Change of heating fuel consumption patterns produced by the economic crisis in Greece
(2021) In Master Thesis in Geographical Information Science GISM01 20212Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
- Abstract
- The economic crisis in Greece resulted in a change in residential heating fuels utilized, which in turn resulted in a change of air quality over Greater Athens Area. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of economic crisis in air quality over Attica by examining the change in air pollutants’ concentrations before, during, and after the onset of the economic crisis in Greece and to associate this change with the change in fuels used for residential heating.
For this purpose, I analyzed six MODIS L1B datasets with 500m spatial resolution, one for each year studied, MODIS AOT and NDVI products, at 10 km and 500 m spatial resolution respectively. Additionally, I used AQMS measurements and CORINE 2000 Land Cover dataset.
To... (More) - The economic crisis in Greece resulted in a change in residential heating fuels utilized, which in turn resulted in a change of air quality over Greater Athens Area. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of economic crisis in air quality over Attica by examining the change in air pollutants’ concentrations before, during, and after the onset of the economic crisis in Greece and to associate this change with the change in fuels used for residential heating.
For this purpose, I analyzed six MODIS L1B datasets with 500m spatial resolution, one for each year studied, MODIS AOT and NDVI products, at 10 km and 500 m spatial resolution respectively. Additionally, I used AQMS measurements and CORINE 2000 Land Cover dataset.
To densify the ground monitoring network, virtual stations were identified according to Narashid et al (2006) criteria. Through OLS regressions, air pollutants’ concentration were estimated for the virtual stations and, subsequently, for the whole map of Great Athens Area (GAA) for the chosen time periods.
Subsequently, the association between the change in fuel consumption and the change in pollutant concentrations between the examined periods was performed, based on Kakaras et al (2013) emissions ratios for each fuel utilized in residential heating that indirectly indicate fuel types utilized in the residential heating systems.
Primary results show that during the whole period examined (2007-2012) SO2 concentrations were increased in most parts of GAA, while NO2 and PM10 were decreased. CO concentrations were stable in most zones of GAA. Where the fuels used for residential heating are concerned, the use of wood and pellet has increased in most urban areas of GAA, while the use of heating oil and natural gas appear to be decreased.
Keywords: Economic Crisis, Air Quality, Satellite Data, Virtual Stations, Regression Analysis, Air pollutants mapping, anthropogenic factors. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- Effects of economic crisis in heating systems and air pollution
The economic crisis in Greece has resulted in changes in the use of fuel for residential heating systems, resulting in change in air quality over the capital of Greece, Athens. This study investigated these effects of the economic crisis and examined how the change in air quality that occurred is associated with the change in heating fuels utilized.
Methodology
The study employed satellite imagery and relevant products in conjunction with land use maps and ground station measurements of pollutant concentrations to estimate pollutant concentration changes over Athens and determine how the use of heating fuels has changed during the onset of the economic crisis in... (More) - Effects of economic crisis in heating systems and air pollution
The economic crisis in Greece has resulted in changes in the use of fuel for residential heating systems, resulting in change in air quality over the capital of Greece, Athens. This study investigated these effects of the economic crisis and examined how the change in air quality that occurred is associated with the change in heating fuels utilized.
Methodology
The study employed satellite imagery and relevant products in conjunction with land use maps and ground station measurements of pollutant concentrations to estimate pollutant concentration changes over Athens and determine how the use of heating fuels has changed during the onset of the economic crisis in Greece.
A key methodology used in the study is the definition of virtual stations, locations with physical characteristics similar to locations where actual pollutant measurement stations are located. Virtual stations enable the densification of the network of measurement stations used in regressions within the analysis, increasing accuracy of the results.
Results
The analysis examined the spatial concentrations of pollutants over Athens before, during, and after the onset of the economic crisis. For most examined pollutants, the concentrations demonstrate changes between the examined periods.
The results of the study showed a significant decrease in petrol consumption during the onset of the economic crisis throughout Athens. Natural gas consumption remained relatively stable, while wood consumption as a heating fuel presents a generally stable consumption with many large areas exhibiting increase. These areas can, also, justify the appearance of haze in Athens during winter months, that became evident during the onset of the economic crisis.
Keywords: Geography, GIS, atmospheric pollution, economic crisis, Greece, household heating systems, heating fuel
Advisor: Jonathan Seaquist
Master degree project 30 credits in Geographical Information Sciences, 2021
Original title: Change of heating fuel consumption patterns produced by the economic crisis in Greece
Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University
Thesis nr 137 (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9068906
- author
- Patrinos, Panagiotis LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- GISM01 20212
- year
- 2021
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- geography, GIS, atmospheric pollution, Greece, household heating systems, heating fuel, economic Crisis, air Quality, satellite data, virtual stations, regression analysis, air pollutants mapping, anthropogenic factors
- publication/series
- Master Thesis in Geographical Information Science
- report number
- 137
- language
- English
- id
- 9068906
- date added to LUP
- 2021-12-06 13:34:23
- date last changed
- 2021-12-06 13:34:23
@misc{9068906,
abstract = {{The economic crisis in Greece resulted in a change in residential heating fuels utilized, which in turn resulted in a change of air quality over Greater Athens Area. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of economic crisis in air quality over Attica by examining the change in air pollutants’ concentrations before, during, and after the onset of the economic crisis in Greece and to associate this change with the change in fuels used for residential heating.
For this purpose, I analyzed six MODIS L1B datasets with 500m spatial resolution, one for each year studied, MODIS AOT and NDVI products, at 10 km and 500 m spatial resolution respectively. Additionally, I used AQMS measurements and CORINE 2000 Land Cover dataset.
To densify the ground monitoring network, virtual stations were identified according to Narashid et al (2006) criteria. Through OLS regressions, air pollutants’ concentration were estimated for the virtual stations and, subsequently, for the whole map of Great Athens Area (GAA) for the chosen time periods.
Subsequently, the association between the change in fuel consumption and the change in pollutant concentrations between the examined periods was performed, based on Kakaras et al (2013) emissions ratios for each fuel utilized in residential heating that indirectly indicate fuel types utilized in the residential heating systems.
Primary results show that during the whole period examined (2007-2012) SO2 concentrations were increased in most parts of GAA, while NO2 and PM10 were decreased. CO concentrations were stable in most zones of GAA. Where the fuels used for residential heating are concerned, the use of wood and pellet has increased in most urban areas of GAA, while the use of heating oil and natural gas appear to be decreased.
Keywords: Economic Crisis, Air Quality, Satellite Data, Virtual Stations, Regression Analysis, Air pollutants mapping, anthropogenic factors.}},
author = {{Patrinos, Panagiotis}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{Master Thesis in Geographical Information Science}},
title = {{Change of heating fuel consumption patterns produced by the economic crisis in Greece}},
year = {{2021}},
}