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Amidst instability and economic crisis, air pollution declined in Iraq and Syria | ||
| 28/08/2015 | ||
The research data shows that between 2010 and 2014, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels dropped in many regions of Syria, Iran, in and around Cairo, Riyadh, Israel, and around ports in the Persian Gulf. However, for each country, there were different reasons for decrease in NO2 levels. In the first decade of 21st century, cities like Tehran, Cairo, Damascus, and Aleppo, experienced rapid increase in levels of NO2, until the beginning of the following decade when these levels started to drop, following political unrest in the region, which caused a negative impact on the economy of affected countries. Jos Lelieveld, study author and professor at the Max Planck Institute of Chemistry, mentioned, "The Middle East is a region that catches a lot of attention with political problems and upheaval and armed conflict." "We find the geopolitics and armed conflict in the Middle East has really drastically altered air pollution emissions." In their study, researchers used data from Ozone Monitoring Instrument on board the NASA Aura satellite to track changes in NO2 levels over time in the Middle East. Researchers then correlated these emission levels with other societal changes happening at the time in the region. The study revealed that NO2 emissions in Cairo, which had increased at a rate of 5% - 7% during the period from 2006 - 2010, started to decline following Egyptian Revolution in 2010, which brought fuel shortages and other economic problems in the country. In Syria, where millions of people have fled the disturbed areas, levels of NO2 were found to have fallen drastically. In Damascus city, NO2 levels have decreased by up to 50% since the start of the civil war. In Tehran, emissions started to decline following tightening of United Nations' sanctions in 2010. NO2 levels also declined in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, but this decline has been attributed to air quality legislation that was introduced to reduce pollution in the country. In Lebanon, the neighboring country of Syria which has experienced huge influx of refugees from Syria, NO2 levels increased by 30%. According to scientists, this observation is unexpected, as economic growth in the country has also declined notably over the past 3 - 4 years. Dr Jos Lelieveld told, "You can see where the people from Syria are going; you can identify the camps in northern Jordan but they are also moving to cities like Tripoli and Beirut." According to Dr Lelieveld, the emission patterns in case of Iraq are a bit complicated. Despite instability in the country, the power consumption has increased by 4 to 5 percent per year since 2005. In Kurdish north areas and southern Iraq regions, the NO2 levels increased during 2005 - 2014 period. In Kerbala city, the levels even increased by 10% per year. However, Islamic State-occupied regions around Baghdad and central Iraq have experienced a decline in NO2 emissions. Dr. Lelieveld stated, "In Karbala, to the south of Baghdad, a mostly Shiite area, the increase in pollutants continues." "But if you look to the area northwest of Baghdad, where Islamic State is in charge, there you see that things are going in another direction - there are very specific stories in each country." According to experts, this research highlights the growing significance of precise satellite information, and the impact of destruction on people in Middle East. "It is very sad that we have on the borders of Europe this huge conflict." Prof John Burrows from the University of Bremen, Germany told. "But perhaps scientific information like this helps our understanding. It's proportional to people, so if emissions have gone down in Syria by 50%, I'd expect that 50% of the people might have been displaced, as indeed they have." According to this research, the findings of a previous study which had also suggested a link between economic growth and air pollution, revealing that the economic recession following 2008 economic crisis played a major role in decline in carbon emission in the USA. | ||
Last Update:: 28/08/2015 | ||
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