USE OF DISPERSION MODELLING FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF PRIMARY PARTICULATE MATTER SOURCES ON THE AIR QUALITY OF GREATER THESSALONIKI AREA

by PSP. During recent years many studies have demonstrated the particulate matter (PM) pollution problem of the Greater Thessaloniki Area, Greece, caused by sources in and out of the area. In this paper an effort has been made, to determine the impact, on local air quality, of both anthropogenic and natural sources located in and nearby the GTA. The CALMET/CALPUFF modeling system has been employed to estimate hourly PM concentration levels. A detailed emission inventory was developed using literature and own calculations for an area of 25 km radius with variable resolution from 1 km to 5 km. It has thus, been shown, that the main causes of local high levels are the industrial activities, followed by the car traffic. The PM10 from residential heating significantly impacts air quality during winter months and its contribution tends to grow following the increased use of wood for heating. Agricultural activities, regardless of the fact that produce huge amounts of PM, affect mainly the rural areas of the GTA, in the months they occur. On the other hand, it was found that the non-irrigated land creates a great burden for GTA, even without considering the re-suspension of the PM. Finally the sea spray contributes constantly a small part in the whole problem.

USE OF DISPERSION MODELLING FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF PRIMARY PARTICULATE MATTER SOURCES ON THE AIR QUALITY OF GREATER THESSALONIKI AREA Academic Article