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Pressure on air quality
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From a geographic viewpoint, Prague is situated in the centre of Europe. Its position in the Vltava River valley offers beautiful views of the “city of a hundred spires” from surrounding hills, especially from the Prague Castle. However, the location is not so favourable from the air quality viewpoint, as it worsens air circulation and dispersion of pollutants (see map of vertical relief) in the densely populated central part of the city (see map of population density). The important sources of air pollution are
stationary sources (REZZO 1-3) and mobile
sources (REZZO 4
). STATIONARY SOURCES The overall emissions produced by stationary sources, i.e. the amount of pollutants discharged into the atmosphere, have been showing a declining trend since the mid-1980s. Total emissions generated by stationary
sources (REZZO 1 - 3) in Prague, 1984 - 1997
Source: CHMÚ, CIZP Specific emissions of principal pollutants generated
by stationary sources (REZZO 1 - 3) in the Czech Republic in 1997 -
by former administrative provinces Source: CHMÚ, CIZP The overall number of boiler units in the territory of Prague is slightly decreasing, the most frequent among them being boilers delivering 0.2 to 5 MW (i.e. those falling into the REZZO 2 Category). It is most often in this group that a boiler unit is replaced by a heat exchanger (connected to the hot water pipeline from Melník). Total number of stationary sources in each of the
REZZO 1 to 3 Categories in Prague Source: CHMÚ, IMIP, VUPEK, OZP MHMP, CSÚ, PP a.s., PT a.s., M. Pyš The overall consumption of fuels between 1985 and 1997 shows a decreasing trend. Minor fluctuations in the consumption are attributable to varying weather conditions (e.g. in 1996). There is a visible trend to replace solid and liquid fuels by gaseous substances which accounted for approximately 74 % of the total consumption in 1997. Fuel consumption trend manifested by boilers in each
of the REZZO 1 to 3 Categories in Prague Source: CHMÚ, IMIP, VUPEK, OZP MHMP, PP a.s., PT a.s., M. Pyš Between 1992 and 1997, there was a reduction of emissions of pollutants; sulphur dioxide dropped to some 35 % of the 1992 level, those of NOx and carbon monoxide dwindled to approx. 43 % and 49 % of the 1992 levels, respectively. The lowest drop was shown by emissions of sulphur dioxide, particularly those produced by large (REZZO 1) air pollution sources. No less important is a reduction of emissions of solids (REZZO 1 and REZZO 2). The reduced emissions are attributable to the step-by-step conversion of boiler units to gas, as well as the use of heat brought to Prague from Melník by the hot water pipeline mentioned above. Total emissions of pollutants produced by stationary sources in Prague
Source: CHMÚ, IMIP, MHMP, PP a.s., PT a.s., M. Pyš The share of the different categories of the stationary air pollution sources in the total emissions in 1997 is presented here. While large sources (REZZO 1) account for an overwhelming majority of the emissions of dust, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, local heating units contribute most to carbon monoxide emissions (approximately 72 %). Shares of each of the REZZO 1 to 3 Categories stationary sources in the overall emissions in Prague in 1997
Source: CHMÚ, IMIP, MHMP, PP a.s., PT a.s., M. Pyš Emissions of pollutants produced by each of the REZZO
1 to 3 Categories in Prague in 1997 See data Source: CHMÚ, IMIP, MHMP, PP a.s., PT a.s., M. Pyš
MOBILE SOURCES Mobile sources, especially automotive traffic, constitute a major source of pollution in towns and cities. Insofar as some of the polluting substances, such as nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons or carbon monoxide, are concerned, they represent a dominant source. The total number of motor vehicles registered in the territory of Prague keeps increasing. Between 1991 and 1997, the traffic intensity has increased by 104 %, especially in the central zone of the City. See information about transport in Prague Continuously increasing traffic is a major source of emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx ), which amount to approximately 14,000 tons/year. Still, the total amount of traffic-produced NOx emissions in the territory of Prague has not grown in the last two years. Actually, there are two opposite trends in action - that of increasing emissions because of higher traffic intensity in spite of traffic jams, the other of decreasing emissions attributable to a renewal of rolling stock (a higher percentage of vehicles equipped with catalytic converters) and a reduced traffic permeability of the central part of the city (traffic jams). An increasing number of vehicles equipped with catalytic converters exceeds the Czech Republic’s average. It is anticipated that all vehicles will have been equipped with a three-way catalytic converter by the year 2005. NOx and CO
emissions produced by automotive traffic on straight road sections
in Prague, 1995 - 1997, by the vehicle type Source: ATEM, IMIP NOx and
CO emissions produced by automotive traffic on crossroads in Prague,
1995 - 1997 (g/s) Source: ATEM,
IMIP |
What is causing the problems ?
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