Road transport impact on PM2.5 pollution over Delhi during the post-monsoon season

Abstract

We use the WRF-Chem atmospheric chemical transport model, driven by local emission inventories, to quantify the contribution of on-road transport emissions to surface PM_2.5 over Delhi during the post-monsoon season. We compare this contribution to other local (within Delhi) and regional (within the broader National Capital Region, NCR) anthropogenic sectors during the post-monsoon period when seasonal burning and stagnating meteorological conditions exacerbate baseline pollution levels. We find that local on-road transport contributes approximately 10% to daily mean PM_2.5 over Delhi, rising to 17% if regional on-road transport sources in the NCR are included. The largest individual contributions to Delhi daily mean PM_2.5 are from regional power and industry (14%) and domestic (11%) sectors, dominating nighttime and almost all daytime concentrations. Long range transport contribution from sources beyond the NCR is found to account for approximately 40%. The contribution from the local on-road transport sector to diurnal mean PM_2.5 is largest (18%) during the evening traffic peak. It is dominated by contributions from two- and three-wheelers (50%) followed by heavy-duty vehicles (30%), which also collectively represent 60–70% of the total on-road transport sector at any hour of the day. The combined contribution from passenger cars and light duty vehicles and from resuspended road dust to daily mean PM_2.5 is small (20%). Our work highlights two important factors which need to be considered in developing effective policies to meet PM_2.5 air quality standards in Delhi during post-monsoon. First, a multi-sector and multi-scale approach is needed, which prioritise the reduction in local transport emissions within Delhi, and, in the order, regional industries, domestic and transport emissions from NCR. Second, two-and three-wheelers and heavy-duty vehicles dominate on-road transport impact to PM_2.5, thus reductions from these vehicles should be given priority, both within Delhi and in the NCR.