Title: The impact of an airport on regional air quality at Munich, Germany

Authors: P. Suppan, J. Graf

Addresses: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, 21020 Ispra, Italy. Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft - und Raumfahrt, Institut fur Physik der Atmosphare, 82234 Wessling, Germany

Abstract: In May 1992, the new airport in Munich, Germany, became fully operational. In 1991, two research programmes within the Bavarian Climate Research Programme (BayFORKLIM) in Germany/Bavaria were established to measure, calculate and model the assumed change of the air quality in the vicinity of the new airport. By analysing the synoptic and local weather situation, measured and modelled air pollution distribution modifications in the air quality can be recognised. The results show no effect on the ozone but some effect in the NO_x concentrations. The sum of NO_x (NO + NO₂) concentrations shifts towards lower NO and higher NO₂) concentrations. The morning peak of the NO maximum occurs about one hour later than before the operation. During the weekend a significant increase of NO_x is seen within a range of 6 to 7 ppbv. The modelling studies indicate that emissions from motor vehicles are the predominant source of NO_x, aircraft emissions are of lesser importance.

Keywords: airport; air quality; photochemistry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2000.000559

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2000 Vol.14 No.1/2/3/4/5/6, pp.375-381

Published online: 18 Jul 2003 *

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