The influence of emission sources and meteorological conditions on SO 2 pollution in Mongolia
Journal
Atmospheric Environment
Journal Volume
61
Pages
542-549
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
Major urbanization and industrialization began in Mongolia in the mid-1990, and air pollution has since become a challenging environmental problem. This study used air pollution data and meteorological parameters from fourteen monitoring sites to determine spatial and temporal patterns of SO 2 in Mongolia from 1996 to 2009 and to estimate the influence of meteorological parameters such as wind speed and direction, temperature and relative humidity on SO 2 levels in Ulaanbaatar city from 2005 to 2009. SO 2 pollution in urban areas and at the steel industry site was above the National Ambient Air Quality Standard and more serious than at other locations in Mongolia. SO 2 pollution in winter was more serious than the other three seasons in Mongolia. SO 2 pollution has worsened since 2000 because of rapid urbanization and industrialization. Multiple regression models showed that SO 2 concentrations in Ulaanbaatar increased with the decrease of wind speed and temperature, and with the increase of relative humidity. The increase in SO 2 pollution in Ulaanbaatar was associated with flow of SO x emitted from industrial sources and gers to the north of the city. This study concludes that SO 2 pollution in Mongolia was worsened by the increase in emissions caused by rapid urbanization and industrialization over the last decade and the dispersion of SO 2 concentrations in Ulaanbaatar was influenced by the meteorological parameters wind speed and direction, temperature and relative humidity. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.
SDGs
Type
journal article