DOI: 10.5176/2251-3701_1.1.14
Authors: Fatemah Albaroud and Aisha Albaroud
Abstract:
This study focuses on evaluation of seasonal variations in air pollutants in Jahra, Kuwait. Pollutant measurements were made at 5 minutes interval over a period of 5 years. Air pollution dispersion was modelled for nitrogen oxides (NOx), SO2 and CO. The study period, data analysis was made for pollutant distribution in January, April, July and October for five years. The measured pollutants included SO2, NOx, CO, ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM) and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC). Meteorological parameters monitored simultaneously included wind speed, wind direction and ambient temperature. The measured data where then compared against the predictions of the ISCST3 model. The comparison was made through adjustment of the emission rates of various pollutants in order to obtain good fitting of measured and predicted data. The hourly averages for each pollutant during the study period displayed similar patterns to those found in previous literature, where two maximums occurred for NOx and CO during the traffic rush hours. Comparison of measured averages against US EPA standards shows that most of the measured values are lower than the EPA standards.
Keywords: air pollution measurements, arid environment, EPA limits, ISCST3 model, seasonal variations.
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