitor and model air quality in the region. The air quality of Delhi during the CWG had high levels of particles with mean values of PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> at the venues of 111 and 238 μg m<sup>−3</sup>, respectively. Black carbon (BC) accounted for ~ 10% of the PM<sub>2.5</sub> mass. It is shown that BC, PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> concentrations are well predicted, but with positive biases of ~ 25%. The diurnal variations are also well captured, with both the observations and the modeled values showing nighttime maxima and daytime minima. A new emissions inventory, developed as part of this air quality forecasting initiative, is evaluated by comparing the observed and predicted species-species correlations (i.e., BC : CO; BC : PM<sub>2.5</sub>; PM<sub>2.5</sub> : PM<sub>10</sub>). Assuming that the observations at these sites are representative and that all the model errors are associated with the emissions, then the modeled concentrations and slopes can be made consistent by scaling the emissions by 0.6 for NO<sub>x</sub>, 2 for CO, and 0.7 for BC, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and PM<sub>10</sub>. The emission estimates for particles are remarkably good considering the uncertainty in the estimates due to the diverse spread of activities and technologies that take place in Delhi and the rapid rates of change. <br><br> The contribution of various emission sectors including transportation, power, domestic and industry to surface concentrations are also estimated. Transport, domestic and industrial sectors all make significant contributions to PM levels in Delhi, and the sectoral contributions vary spatially within the city. Ozone levels in Delhi are elevated, with hourly values sometimes exceeding 100 ppb. The continued growth of the transport sector is expected to make ozone pollution a more pressing air pollution problem in Delhi. The sector analysis provides useful inputs into the design of strategies to reduce air pollution levels in Delhi. The contribution for sources outside of Delhi on Delhi air quality range from ~ 25% for BC and PM to ~ 60% for day time ozone. The significant contributions from non-Delhi sources indicates that in Delhi (as has been show elsewhere) these strategies will also need a more regional perspective.http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/10619/2014/acp-14-10619-2014.pdf |
| spellingShingle | P. Marrapu Y. Cheng G. Beig S. Sahu R. Srinivas G. R. Carmichael Air quality in Delhi during the Commonwealth Games Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics |
| title | Air quality in Delhi during the Commonwealth Games |
| title_full | Air quality in Delhi during the Commonwealth Games |
| title_fullStr | Air quality in Delhi during the Commonwealth Games |
| title_full_unstemmed | Air quality in Delhi during the Commonwealth Games |
| title_short | Air quality in Delhi during the Commonwealth Games |
| title_sort | air quality in delhi during the commonwealth games |
| url | http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/14/10619/2014/acp-14-10619-2014.pdf |
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