Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Rangeland Resources & Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #326375
Title: Measurement and modeling air quality impacts of dust emissions from unpaved roads in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas

Author
item DIAZ-NIGENDA, EMMANUEL - Universidad De Ciencias Y Artes De Chiapas
item Tatarko, John
item MENDEZ, ZULEYMA HERNAND - Universidad De Ciencias Y Artes De Chiapas
item MORALES, WILLIAMS VAZQUE - Universidad De Ciencias Y Artes De Chiapas
item IGLESIAS, HORACIO MORALES - Universidad De Ciencias Y Artes De Chiapas
item IBARQUENGOITIA, MIGUEL ALATORRE - Universidad De Ciencias Y Artes De Chiapas

Submitted to: Geosciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/24/2018
Publication Date: 7/30/2018
Citation: Diaz-Nigenda, E., Tatarko, J., Mendez, Z., Morales, W., Iglesias, H., Ibarquengoitia, M. 2018. Measurement and modeling air quality impacts of dust emissions from unpaved roads in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas. Geosciences. 8:284. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8080284.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences8080284

Interpretive Summary: Dust emissions from unpaved roads are one of the main pollutants that affect air quality around the world. As part of initial air quality studies in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, a computer model called the Industrial Source Complex (ISC3) model was used to simulate the dust plume dispersion to identify the main areas impacted by fine dust. Field wind erosion events from unpaved roads were measured in February to March, 2014 at two different sites located within the city to characterize dust emissions and to produce ISC3 model inputs for representative road conditions around the city. Find dust emissions were monitored for nine wind erosion events. Results of measurements and simulations show that unpaved roads represent a potential source of dust particles that affect air quality of the city. This demonstrates the influence of wind conditions generated by the passing of cold fronts over the region, generating high dust concentrations.

Technical Abstract: Dust emissions from unpaved roads are one of the main pollutants that affect air quality around the world. As part of initial air quality studies in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, the Industrial Source Complex (ISC3) model was applied to simulate the dust plume dispersion to identify the main areas impacted by particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter less than 10µm (PM10). Field aeolian emission events from unpaved roads were measured in February to March, 2014 at two different sites located within the city to characterize emissions and to produce ISC3 model inputs for representative road conditions around the city. PM10 emissions were monitored for nine wind erosion events. Results of measurements and simulations show that unpaved roads represent a potential source of dust particles that affect air quality of the city. This demonstrates the influence of unstability conditions generated by the entrance of cold fronts over the region, generating high PM10 concentrations.