Dry deposition of nitrogen compounds (NO 2 , HNO 3 , NH 3 ), sulfur dioxide and ozone in west and central African ecosystems using the inferential method

Abstract. This work is part of the IDAF program (IGAC-DEBITS-AFRICA) and is based on the long-term monitoring of gas concentrations (1998–2007) established at seven remote sites representative of major African ecosystems. Dry deposition fluxes were estimated by the inferential method using on the one hand surface measurements of gas concentrations (NO2, HNO3, NH3, SO2 and O3) and on the other hand modeled exchange rates. Dry deposition velocities (Vd) were calculated using the big-leaf model of Zhang et al. (2003b). The bidirectional approach is used for NH3 surface–atmosphere exchange (Zhang et al., 2010). Surface and meteorological conditions specific to IDAF sites have been used in the models of deposition. The seasonal and annual mean variations of gaseous dry deposition fluxes (NO2, HNO3, NH3, O3 and SO2) are analyzed. Along the latitudinal transect of ecosystems, the annual mean dry deposition fluxes of nitrogen compounds range from −0.4 to −0.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1 for NO2, from −0.7 to −1.0 kg N ha−1 yr−1 for HNO3 and from −0.7 to −8.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1 for NH3 over the study period (1998–2007). The total nitrogen dry deposition flux (NO2+HNO3+NH3) is more important in forests (−10 kg N ha−1 yr−1) than in wet and dry savannas (−1.6 to −3.9 kg N ha−1 yr−1). The annual mean dry deposition fluxes of ozone range between −11 and −19 kg ha−1 yr−1 in dry and wet savannas, and −11 and −13 kg ha−1 yr−1 in forests. Lowest O3 dry deposition fluxes in forests are correlated to low measured O3 concentrations, lower by a factor of 2–3, compared to other ecosystems. Along the ecosystem transect, the annual mean of SO2 dry deposition fluxes presents low values and a small variability (−0.5 to −1 kg S ha−1 yr−1). No specific trend in the interannual variability of these gaseous dry deposition fluxes is observed over the study period

Emissions from the road traffic of West African cities : assessment of vehicle fleet and fuel consumption

Traffic source emission inventories for the rapidly growing West African urban cities are necessary for better characterization of local vehicle emissions released into the atmosphere of these cities. This study is based on local field measurements in Yopougon (Abidjan, C&ocirc te d&rsquo Ivoire) in 2016 a site representative of anthropogenic activities in West African cities. The measurements provided data on vehicle type and age, traveling time, fuel type, and estimated amount of fuel consumption. The data revealed high traffic flow of personal cars on highways, boulevards, and backstreets, whereas high flows of intra-communal sedan taxis were observed on main and secondary roads. In addition, the highest daily fuel consumption value of 56 L&middot day&minus 1 was recorded for heavy vehicles, while the lowest value of 15 L&middot 1 was recorded for personal cars using gasoline. This study is important for the improvement of uncertainties related to the different databases used to estimate emissions either in national or international reports. This work provides useful information for future studies on urban air quality, climate, and health impact assessments in African cities. It may also be useful for policy makers to support implementation of emission reduction policies in West African cities. Document type: Articl

Exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution among children under five years old in urban area

Indoor air pollution associated with cooking and heating biomass fuel burning is estimated to be responsible for 7 million deaths in 2016 and most of these deaths occur in low and middle income countries. In Côte d'Ivoire, 73% of the population is reported using biomass (charcoal or wood) for cooking. The active device 3M EVM-7 was used to measure PM2.5 daily average concentrations inside and outside households in areas close (Andokoi) and far (Lubafrique) to an industrial zone in two popular neighborhoods of Yopougon, the largest and most populated municipality of the city of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). PM2.5 daily average concentrations indoors and outdoors are respectively 121±12 µg/m3 and 117±8 µg/m3 in Andokoi and 32±3 µg/m3 and 41±4 µg/m3 in Lubafrique well above the World Health Organization guideline value (25 µg/m3) for air quality. Using multivariable models, the results were the number of windows in bedrooms and kitchens located outdoor were negatively correlated with the concentration of indoor PM2.5. The outdoor concentrations of PM2.5, were higher according to the cooking fuel type

Analysis of Nocturnal Low Level Clouds breakup over Southern West Africa during Monsoon season.

International audienc

Emissions from the road traffic of West African cities : assessment of vehicle fleet and fuel consumption

Traffic source emission inventories for the rapidly growing West African urban cities are necessary for better characterization of local vehicle emissions released into the atmosphere of these cities. This study is based on local field measurements in Yopougon (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire) in 2016; a site representative of anthropogenic activities in West African cities. The measurements provided data on vehicle type and age, traveling time, fuel type, and estimated amount of fuel consumption. The data revealed high traffic flow of personal cars on highways, boulevards, and backstreets, whereas high flows of intra-communal sedan taxis were observed on main and secondary roads. In addition, the highest daily fuel consumption value of 56 L.day(-1) was recorded for heavy vehicles, while the lowest value of 15 L.day(-1) was recorded for personal cars using gasoline. This study is important for the improvement of uncertainties related to the different databases used to estimate emissions either in national or international reports. This work provides useful information for future studies on urban air quality, climate, and health impact assessments in African cities. It may also be useful for policy makers to support implementation of emission reduction policies in West African cities

Benzene monitoring by micro-machined sensors with SnO2 layer obtained by using micro-droplet deposition technique

International audienceSnO2 thin layers were deposited by the way of the micro-droplet technique. The sensor substrate consisted of a thin membrane developed on oxidised silicon wafer. The sensing layers were deposited by means of the micro-droplet technique into thin layers of about 100 nm. Such devices were tested for benzene detection. The obtained results showed a very high sensitivity for this chemical compound since 500 ppb were detected. The results presented in this paper were not focused on the reactional mechanism of benzene detection but rather on the development of a cheap and sensitive sensor using sol-gel and micro-droplet processes. Since these layers were elaborated using solely tin oxide, the as-obtained sensors are not selective but these one are intended to be used by coupling with additional devices such as chromatographic micro-column and micro-pre-concentrators

Dry and Wet atmospheric nitrogen deposition in Africa

This work is part of the IDAF* (IGAC/DEBITS/AFrica) programme which started in 1995 with the establishment of 10 measurement sites representative of major African ecosystems. The objectives of the programme are to study dry and wet deposition of important trace species and more generally the biogeochemical cycles of key nutrients. In this way, the IDAF activity is based on high quality measurements of atmospheric chemical data (gaseous, precipitation and aerosols chemical composition) on the basis of a multi-year monitoring. In this paper, our objective is to present the first estimation of the atmospheric nitrogen deposition budget in Africa based on experimental measurements. To estimate atmospheric nitrogen deposition, including both wet and dry processes, we compiled the IDAF nitrogen data (rain, particles and gases) obtained from the network for three consecutive years: 1998, 1999 and 2000. In western and central Africa, we studied a transect going from dry savanna (Niger and Mali) to humid savanna (Ivory Coast and Central Republic of Africa) and forest (Congo and Cameroon). In South Africa, two IDAF very different sites were chosen to be representative on one hand of a rural (semi-arid savanna) and on the other hand of an industrialized site. Presenting the different components of the nitrogen atmospheric deposition on these sites, i.e, dry deposition in gaseous (NO2, NH3, HNO3) and particulate forms (pNH4+, pNO3-) associated with wet deposition (NH4+, NO3-), this study allows us to give the relative contribution of dry and wet deposition processes to the total nitrogen deposition. The nitrogen atmospheric deposition presented for all the IDAF sites of the african continent range from 8 to 19 kgN.ha-1.yr-1. Sites from dry savanna in South Africa and West Africa have similar values (around 8-9 kgN.ha-1.yr-1 ) which are found in the lower part of the range. Wet zones from savanna and forests give values in the upper range (15 to 19 kgN.ha-1.yr-1). The Amersfoort site, representative of an anthropogenically modified savanna gives values also in the upper range (15 kgN.ha-1.yr-1). Moreover, this study indicates that dry deposition in all the ecosystems dominates and represents about 60-70 percent of the total nitrogen atmospheric deposition (except Amersfoort). These new datasets have led to estimate for the first time the nitrogen budget over the African continent. It is worth noting that the estimated range is similar to modelled ones (Galloway and Cowling, 2002; Rodhe et al, 2002). *IGAC/DEBITS/Africa: International Global Atmospheric Chemistry/ DEposition of Biogeochemically Important Trace Species/Afric

Dry and wet atmospheric nitrogen deposition in Africa.

(24-29 avril 2005)

Analysis of trends and seasonal variations of nitrogen dioxide and nitric acid concentrations measured at six rural sites in Africa from 1998 to 2015

International audienc