Khanjer et. al. Iraqi Journal of Science, 2015, Vol 56, No.

1C, pp: 839-845

ISSN: 0067-2904
GIF: 0.851

Air Quality Over Baghdad City Using Ground and Aircraft Measurements.
Ebtesam F.Khanjer1*,Mohammed A.Yosif1, Mathem A.Sultan2.
1
Departments of Space and astronomy, College of Science, Baghdad University, Baghdad, Iraq.
2
Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.

Abstract
In this paper, the air pollutants concentrations measurements such as Total
Suspended Particles(TSP), Carbon Monoxides(CO),Carbon Dioxide (CO 2) and
meteorological parameters including temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and
wind speed & direction were conducted in Baghdad city by several stations
measuring numbered (22) stations located in different regions, and were classified
into (industrial, commercial and residential) stations. The results show that the
concentrations of pollutants (TSP, CO, and CO2) have exceeded the air quality
standards set by World Health Organization (WHO) and Iraqi limitation in the
stations of the Baghdad city. The program (ArcGIS) used to prepare maps of air
pollution in Baghdad city, as well as MS Excel used for drawing the concentrations
of pollutants in ground and to show changed the concentrations with altitude.
Aircraft measurements of gaseous pollutants including ozone (O 3), Carbone
monoxide (CO) , Carbone dioxide (CO2) and the particulate matter concentrations (
PM10 , PM2.5 ) were conducted in the Baghdad city from ( 2 January 2014 to 4
Mars 2014 ),the data of total 10 flight (22 h flight time ),the vertical profile of (CO
,CO2 ,O3 ,PM10and PM2.5 ) have been obtained at different altitude over the
Baghdad city covering the lowermost troposphere up to 2100 feet altitude above
ground level (AGL) during all flights were obtained by A bell 407 aircraft and A
king aircraft. The objective was to characterize the spatial and vertical distributions
of these air pollutants.The results indicate that the air pollution levels were severe
over the Baghdad city. The pollutants concentrations were generally decreasing
with altitude in the boundary layer in the flight measurements .These results are
valuable for studying vertical distribution characteristics of gaseous pollutants and
particulate matters in the boundary layer over the Baghdad city and for providing
important basic data to environmental assessment and decision-making. The reasons
for this increasing due to increase in anthropogenic emissions, mainly due to the
increase in fossil fuel use for heating, the burning of the fuel used in various types
of vehicles, as well as the low quality of fuel and the age of the vehicles, the use of
generators, the dry climate, soil erosion, lack of roadside vegetation, paved areas,
substantial rise in number of vehicles and poorly maintained vehicles have all been
held Responsible.

Keywords: air pollution, aircraft measurements, groundmeasurements, ozone,

GISand particular matter.

.‫تقييم نوعية هواء مدينة بغداد باستخدام القياسات االرضية وقياسات الطائرة‬

2
‫ ميثم عبداهلل سلطان‬,1‫محمد علي يوسف‬,*¹‫ابتسام فاضل خنجر‬
‫العراق‬, ‫بغداد‬, ‫جامعة بغداد‬, ‫كمية العموم‬, ‫قسم الفمك والفضاء‬1
‫العراق‬, ‫بغداد‬,‫ و ازرة العموم و التكنولوجيا‬2

_______________________________
*Email dr.ebtesamfk@ yahoo.com
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Khanjer et. al. Iraqi Journal of Science, 2015, Vol 56, No.1C, pp: 839-845

‫الخالصة‬
‫) واكاسيد الكربون‬TSP( ‫في هذا البحث تم قياس تراكيز المموثات الهوائية المتمثمة بالدقائق العالقة الكمية‬
‫) محطة موزعة في‬22(‫) في مدينة بغداد من خالل عدة محطات قياس ارضية بمغ عددها‬CO2 , CO(
‫ أظهرت نتائج قياس تراكيز المموثات‬.)‫ وجرى تصنيفها إلى محطات (صناعية وتجارية وسكنية‬,‫مناطق مختمفة‬
‫) قد تجاوزت المحددات القياسية المسموح بها‬TSP,CO,CO2(‫الهوائية في مدينة بغداد إن تراكيز المموثات‬
‫ وكذلك تم قياس تراكيز المموثات الهوائية المتمثمة‬.‫محمياً وعالمياً لمموثات الهواء ولمحطات القياس جميعها‬
‫) في مدينة بغداد من‬O3) ‫)وغاز االزون‬CO2 , CO( ‫) واكاسيد الكربون‬PM10,PM2.5( ‫بالدقائق العالقة‬
‫خاللتقسيم مدينة بغداد الى اربع مقاطع جوا حيث استخدمت الطائرة في عممية القياس واظهرت النتائج ان‬
‫تركيز المموثات الهوائية في مدينه بغداد عالي وان تركيز المموثات يقل مع زيادة االرتفاع وان تركيز المموثات‬
.‫) إلعداد خرائط لممموثات الهوائية‬ArcGIS 9.2( ‫ وجرى استخدام برنامج‬.‫الهوائية له ارتباط بموقع القياس‬

1. Introduction
The airthat a human breathe is a mixture of gases, small solid and liquid particles. Some substances
come from natural sources while others are caused by human activities such as our use of motor
vehicles, domestic activities, power generation, industry and business. Air pollution occurs when the
air contains substances in quantities that could harm the comfort or health of humans and animals, or
could damage plants and materials. These substances are called air pollutants and can be either
particles, liquids or gaseous in nature [1].The air pollutants can be classified as primary or secondary
pollutants. The primary air pollutants are harmful chemicals which directly enter the air due to natural
events and human activities.
A secondary air pollutant is a harmful chemical produced in the air due to chemical reaction
between two or more components. That is primary pollutant combines with some component of the
atmosphere to produce a secondary pollutant [2]. with the rapid industrialization and urbanization after
the industrial revolution, human activities accentuated the degradation of air quality for the last several
centuries. Severe air pollutant events drew public attention to the influences of air pollutants on human
health, and epidemiological studies proved the effects on mortality and diseases [3]. The new trends in
environmental knowledge and management are drawing environmental maps of measurements groups
and monitoring environmental elements. Computer science begins new and developing horizons in
environmental data managements and in taking direct and suitable decisions. GIS is one of the new
and developing systems, which become an effective tool in designing and planning [4].This study
investigates the air pollution in Baghdad city by using the ground measurements and the aircraft
measurements and applications of geographic information system GIS in understanding air pollution.
2. Study area.
Baghdad city is located in central Iraq, within the sector of flat sedimentary plains. The borders of the
municipality of Baghdad encompass fourteen administrative units, eight in Rusafa(east of Tigris river )
and six in Karkh (west of Tigris river), and area of the municipality of Baghdad (870 km²).
Advantages of the characteristics of study area are: essentially great extremism in temperature, little
precipitation, low relative humidity and high brightness of the sun. The population of Baghdad is more
than 6 million from governmental statistics [5, 6]. .
3. Methods.
22 measurement stations Figure-1(a) which are distributed in different areas within the municipality of
Baghdad were selected for the purpose of measuring the concentration of total suspended particles
(TSP), and gases (CO, CO2) Stations were distributed on a regular basis to cover most areas of the
city. Aircraft measurements of gaseous pollutants including ozone (O3), Carbone monoxide (CO),
Carbone dioxide (CO2) and the particulate matter concentrations ( PM10 , PM2.5 ) and meteorological
parameters in Figure-1(b) were conducted in the Baghdad city from ( 2 January 2014 to 4 Mars 2014
),the data of total 10 flight (22 h flight time ),the Baghdad city was divided to four sections (A, B,
C&D) according to influenced the pollution level of pollutants, the vertical profile of (CO ,CO2 ,O3
,PM10and PM2.5 ) have been obtained at different altitude over the Baghdad city covering the
lowermost troposphere up to 2100 feet altitude above ground level (AGL) during all flights were
obtained by A bell 407 aircraft and A king aircraft.

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(b) (a)

Figure 1- (a) Measurement stations of air pollution in Baghdad city and municipal units. (b)The four flight
routes over the Baghdad city.

4. Results and discussion

4.1 The ground measurements
The results of air pollutants concentrations in Baghdad city are shown in Table-1. The highest
concentrations of TSP, CO, and CO2 are recorded in many stations (4, 6, 8, 10, 16, 17, 18), which are
characterized by high population and increase in the number of cars as well as poor fuel, the age of the
vehicles and industrial activities inside the city.
Table 1-The concentration of air pollutants with in current study.
Wind
Statio Name of CO CO2 TSP TEMP RH
Type of station speedm
n No. station ppm ppm μg/m³ cº %
/ sec
1 Shaikh Omer Industrial 32.1 352 1461.8 22 1 56
2 Waziriya Industrial 42.4 328 1228.7 24 1.1 49
3 Kasrawaatash Industrial 51.6 325 809.5 27 0.5 43
4 Kamaliya Industrial 22 327 4025.3 26 1.7 44
5 Sheikh maroof Industrial 28.3 336 844.3 23 1.5 54
6 Kadhimiya Industrial 29 355 1979.2 19 0.3 61
7 Dora refinery Industrial 22.2 320 1029 26 0.9 46
8 Bab al sharqi Commercial 41.2 375 2379.7 18 0.9 66
Bab al
9 Commercial 36.6 360 1263.3 25 1.5 49
moadham
10 New Baghdad Commercial 37.8 442 3067 21 1 58
11 Andalus sq. Commercial 35.2 376 810.4 27 0.5 44
12 Alawi Commercial 28.3 362 768.3 19 1 64
13 Mansor Commercial 16.3 357 1503.8 23 0.3 55
14 Jaderiya Commercial 16.9 372 1726.4 20 1.5 63
15 Bayaa Commercial 26.6 353 1770.5 27 0.5 42
16 Mustansiriya sq. Residential 50.2 413 2312.1 20 0.4 62

17 Shaab Residential 49.3 322 5244.7 25 1 45

18 Sader city Residential 42.7 315 3246 25 1.3 46
19 Zaafaraniya Residential 18.9 385 3477.3 23 0.5 54
20 Hurria Residential 12.8 330 1544.2 25 1.5 47

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21 Yarmook Residential 13.7 329 1667.3 24 1.3 48

22 Dora Residential 25.5 345 2333.1 22 1.5 51
4.2 Aircraft measurements.
Bell 407 aircraft with a cruising speed of about 180 km/h was used for all the flights in section (A)
and section (B). A king air aircraft with a cruising speed of about 250 km/h was used for all flight in
section (C) and section (D),as show in Figure-2.

Figure 2-The pictures of aircraft left bell 407 and right king air.
Four different flight routes were carried out during the sampling periods. Section (A) flight
includes the 2 January, 15 February most of flight shows high concentration of gases pollutants and
particular matter. Carbon dioxide concentration ranges from 1.2 ppm at altitude 100 f to 0.006 ppm
at 2100 f. Carbon monoxide concentration ranges from 296 ppm at altitude 100 f to 90 ppm at
2100, PM 10 concentration ranges from 28 μg/m³ at 100 f to 10 μg/m³ at 2100 f and PM 2.5
concentration ranges from 10650 μg/m³ at 100 f to 5638 μg/m³ at 2100 f as shown in fig .3 .The
results shows the concentrations were highest levels on lowest altitude and decrease with increase of
the altitude, the reason of high concentration is the local emission of area that contain on the oil
refinery and industrial region, the ozone measurements is also high, the concentration ranges from 110
ppb at altitude 100 f to 51 ppb at 2100 and the reason to the emissions of the VOSc and NOx and
present the sunlight intensity in the region.Section (B) flight includes the 9 January, 9 February most
of flight shows high concentration of gases pollutants and particular matter.
Carbon dioxide concentration ranges from 0.88 ppm at altitude 100 f to 0.01 ppm at 2100 f.
Carbon monoxide concentration ranges from 204 ppm at altitude 100 f to 113 ppm at 2100, PM10
concentration ranges from 27 μg/m³ at 100 f to 5 μg/m³ at 2100 f and PM 2.5 concentration ranges
from 9442 μg/m³ at 100 f to 7021 μg/m³ at 2100 f as shown in fig .3 .The results shows the
concentrations were highest levels on lowest altitude and decrease with increase of the altitude, the
reason of high concentration is the local emission of area that contain on highly populated in the
region, industrialized, used the generator and road a traffic. The ozone concentration ranges from 52
ppb at altitude 100 f to 43 ppb at 2100 and the reason to reduce the emissions of the VOSc and NOx in
the region.
Section (C) flight includes the 4 February, 4 March in morning, 4 March in afternoon. Carbon
dioxide concentration ranges from 0.7 ppm at altitude 20 f to 0.01 ppm at 2100 f. Carbon monoxide
concentration ranges from 236 ppm at altitude 20 f to 130 ppm at 2100, PM10 concentration ranges
from 64 μg/m³ at 20 f to 4 μg/m³ at 2100 f and PM2.5 concentration ranges from 10410 μg/m³ at
20 f to 5564 μg/m³ at 2100 f as shown in fig .3 .The results shows the concentrations were highest
levels on lowest altitude and decrease with increase of the altitude, the reason of concentration is the
local emission of area that contain on agriculture in most region and suffer from high levels of
particular matter reason to the prevailing wind that come from the north or northwest direction. The
ozone concentration ranges from 52 ppb at altitude 20 f to 54 ppb at 2100 and the reason to reduce the

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emissions of the VOSc and NOx in the region. Section (D) flight includes 6 January in morning, 6
January in afternoon, and 10 February.
Carbon dioxide concentration ranges from 0.8 ppm at altitude 20 f to 0.1 ppm at 2100 f. Carbon
monoxide concentration ranges from 204 ppm at altitude 20 f to 137 ppm at 2100, PM10
concentration ranges from 40 μg/m³ at 20 f to 10 μg/m³ at 2100 f and PM2.5 concentration ranges
from 5820 μg/m³ at 20 f to 3021 μg/m³ at 2100 f as shown in fig .3 .The results shows the
concentrations were highest levels on lowest altitude and decrease with increase of the altitude, the
reason is the local emission of area that contain on airlines way that main reason of pollution. This
measurement was characterizing the local variation of air pollution in Baghdad city. The compare
between all sections shows effects the local emissions on variation of air pollutants in Baghdad city
and influence factors, as show in Figure-3.

Figure 3-Concentrations of air pollutants by aircraft in Baghdad city.

5. GIS Applications
Spatial analyst provided by (Arc GIS 9.2) has been used, and this is one of the programming
packages of GIS in order to analyze the air pollution in Baghdad city and to prepare the distribution
maps for it as show in Figure-4.

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Figure 4-The maps of distribution of (TSP, CO, and CO2) in the ground measurements by using GIS.

Spatial analyst is considered to be one of the important functions in GIS, this function is used to
form maps to illustrate levels of air pollution in the study stations where the measurement of air
pollutants concentration is carried out .The pollution levels are divided to classes in order to represent
values of air pollutants within Colorgradientsfrom minimum concentration to maximum concentration
and for every pollutant of air pollutants at the stations of this study.

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6. Conclusions
1. The results indicate that the air pollution levels were severe over the Baghdad city with the
concentrations of CO, CO2 and TSP in the ground measurements, the highest concentrations of
TSP, CO, and CO2 are recorded in many stations (4, 6, 8, 10, 16, 17, 18), which are
characterized by high population and increase in the number of cars as well as poor fuel, the age
of the vehicles and industrial activities inside the city
2. The pollutants concentrations were generally decreasing with altitude in the boundary layer in
the flight measurements.
3. This measurement was characterizing the local variation of air pollution in Baghdad city.

7. References

1. Alias M., 2007. PM10 and Total suspended particulates (TSP) measurements in various power
stations, The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, 11(1), pp: 255-261.
2. Naik S., 2005. Studies on pollution status of Bondamunda area of Rourkela industrial complex.
3. Anderson H., 2009.Air pollution and mortality”, A history Atmospheric Environment, 43, pp:
142-152.
4. Foreman T., 1998. The History of Geographic Information System Perspectives from the
pioneers, prentice Hall PTR, USA.
5. BasimM,.andMathim S., 2010. Using remote sensing data and GIS to evaluate air pollution and
their relationship with land cover and land use in Baghdad City, Iranian Journal of Earth
Sciences . 2, pp: 20-24.
6. Salah A., 2011. Air Quality over Baghdad City Using Earth Observation and Landsat Thermal
Data, J. Asian Scientific Research, 1(6), pp:291-298.

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