A Computational Approach Based on GIS Technology for the Development of an Anthropogenic Emission Inventory of Gaseous Pollutants in Greece

Abstract

This paper describes a computational system developed for the compilation of an anthropogenic emission inventory of gaseous pollutants for Greece. The inventory was developed using a geographical information system integrated with SQL programming language to provide high temporal gridded emission fields for CO, NO 2 , NO, SO 2 , NH 3 and 23 nonmethane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) species for the reference year 2003. Activity and statistical data from national sources were used for the quantification of emissions from the road transport, the other mobile sources and machinery sectors and from range activities using top-down or bottom-up methodologies. Annual emission data from existing national and European emission databases were also used. The emission data were spatially and temporally disaggregated using source-specific spatiotemporal indicators. On national scale, the road transport sector produces about 60% of the annual CO and NMVOC total emissions, with gasoline vehicles being the main CO and NMVOC emissions source. The road transport is responsible for approximately half of the higher alkanes and for more than half of the ethene and toluene emissions. The maritime sector accounts for about 40% of the annual total NO x emissions, most of which are emitted by the international shipping subsector, whilst SO 2 is emitted mainly by the energy sector. The evaluation of the emissions inventory suggests that it provides a good representation of the amounts of gaseous pollutants emitted on national scale and a good characterisation of the relative composition of CO and NO x emission in the large urban centres.

Comparison of OMI NO<sub>2</sub> tropospheric columns with an ensemble of global and European regional air quality models

“…Recently an emission inventory for Greece (Markakis et al, 2010) and the Greater Istanbul Area (Markakis et al, 2009) has been compiled based on detailed activity data as well as national emission reports employing bottom-up methodologies. The comparison between these inventories and the TNO inventory indicate a possible underestimation of NO 2 in the TNO inventory of 26% for Greece and 57% for Istanbul, which has seen substantial economic growth in the past ten years.…”

Atmospheric Emission Inventory for Natural and Anthropogenic Sources and Spatial Emission Mapping for the Greater Athens Area

“…Poupkou et al (2007) developed a spatially and temporally disaggregated anthropogenic emission inventory in the Southern Balkan region and Symeonidis et al (2008) estimated biogenic non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) emissions in the same region. Also, Markakis et al (2010) presented an anthropogenic emission inventory for gaseous species for Greece, Poupkou et al (2008) studied the effects of anthropogenic emissions over Greece to ozone production, Sotiropoulou et al (2004) estimated the spatial distribution of agricultural ammonia emissions in the GAA and Hayman et al (2001) developed spatial air emission inventories using the top-down approach for large urban agglomerations in southern Europe including the GAA. The above inventories are old, cover partially the emission sources and/or pollutants in the area and most of them are not both spatially and temporally resolved.…”

Assessment of Impacts and Risks of Air Pollution Applying Two Strategies of Numerical Chemistry Transport Modelling

“…The annual emission data were temporally disaggregated (seasonal, weekly and diurnal temporal profiles) according to [24]. A detailed emission inventory developed for Greece, Athens and Thessaloniki [25,26] and ship emissions data from the EMEP database are also used in forecast runs. A Biogenic Emission Model has been integrated in the forecast system and is used for the calculation of spatially and temporally resolved biogenic NMVOCs emissions [27,32,33].…”