Monitoring Emissions over Coastal Regions of Pakistan: Current Status and Applicable Techniques

Abstract

Shipping operations have an environmental impact both in ports, as well as in the immediate vicinity of the coast. These impacts are due to the fuel burning exhaust from the ship’s main and auxiliary engines which contain gases like Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and machinery used for loading and unloading, in addition to particulate matter and dust from the handling of materials such as grain, coal and sand. Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) is an efficient tool being used worldwide for the monitoring of environmental problems. Response of Earth’s atmosphere or surface to electromagnetic radiation can be mapped through RS for the status of changes in the natural environment. Smart sensors developed for detection of air pollutants is an emerging technique to monitor emissions for real time monitoring and management of air pollution in distant regions. In the current study, satellite data is used to investigated concentrations of key emissions from shipping operations at ports to analyse the status of air pollutants over coastal regions of Pakistan. The pollutants investigated in this study through RS and GIS technique include CO2, SO2, NO2, CO and Particulate Matter (PM). These emission trends can be used to determine the efficacy of mitigatory measures to reduce emissions at ports and monitor the air quality of coastal areas. Furthermore, use of scientific technology and current trends in the measurement and monitoring of shipping emission have been studied for their applicability in Pakistan.