Application of air pollution dispersion modeling for source-contribution assessment and model performance evaluation at integrated industrial estate-Pantnagar

Source-contribution assessment of ambient NO2 concentration was performed at Pantnagar, India through simulation of two urban mathematical dispersive models namely Gaussian Finite Line Source Model (GFLSM) and Industrial Source Complex Model (ISCST-3) and model performances were evaluated. Principal approaches were development of comprehensive emission inventory, monitoring of traffic density and regional air quality and conclusively simulation of urban dispersive models. Initially, 18 industries were found responsible for emission of 39.11 kg/h of NO2 through 43 elevated stacks. Further, vehicular emission potential in terms of NO2 was computed as 7.1 kg/h. Air quality monitoring delineates an annual average NO2 concentration of 32.6 μg/m3. Finally, GFLSM and ISCST-3 were simulated in conjunction with developed emission inventories and existing meteorological conditions. Models simulation indicated that contribution of NO2 from industrial and vehicular source was in a range of 45–70% and 9–39%, respectively. Further, statistical analysis revealed satisfactory model performance with an aggregate accuracy of 61.9%.

Research highlights
► Application of dispersion modeling for source-contribution assessment of ambient NO2.
► Inventorization revealed emission from industry and vehicles was 39.11 and 7.1 kg/h.
► GFLSM revealed that vehicular pollution contributes a range of 9.0–38.6%.
► Source-contribution of 45–70% was found for industrial emission through ISCST-3.
► Aggregate performance of both models shows good agreement with an accuracy of 61.9%.