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Local Arctic air pollution: Sources and impacts
Kathy S Law1, Anke Roiger2, Jennie L Thomas3
1LATMOS/IPSL, UPMC Univ. Paris 06 Sorbonne Universités, UVSQ, CNRS, Paris, France. kathy.law@latmos.ipsl.fr.
Ambio
|October 28, 2017
Summary
Local Arctic emissions from shipping and petroleum extraction impact air quality and climate. Current data reveal discrepancies with emission inventories, necessitating further research into these growing environmental pressures.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Climate Science
Background:
- Arctic air pollution impacts on climate, ecosystems, and health are not well understood.
- Arctic warming and economic activities may increase local emissions, stressing the environment.
- Mid-latitude pollution already affects the fragile Arctic environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate local emissions from shipping and petroleum extraction in the European Arctic.
- To compare aircraft-measured emissions with existing emission inventories.
- To assess the current and future impacts of these emissions on the Arctic.
Main Methods:
- Aircraft-based measurements of air pollutants downwind of industrial facilities.
- Analysis of discrepancies between measured data and emission inventories.
- Estimation of climate impacts (warming/cooling) and air quality effects.
Main Results:
- Discrepancies found, including un inventoried emissions (drilling rigs) and intermittent sources (flaring, shipping).
- Current emissions impact ozone and aerosol levels along the Norwegian coast.
- Estimated to cause both cooling (sulfur dioxide) and warming (CO2) effects on Arctic climate.
Conclusions:
- Local Arctic emissions from shipping and petroleum extraction significantly affect regional air quality and climate.
- Future increases in shipping emissions may lead to detrimental regional air quality and altered climate.
- Further quantification of local Arctic emission impacts is crucial for environmental management.
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