Environ Monit Assess. 2025 Dec 22;198(1):63. doi: 10.1007/s10661-025-14910-w.
ABSTRACT
Climate change can affect the dispersion of air pollutants, and it is important to investigate how the emission sources would contribute to air pollution in the context of future climate scenarios. The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of climate-induced changes on dispersion and concentration of local air pollutants related with aircraft operations in airport. The dispersion modelling was implemented considering current and future climate conditions (Copernicus data for 2050). The emission inventory for NO2 from aircraft was compiled for winter and summer periods using current publicly available flight-tracking data and emission factors provided by the European Environment Agency. The methodology is applied to Lisbon International Airport allowing quantification of climate-induced changes on local air pollution near the airport. Although the highest NO2 levels related to aircraft activities occur in winter, the most pronounced difference between the two climate scenarios is obtained for summer, with an increase up to 73% in the daily average concentration under future climate conditions. The area exceeding the EU daily average limit value expands by 59% in summer, while a slight 4% decrease is obtained for winter. Additionally, the data were analysed considering modelling receptor point co-located with the current measurements and showing that at some hours the airport may contribute up to 25% of NO2 observed in densely populated area. This study highlights the importance of climate change in shaping future airport-related air pollution, emphasizing the need for effective air quality management strategies in the context of climate change.
PMID:41428112 | DOI:10.1007/s10661-025-14910-w
