Air quality impact of traffic and point sources in Skopje assessed with dispersion models

Abstract

Local scale air quality dispersion models can be used to provide information about the impact of individual emission sources or source categories on the air quality and to predict air quality as a result of changes in emissions such as increase of traffic, emission control measures etc. Dispersion models can be used to complement the data gained by monitoring as the spatial coverage of air quality information provided by monitoring is often limited. They are also an important tool for supporting air quality improvement plans and programmes. The modelling of the air pollution is one of the techniques that can lead to better planning and making decisions from the authorities on the local, regional or even global scale. In this paper are presenting the first this- kind of study in this area. This study uses measurements for emissions of the NO2 and CO from traffic, and also NO2 and SO2 from point sources in order to produce the general picture of the pollution on annual level. This modeling study is the first one done for Skopje attempting to assess the air quality impact of major part of the emission sources by dispersion models. Even though the input data required in the dispersion modeling still includes uncertainties, this modeling study can give valuable information on the air quality levels in different parts of Skopje.