The evaluation of the influence of automobilization development on the condition of the atmospheric air in Kherson urban ecosystem

Abstract

 The paper establishes that currently the qualitative composition of atmospheric air is a serious ecological, social and economic problem of urbanized territories. It is explained by the fact that its qualitative composition on urbanized territories is formed under the influence of gas and dust emissions of enterprises and motor vehicles. Moreover the contribution of the latter to the general air pollution for most towns and cities ofUkrainemakes 60-90 % of the total amount of emissions. The level of the air pollution inKhersoncaused by means of transport was determined on the basis of calculations by the relevant method of maximum one-time pollutant emissions from traffic flows. 14 monitoring points of the main motorways of Kherson on 5 testing grounds were chosen in order to determine them. The internal territorial zoning ofKhersonwas conducted by means of the GIS-package Surfer 8.0, using Kriging method.

The qualitative composition of the atmospheric air in Khersonis determined by the level of its industrial development, the development of its service sector, the number of motor vehicles. Considering this, the most important anthropogenic source of the atmospheric air pollution in Khersonurban ecosystem is motor transport. Its intensive development leads to the construction of filling stations, service and repair centers, the development of the network of car wash services and parking lots. Therefore the main areas of air pollution are concentrated in the places, bordering on the motorways and the objects of transport infrastructure. In order to determine the level of the atmospheric air pollution caused by traffic flows, the calculation of their maximum dangerous emissions was performed in rush hours in the spring-summer period. The analysis of the calculation results showed that the intensity of the automobile traffic made from 28 thousand automobiles to 100 thousand automobiles per day on all the investigated sections, about 70 % of the motor vehicles are cars.                                                                                 

It has been established that when changing the modes of vehicle activity (accelerating, idling) less pollution is observed on the sections of regulated movement, than on the sections of non-regulated movement. It is explained by intensive traffic flows across the mentioned sections in holiday seasons and the intersection of the roads joining the administrative parts of the city. The internal territorial zoning ofKhersonwas conducted on the basis of determining the amount of the main emission indexes of the atmospheric air pollution caused by motor vehicles. According to the obtained research results 8 zones of air qualitative condition depending on the pollution caused by means of transport were distinguished, their ecological evaluation was performed by the following scale: 0.5-1.5 – an environmentally safe zone, 1.5-2.5 – a moderately safe zone,  2.5-7.5 – a polluted zone, 7.5-12 – a very polluted zone.

It has been established that the atmospheric air pollution withinKhersonurban ecosystem is formed concentrically. The highest level of pollution by harmful substances is observed on the Victory Square (3 testing ground), the Hannibal Square, the Freedom Square, The Shipbuilders’ Square (5 testing ground), the Railway Station Square (2 testing ground), the least maximum second emissions – in 200 years street of Kherson / Vyshneva (1 testing ground), Stritenska street / Komkova street (the part of 3 testing ground), Kulyka street / Ladychuka street (the part of 5 testing ground).

Since carbon oxide is among the most widespread toxic substances in the atmospheric air caused by motor vehicles, its concentration was calculated empirically in order to determine the level of pollution on the main motorways ofKherson. Evaluating the results of the performed calculations it should be mentioned that the concentration of carbon oxide on all the investigated sections exceeds the maximum allowable concentration 5–20 times. The ecological evaluation of the atmospheric air condition by carbon oxide was performed by the following scale: 0.0-1.9 – an environmentally safe zone, 2-4.9 – a moderately safe zone, 5-7.9 – a polluted zone, 8.0-10 – a very polluted zone.

The highest level of pollution by this ingredient was observed on the Victory Square (3 testing ground), the Railway Station Square, the Hannibal Square, the Freedom Square, Nebesna Sotnia street (5 testing ground), the lowest level of pollution – in the area of 3 bayonets (1 testing ground), 200 years of  Kherson street / Vyshneva street (1 testing ground). In the research it has been established that the level of gas pollution of the arterial roads and the territories along the motorways depends on the intensity of road traffic, the width and relief of a street, meteorological characteristics, the ratio of trucks and cars, the type of city building.

The main streets in the central part of  Khersonwith the most intensive traffic flows produce the most dangerous and moderately dangerous air pollution on the territory of residential buildings in the area of 100 mfrom the passable parts of the streets. On the basis of the determined concentration of carbon dioxide the zoning of Khersonurban ecosystem has been conducted. It has been determined that the pollution caused by motor vehicles is spread across the city concentrically. The integrated measures concerning the minimization of a negative impact of motor vehicles on the atmospheric air have been suggested on the basis of rationalization of auto transportation by ecological criteria and appropriate planning of road traffic.

Key words: atmospheric air, emissions, pollutants, maximum allowable concentration, internal territorial zoning