Environmental impact of Kuwaiti oil fires-regional transport and dispersion model

Abstract EN

In order to assess the impact on air quality due to the burning oil wells, the Air Resources Laboratories - Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion model (ARL-ATAD), a long range transport model, was used.

Based on the information on the number of wells on fire and their emission factors, an emission inventory of S02 was developed and values were periodically adjusted.

Using the processed six hourly meteorological data, the S02 concentration values were estimated for the period March to October, 1991.

Monthly average S02 concentration and deposition values were also calculated for the same period.

Monthly average simulated pollutant concentration and deposition contours show that the concentration pattern for the region changed with changes in meteorolo¬gical conditions and source emissions.

It was observed that the region between the south of Kuwait and Safaniya was mostly affected by the S02 concentration during March, April, and May, 1991.