A model for estimating carbon monoxide emitted by vehicles in Nairobi
Abstract
SUMMARY
Ground-level concentration of carbon monoxide emitted by vehicles
in the city centre area of Nairobi is estimated. The method involves
determination of vehicle emission rates based on emission characteristics
of internal combustion engines and the use of the generalised Gaussian
diffusion formula. The traffic volume applied to each street within the
area under investigation is based on city council traffic engineer's department
hourly motor vehicle count during the 1973-74 period. The results
show that carbon monoxide (CO) is a significant air pollutant in the city
centre although it has not yet reached those levels generally considered
to be hazardous to human health. The highest concentrations are found
in those areas where the traffic is heaviest and slowest. High concentrations
are also found during the periods of light winds, CO dispersion being a
strong function of wind speed.
Publisher
University of Nairobi Department of Meteorology