Vertical Distribution of Particulates within the Near-Surface Layer of Dry Bulk Port and Influence Mechanism: A Case Study in China

Jinxing Shen, Xuejun Feng, Kai Zhuang, Tong Lin, Yan Zhang and Peifang Wang
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Jinxing Shen: College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, No.1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China
Xuejun Feng: College of Habour, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, No.1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China
Kai Zhuang: College of Habour, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, No.1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China
Tong Lin: College of Habour, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, No.1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China
Yan Zhang: College of Habour, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, No.1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China
Peifang Wang: Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, No.1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 24, 1-16

Abstract: Knowing the vertical distribution of ambient particulate matter (PM) will help port authorities choose the optimal dust-suppression measures to reduce PM concentrations. In this study, we used an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to assess the vertical distribution (0–120 m altitude) of PM in a dry bulk port along the Yangtze River, China. Total suspended particulates (TSP), PM10, and PM2.5 concentrations at different altitudes were measured at seven sites representing different cargo-handling sites and a background site. Variations in results across sites make it not suitable to characterize the vertical distribution of PM concentration at this port using simple representative distributions. Bulk cargo particle size, fog cannon use, and porous fence all affected the vertical distribution of TSP concentrations but had only minor impacts on PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations. Optimizing porous fence layout according to weather conditions and cargo demand at port have the most potential for mitigating PM pollution related to port operation. As ground-based stations cannot fully measure vertical PM distributions, our methods and results represent an advance in assessing the impact of port activities on air quality and can be used to determine optimal dust-suppression measures for dry bulk ports.

Keywords: dry bulk port; ambient PM; near-surface layer; hexacopter UAV; dust suppression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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