Assessment of atmospheric pollutant dispersion from mobile sources in Antarctica: a case study of Vecherny Oasis

ABSTRACT

The first results of high spatial resolution modeling of the dispersion of atmospheric pollutant emissions from mobile sources in Antarctica are presented. Options for assessing the impacts of vehicles on air quality in Antarctica are discussed using the Belarusian Antarctic Station at Vecherny Oasis, Enderby Land, as an example. Sources of input data and collection and processing of these data are described. Surface air concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and concentrations and dry atmospheric deposition levels of respirable suspended particulate matter (PM₁₀) are estimated for different averaging periods and scenarios of the volume and spatial allocation of emission. Nowadays, the number of vehicles in the oasis is small. However, by the estimates, the maximum hourly concentrations of PM₁₀ and NO₂ at certain locations and under certain conditions could reach perceptible share of the air quality guideline value. Some other Antarctic stations have significant vehicle population, and assessment of their air impacts will be especially important. Suggestions for improvements of the quantitative assessment of impacts of mobile emission sources in Antarctica are proposed.

KEYWORDS:

• Antarctica
• Enderby Land
• Vecherny Oasis
• dispersion modeling
• AERMOD
• nitrogen dioxide
• PM₁₀

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Vladislav Myamin and Dr. Yuri Giginjak, members of the Belarusian Antarctic expeditions, for their support in drafting the scheme of vehicle routes at Vecherny Oasis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The research presented in this article was conducted in the framework of a State Program ‘Monitoring of the Earth Polar Regions, Creation of the Belarusian Antarctic Station and Support of the Polar Expeditions for 2016–2020’ (project registration number 20163266).