Abstract
Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the South Korean cement industry are investigated with remote-sensing measurements, surface observations, and in situ aircraft measurements. In the Yeongwol, Danyang, and Jecheon regions of central South Korea, six closely located cement factories produce 31 million tons of cement annually. Their impact on the regional environment has been a public-policy issue, but their pollutants have not been continuously monitored nor have emissions inventories been fully verified. Using a newly developed downscaling technique, remote-sensing analyses show that Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) NO2 column densities over the cement kilns have more than twice the modeled concentrations, indicating that the kilns are one of the most dominant NOx emission point sources in South Korea. Observed NOx emissions are stronger in the spring, suggesting that these sources play an important role in the formation of surface ozone and secondary particulate matter. These emissions also slightly increased in recent years, even while most major South Korean cities posted a declining trend in NOx emissions. Photochemical models (during May to July 2015) demonstrate that emissions from the South Korean cement industry have significant environmental impacts, both on surface ozone (up to approximately 4 ppb) and PM2.5 (up to approximately 2 µg/m3).
Highlights
Cement manufacturing has serious environmental impacts at all stages of production, emitting airborne dust during the collection of raw materials in quarries and releasing kiln gases during the factory operation, among other effects
The subsequent sections address the following: (1) Whether or not satellites can detect small-scale local emission sources, such as cement kilns; (2) whether the current South Korean emissions inventory is correct for the cement industry; and (3) whether Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions signals detected by satellites are consistent with measurements by surface monitoring and aircraft
As mobile sources (62%), power plants (13%), and industrial sources in South Korea are all major contributors to NOx emissions [38], the general distribution of Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) NO2 (17%) in South Korea are all major contributors to NOx emissions [38], the general distribution of OMI
Summary
Cement manufacturing has serious environmental impacts at all stages of production, emitting airborne dust during the collection of raw materials in quarries and releasing kiln gases during the factory operation, among other effects. As cement is one of the most popular building materials worldwide, the cement industry is a major source of emissions, with its impacts on regional air quality. The subsequent sections address the following: (1) Whether or not satellites can detect small-scale local emission sources, such as cement kilns; (2) whether the current South Korean emissions inventory is correct for the cement industry; and (3) whether NOx emissions signals detected by satellites are consistent with measurements by surface monitoring and aircraft.
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