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Modeling mobile source emissions during traffic jams in a micro urban environment
Valery V Kondrashov1, Vladimir P Reshetin, James L Regens
1Radiation Physics and Chemistry Problems Institute, National Academy of Science of Belarus, Sosny-Minsk, 220109, Belarus.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research International
|October 24, 2002
Summary
Traffic jams concentrate air pollution in urban areas. Building size and wind significantly impact pollutant levels, with leeward sides trapping up to 99% of emissions near street level.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Urban Planning
- Atmospheric Chemistry
Background:
- Urbanization increases motor vehicle use, leading to traffic congestion.
- Traffic jams cause idling emissions, concentrating air pollutants in urban canyons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simulate air pollutant concentrations and distributions in a congested Minsk street.
- To analyze the impact of urban terrain and meteorological factors on localized pollution.
Main Methods:
- Utilized STAR (version 3.10) software for pollutant concentration simulation.
- Incorporated emission factors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Considered wind speed, direction, and building geometry in the model.
Main Results:
- Pollutant concentrations were simulated at 1-meter and 10-meters above street level.
- Building size and location critically influenced pollutant distribution.
- Leeward sides of buildings retained up to 99% of pollutants within 1-meter and 77% within 10-meters of street level.
Conclusions:
- Wind conditions and building characteristics are key determinants of localized air pollution.
- Urban design can exacerbate or mitigate the impact of traffic emissions.
- Effective urban planning is crucial for managing air quality in congested areas.