Plenary Lecture
Current Issues and Methodology to Evaluate Air Quality in Airport Areas
Assistant Professor Francisc Popescu
“Politehnica” University of Timisoara
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Timisoara, Romania
E-mail: ingfrancisc@gmx.net
Abstract: Interests in aircraft and airport air pollutant emissions have been rising since the substantial increase in commercial turbojet traffic in the 1970’s. For example, aircraft emissions produce air contaminants such as NOx, HC, and fine particulate matter (PM), which in turn can become involved in broader environmental issues related to ground level ozone (O3), acid rain, climate change, and present potential risks relating to public health and the environment. According to estimates of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), international aviation contributes about 3.5 % to global warming. International aviation is therefore becoming increasingly responsible for the greenhouse effect and pollutants emissions as well, but is nevertheless not covered yet by the Kyoto Protocol. In contrast to international aviation, greenhouse gas emissions of national aviation are included in the Kyoto Protocol. Fuels used in international air and maritime traffic – so-called bunker fuels – are excluded from reduction and stabilization commitments for the first commitment period (2008 - 2012), because agreement could not be reached on the question of the assignment of such emissions. In this context we conducted an air quality monitoring campaign in the Traian Vuia International airport, by means of point monitors for NOx, SO2, CO, O3, PM10, NMHC (VOC) and also open path Differential Optical Absorption Spectrometry (DOAS). The results obtained are interesting and rising questions that will be presents and discussed thru the lecture.
Brief Biography of the Speaker:Dr. Francisc Popescu obtained its engineering degree at “Politehnica” University of Timisoara in 1999. In 2001 he finished his Master training in environmental engineering (energy and transportation) and from 2004 holds a PhD degree, cum laude, both at “Politehnica” University of Timisoara. In this period he had several research stages at T.U. Graz Austria, MLU Austria and in T.U. Munchen as A.v. Humboldt young research fellow. His professional interest is in environmental topics, mainly air quality and renewable fuels. He coordinated several research projects funded thru Romanian Government, Balkan Environmental Association and EU programmes and also participated as senior researcher in over 20 research projects with FP6, EU or national funding. He authored or co-authored several books and numerous scientific papers in conference proceedings or journals, most of them indexed in prestigious scientific databases. Some of his research was included in 3 patents and distinguished Gold Medals for new products at iENA2010 and iENA2012, Nuremberg.