Investigations on Deposited Dust Fallout in Urban Doha: Characterization, Source Apportionment and Mitigation

Abstract

This preliminary study investigates and reports on the sources, characterization and possible mitigation of dust fallout in urban Doha, Qatar. Nine samples were collected from three different sites in close vicinity to the Solar Test Facility (STF) in west Doha during the winter of 2016 in Doha. The morphology and size distribution of the samples were analyzed using scanning electron and optical microscopy imaging techniques. It was found that the particulate matter had different shapes with an average particle size of 7.38 μm. The mass concentration of the elements, in order from greatest to smallest, was: Ca, Si, Fe, Mg, Al, Ti, K, Na, S, and Cl. The enrichment factor showed extremely high ratios of Cl and S, while Ca had significant enrichment value. The sources of PM samples were identified to be mainly of natural origin (around 60%) with the balance attributed to anthropogenic sources. The natural sources were related to soil/crustal matter, marine salt and desert dust while the anthropogenic sources were mainly due to transportation and construction activities, which have been experiencing dramatic increase during the past decade in Doha along with its rapid economic development. To this end, several possible mitigation strategies to abate urban PM and its harmful effects were also proposed considering the local living and cultural conditions in Qatar.

Estimating Economic and Environmental Benefits of Urban Trees in Desert Regions

“…In addition, trees can directly impact particulate matter (PM) concentrations in the air by removing, emitting, or particles being re-suspended from leaf or branch surfaces (Nowak, 2000;Mell et al, 2010). Mitigation of PM in urban desert areas with high levels of dust can be of special importance due to the effects of man-made and natural PM on human health (Teather et al, 2013), visibility (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2010) and solar energy production applications (Aissa et al, 2016;Isaifan et al, 2017;Al-Thani et al, 2018).…”

Evaluation of particulate matter emissions from non-passenger diesel vehicles in Qatar

“…The sources were approximated based on the elemental fingerprint in this region as reported earlier in Table S1 (Al-Thani, Koc, and Isaifan 2018b) and as summarized by other studies as in Table S2 (Pant and Harrison 2013) and Table S3. It can be seen that non-traffic sites were highly affected by dust generated from construction activities as well as naturally occurring calcite at 46% (Aissa et al 2016;Al-Thani, Koc, and Isaifan 2018b;Saraga et al 2017). Moreover, the non-traffic samples (Fig S3.…”

“…Preliminary source apportionment evaluation of the traffic dust was conducted based on the elemental fingerprint of the dust composition, and in accordance with previous source apportionment work reported by other groups (Al-Thani, Koc, and Isaifan 2018b;Davy et al 2011Davy et al , 2012Katheeri, Jallad, and Al Omar 2012;Khodeir et al 2012;Pant and Harrison 2013;Santoso et al 2011). This method provides a preliminary insight of the possible sources of the particulate matter when detailed analysis and characterization are not feasible to feed the data into Positive Matrix Factorization or Chemical Mass Balance Analysis methods.…”

Aerosol Optical Thickness over Large Urban Environments of the Arabian Peninsula—Speciation, Variability, and Distributions

“…Aerosols play a major role in regulating global climate by scattering and absorbing radiation, affecting cloud formation and precipitation, and, hence, the earth's radiation budget [1]. Depending on their chemical composition, they also have negative effects on human health, can affect agricultural yields, and play an important role in transferring nutrients to phytoplankton in the oceans due to their iron (Fe) content [2,3].…”

“…Depending on their chemical composition, they also have negative effects on human health, can affect agricultural yields, and play an important role in transferring nutrients to phytoplankton in the oceans due to their iron (Fe) content [2,3]. Understanding aerosol distribution, speciation, and trends, thus, becomes particularly important on a regional and local scale [1].…”