Cleaner skies over Athens
The vibrant, dynamic Greek capital may indeed be a popular tourist hub with attractions such as the Acropolis, but it has generally been a magnet for pollution due to its sheer size. Athens' geographical location in the Attica basin surrounded by mountains, including its proximity to the port city of Piraeus and nearby industrial area, has exacerbated this phenomenon. Among the more dangerous pollutants in the greater region's atmosphere is nitrogen oxide (NO2) produced from industry and transport emissions, endangering the health of its four million inhabitants. Specifically, NO2 is known to cause respiratory problems and is behind several EU laws that try to limit pollution. With this in mind, the EU-funded project PARTHENO2N (Pollution of air in the extended region of Athens) assessed the seriousness of the threat. It studied NO2 levels in the city's atmosphere and built computer models in order to assess the impact of the pollutant. To achieve its aims, the project looked at satellite observations of NO2 levels from 2003 to 2012 over Greece and specifically Athens. It then examined NO2 levels as registered by ground-based equipment from 2000 to 2012 to simulate NO2 concentrations as accurately as possible. Interestingly, the results from both sources showed more than a 30 % drop in NO2 levels measured by the reduction in vertical NO2 columns. This was attributed directly to the economic crisis as many inhabitants migrated to rural areas, businesses closed down and the high fuel prices discouraged private transport. In all, PARTHENO2N demonstrated a novel approach to corroborating ground and satellite data on pollution levels, giving policymakers better information on managing pollution. The results could help Athens seize this golden opportunity to keep pollution levels down by creating a more sustainable city post-crisis.
Keywords
Athens, economic crisis, pollution, nitrogen oxide, satellite observations