Environmental Assessment of Atmospheric Pollutant Concentrations in Al-Daura Refinery and its Adjacent Areas Using GIS and RS Techniques

Abstract

Environmental contaminants have become a major worry for countries and communities worldwide. Greenhouse gases, such as CO₂ and CH₄, are among these pollutants that significantly contribute to the worsening of global warming. Deforestation, the conversion of agricultural land, and unsustainable human activities are some of the factors that have increased land use and exacerbated greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this study is to carefully track and evaluate the pollutants and greenhouse gases produced by human activity at the Al-Daura Refinery between 2013 and 2023, with an emphasis on April and August. The Giovanni platform provided the data for this investigation, using cutting-edge satellite technology to record gas concentrations and emissions worldwide and offering real-time insights authorized by the UN Climate Monitoring Organization. We found a concerning tendency after analyzing this data in ArcGIS and applying Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) technology for predictive mapping:In contrast to 2013, the concentrations of SO₂, CO₂, and CH₄ soared in 2023, particularly in August. In April and August, the SO₂ gas concentrations rose from 457.01 to 458.59 and 452.04 to 459.93, respectively. For CO₂, the concentrations rose from 384.87 to 397.77 in April and from 390.62 to 416.07 in August. The concentrations of the gas rose, increasing from 6.488 to 8.34 in April and from 8.571 to 9.536 in August for CH₄ (2013-2023). This upward trend highlights the significant environmental impact of increased human activities at the Al-Doura refinery, emphasizing that it requires immediate attention and proactive measures to mitigate these harmful effects.