Modelling the Transport and Dispersion of Atmospheric Aerosols over Warri Area of the Niger Delta Subregion of Nigeria

摘要

This study investigates the transport profile and source-sink system for atmospheric aerosols over Warri area of the Niger Delta subregion of Nigeria. The study utilized GPS information of the study locations to simulate meteorological variables over the area from the Air Resource Laboratory (ARL) website. The ARL/GFS model was used to determine the wind-field information between 1st and 8th March 2012 over sub region. In addition backward air mass trajectories were determined at various heights of 5m, 1000m and 2000m AGL for aerosol transport pattern, as well as concentration dispersion using the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model. During the study period, aerosols were noticed to evolve from the sea of the Atlantic Ocean, hence are likely of sea salt origin. Winds over the sub region ranged between 4 and 6 m/s and predominantly in the south and south westerly directions. The maximum pollutant concentration observed was about 1.0 × 10~(-12) μg/m~3 while the minimum was about 1.5 × 10~(-24) μg/m~3.