Aviation-related Air Pollution Observations Near the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

Near-airport distribution of air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) and particulate matter are driven by emissions from aircraft, ground support equipment, on-road traffic related to passenger and cargo transit. Aviation-related emissions are projected to play a significant role in future local air quality due to increase in electrification of on-road fleet. This study presents aerosol extinction coefficient, NO2 and HCHO profile and column measurements using ground-based passive UV-VIS differential optical absorption spectroscopy near the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) from April 2020 to May 2021. Effect of meteorology, aviation, and on-road traffic emissions on the aerosol, NO2 and HCHO distribution is evaluated using in-situ surface, ground-based and satellite-based measurements near ATL during the early stages of COVID-19 shutdowns and recovery period.