Exploring emission spatiotemporal pattern and potential reduction capacity in China's aviation sector: Flight...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Atmospheric Science
• Transportation Science

Background:

• China's civil aviation expansion increases pollution, impacting public health near airports.
• Accurate quantification of aviation emissions is crucial for effective environmental management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-resolution aviation emissions inventory for China.
• To improve the accuracy of emissions calculations by using real-world flight routes.
• To identify emission reduction potentials in Chinese civil aviation.

Main Methods:

• A bottom-up approach utilizing daily flight schedules and Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) data.
• Replicating actual flight routes instead of relying on great-circle approximations.
• Analyzing spatial and temporal variations in emissions, including holiday peaks.

Main Results:

• Significant spatial and temporal variations in domestic civil aviation emissions were identified.
• Emissions commonly peaked during major Chinese holidays, underscoring the need for detailed activity data.
• Regions with substantial deviations from great-circle routes showed high potential for emission reduction.

Conclusions:

• Utilizing real-world flight routes enhances the accuracy and spatiotemporal resolution of aviation emission inventories.
• The developed approach provides a method for quantifying emission reduction potential without extensive real-time data.
• This work contributes to mitigating aviation pollution, improving public health, and fostering sustainable aviation.