The Influence of Emissions from Maritime Transport on Air Quality in the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain)

Abstract

Gaseous and particulate emissions from oceangoing ships have a significant effect on the quality of air in cities. This study estimates mainly the influence of NOx, SOx, and particulate matter (PM2.5) on air quality in the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain) using the authors’ own Ship’s Energy and Emissions Model (SENEM) and the California Puff air quality model (CALPUFF) in 2017. The Algeciras Bay Industrial Zone recorded the highest levels of pollutants, and the Palmones area was identified as a major hotspot, with mean daily ship-sourced SOx concentrations >215 μg/m3, while the highest concentrations of PM10 reached 8.5 μg/m3 inside the Strait, and the mean yearly contribution of PM2.5 reached 0.86 μg/m3 in the city of Algeciras. The incidence of maritime traffic emissions on the levels of particle emissions, CO, HC, NMVOC, and CO2 reached values of up to 20–25% in all the receivers defined in the study.