Atmospheric dispersion modelling of gaseous emissions from Beirutinternational airport activities

Tharwat Mokalled; Stéphane Le Calvé; Nada Badaro-Saliba; Maher Abboud; Rita Zaarour; Wehbeh Farah; Jocelyne Adjizian-Gérard; Tharwat Mokalled; Stéphane Le Calvé; Nada Badaro-Saliba; Maher Abboud; Rita Zaarour; Wehbeh Farah; Jocelyne Adjizian-Gérard

doi:10.3934/environsci.2022033

AIMS Environmental Science

2022, Volume 9, Issue 5: 553-572. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2022033

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Research article

Atmospheric dispersion modelling of gaseous emissions from Beirutinternational airport activities

1.
Environmental Research Center, Eastern Mediterranean Area (CREEMO), Geography Department, Saint Joseph University, Beirut 1104 2020, Lebanon
2.
Group of Atmospheric Physical Chemistry, the Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES, UMR 7515, CNRS/University of Strasbourg), Strasbourg 67087, France
3.
Unité de recherche Environnement, Génomique et Protéomique (UR-EGP), Faculté des sciences, Université Saint-Joseph, Beirut 1107 2050, Lebanon

Received: 21 February 2022 Revised: 09 July 2022 Accepted: 27 July 2022 Published: 01 September 2022

The projected increase of civil aviation activity, the degradation of air quality and the location of Beirut Airport embedded in a very urbanized area, in addition to the special geography and topography surrounding the airport which plays a significant role in drawing emissions to larger distances, demanded anassessment of the spatial impact of the airport activities on the air quality of Beirut and its suburbs. This is the first study in the Middle East region that model pollutant concentrations resulting from an international airport's activities using an advanced atmospheric dispersion modelling system in a country with no data. This followed validation campaigns showing very strong correlations (r = 0.85) at validation sites as close as possible to emission sources. The modelling results showed extremely high NO₂ concentrations within the airport vicinity, i.e., up to 110 μg∙m^-3 (which is greater than the World Health Organization annual guidelines) posing a health hazard to the workers in the ramp. The major contribution of Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport to the degradation of air quality was in the airport vicinity; however, it extended to Beirut and its suburbs in addition to affecting the seashore area due to emissions along the aircraft trajectory; this isan aspect rarely considered in previous studies. On the other hand, elevated volatile organic compound levels were observed near the fuel tanks and at the aerodrome center. This study provides (ⅰ) a methodology to assess pollutant concentrations resulting from airport emissions through the use of an advanced dispersion model in a country with no data; and (ⅱ) a tool for policy makers to better understand the contribution of the airport's operations to national pollutant emissions, which is vital for mitigation strategies and health impact assessments.
- aviation emission,
- atmospheric dispersion modelling system (ADMS),
- nitrogen dioxide,
- volatile organic compound,
- Beirut
Citation: Tharwat Mokalled, Stéphane Le Calvé, Nada Badaro-Saliba, Maher Abboud, Rita Zaarour, Wehbeh Farah, Jocelyne Adjizian-Gérard. Atmospheric dispersion modelling of gaseous emissions from Beirutinternational airport activities[J]. AIMS Environmental Science, 2022, 9(5): 553-572. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2022033

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Abstract

The projected increase of civil aviation activity, the degradation of air quality and the location of Beirut Airport embedded in a very urbanized area, in addition to the special geography and topography surrounding the airport which plays a significant role in drawing emissions to larger distances, demanded anassessment of the spatial impact of the airport activities on the air quality of Beirut and its suburbs. This is the first study in the Middle East region that model pollutant concentrations resulting from an international airport's activities using an advanced atmospheric dispersion modelling system in a country with no data. This followed validation campaigns showing very strong correlations (r = 0.85) at validation sites as close as possible to emission sources. The modelling results showed extremely high NO₂ concentrations within the airport vicinity, i.e., up to 110 μg∙m^-3 (which is greater than the World Health Organization annual guidelines) posing a health hazard to the workers in the ramp. The major contribution of Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport to the degradation of air quality was in the airport vicinity; however, it extended to Beirut and its suburbs in addition to affecting the seashore area due to emissions along the aircraft trajectory; this isan aspect rarely considered in previous studies. On the other hand, elevated volatile organic compound levels were observed near the fuel tanks and at the aerodrome center. This study provides (ⅰ) a methodology to assess pollutant concentrations resulting from airport emissions through the use of an advanced dispersion model in a country with no data; and (ⅱ) a tool for policy makers to better understand the contribution of the airport's operations to national pollutant emissions, which is vital for mitigation strategies and health impact assessments.

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