Assessing Nitrogen Dioxide Intra-urban Spatial Variability in the West African City of Dakar, Senegal

Abstract:

Increasing air pollution levels pose significant challenges for rapidly growing cities like Dakar, Senegal, which is one of the most urbanized and industrialized countries in West Africa. Because there are currently few studies and a lack of the surface measurements in the region, there are large uncertainties in sources, trends, and impacts of urban pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). In this context, we are investigating the drivers and impacts of intra-urban NO₂variability in Dakar. To do this, we are creating a land-use regression (LUR) model using an array of locally collected datasets, in particular NO₂mobile monitoring observations collected in February-March 2020. We are focusing our modeling on daytime workday conditions during the dry season. This study is producing the first LUR model for a West African city based on surface measurements collected in that city, and representing NO₂spatial patterns in urban neighborhoods of Dakar at a resolution of 300 m x 300 m.

Increasing air pollution levels pose significant challenges for rapidly growing cities like Dakar, Senegal, which is one of the most urbanized and industrialized countries in West Africa. Because there are currently few studies and a lack of the surface measurements in the region, there are large uncertainties in sources, trends, and impacts of urban pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). In this context, we are investigating the drivers and impacts of intra-urban NO₂variability in Dakar. To do this, we are creating a land-use regression (LUR) model using an array of locally collected datasets, in particular NO₂mobile monitoring observations collected in February-March 2020. We are focusing our modeling on daytime workday conditions during the dry season. This study is producing the first LUR model for a West African city based on surface measurements collected in that city, and representing NO₂spatial patterns in urban neighborhoods of Dakar at a resolution of 300 m x 300 m.