Investigation of diurnal patterns of air pollution in Aqaba and its health implication using GIS

Other Title(s)

مراقبة التغير اليومي لتلوث الهواء في مدينة العقبة و آثاره الصحية باستخدام نظم المعلومات الجغرافية

Dissertant

al-Hijazin, Sharaf Yusuf Salim

Thesis advisor

al-Urud, Ibrahim

Comitee Members

al-Kasasibah, Salih
al-Shaqqur, Sattam Salim Muqbil
al-Nawayisah, Samir

University

Mutah University

Faculty

Faculty of Social Sciences

Department

Department of Geography

University Country

Jordan

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2016

English Abstract

Air pollution has been an increasing concern in the Kingdome of Jordan, particularly in large and industrial cities due to traffic and the presence of factories.

This thesis presents an assessment of air quality in three locations within the city of Aqaba which considered a major tourist and port location in Jordan.

The city is surrounded by many air pollution sources such as fertilizers activities, electricity generation, waste water treatment and crude oil activities.

It is worth to mention that the heavy transportation activities such as diesel vehicles may also cause bad effect on the study area.

The city is surrounded by high mountains which block the diffusion of pollutants generated in the city.

Practically the climate of the city is hyper arid with low atmospheric moisture regime which give a unique characterization of pollution chemical reactions with gaseous constituent of the atmosphere.

Seven air pollutants (CO, H2S, NH3, NOX, PM10, SO2) over Aqaba city were obtained from Ben Hayyan Aqaba International Laboratories from the 1st January 2015 to 31th December 2015 at three monitoring stations that are well distributed in the city.

The data were used to investigate the diurnal variation of the concentration of gaseous pollutants and the relationship with meteorological conditions.

Air pollution dispersion in the study area was interpolated using Geographic Information System (GIS) platform.

GIS enabled mapping of the emissions and showed spatial pattern of air pollutants levels.

The measured concentration of air pollutants in the city has been analyzed in different seasons.

The relationships between monitored ambient air quality data and meteorological factors, such as wind speed, temperature and relative humidity were also obtained.

The diurnal variation of NOX (NO+NO2) concentration showed a peak during the early morning/evening hours.

The correlation between O3, NO, NO2 and NOX was discussed in details.

High levels of NH3, SO2, H2S and PM10 were found at South and Port stations due to industrial activities.

The influence of relative humidity and temperature on the variation in O3 was also discussed.

The diurnal variation of CO, NOX and PM10 concentration were similar, showed peaks concentration linked to traffic intensity.

The prevailing wind direction at Aqaba city blown mostly from North and North East.

Lastly, high levels of gaseous pollutants (SO2, NH3, H2S, PM10, and NOX) were recorded at Aqaba city on hourly and daily averages, exceeded the limits specified in JS1140/2006 during the current monitoring period.

Based on these results, comprehensive and long term air quality management programs are needed in order to keep air quality within acceptable limits to avoid their harmful effect on the inhabitants.

Main Subjects

History and Geography

No. of Pages

83

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-732212