Observations of SO2 and NO2 by mobile DOAS in the Guangzhou Eastern Area during the Asian Games 2010

Mobile Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy measurements of SO2 and NO2 were performed in the Guangzhou Eastern Area (GEA) during the Guangzhou Asian Games 2010 from November 2010 to December 2010. Spatial and temporal distributions of SO2 and NO2 in this area were obtained and emission sources were determined by using wind field data. The NO2 vertical column densities were found to agree with OMI values. The correlation coefficient (R2) was 0.88 after cloud filtering. During the Guangzhou Asian Games and Asian Paralympics (Para) Games, the SO2 and NO2 emissions in the area were quantified using averaged wind speed and wind direction. For times outside the Games the average SO2 emission was estimated to be 9.50 ± 0.90 tons per hour and the average NO2 emission was estimated to be 3.50 ± 1.89 tons per hour. During the phases of the Asian and Asian Para Games, the SO2 and NO2 emissions were reduced by 53.5 and 46%, respectively, compared to the usual condition. We also investigated the influence of GEA on Guangzhou University Town, the main venue located northwest of the GEA, and found that SO2 concentrations here were about tripled by emissions from the GEA.