Environmental Effects of Air Pollution Caused by Acid Gas Emissions in Qatar - Research Proposal Example

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION CAUSED BY ACID GAS EMISSIONS IN QATAR ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION CAUSED BY ACID GAS EMISSIONS IN QATAR INTRODUCTION The state of Qatar has enjoyed immense social, human, and economic growth subject to its rich natural resources and industrial and technological development in the nation (Conference of the Parties, 2012). Qatar is one of the Middle East countries with the largest non-associated gas fields where its economic development relies on the extraction, preparation, local consumption, and export of natural gas. At the local level, Qatar uses natural gas for industrial purposes and generation of power (Conference of the Parties, 2012). Ideally, natural gas is cheap, clean, and readily available in Qatar. In preparing natural gas for industrial use, processing plants treats the residual, H2S-rich Acid Gas for purposes of producing pure sulfur that reduces air pollution. Nevertheless, we also have processing plants that burn the acid gas in flares that produces the highly combustible SO2 that leads to the emission of the acid gas into the air. Qatar’s gas extraction and processing facilities as well as acid gas emissions are on the rise, which raises the magnitude of the hazards caused by acid gas emissions in Qatar (Conference of the Parties, 2012). The formidable challenges and adverse consequences caused by the emission of acid gas into the air demean Qatar’s social and economic development. This research will derive the environmental risks that emanate from the emission of such gas with an aim of helping Qatar to establish mitigation measures and secure sustainable development. LITERATURE REVIEW A study by Mohamed established that the consumption of Natural gas (NG) is on the increase where it applies in generating electric power and cogeneration power desalting plants (CPDP) (2013). The increase in (NG and oil) combustion derives an increase in emission of acidic gas and CO2 where Qatar leads in emission CO2 emission per capita across the globe (Mohamed, 2013). Desalting seawater, which leads to CO2 emission from CPDP, derives adverse effects on the environment. It leads to salty water rejected back to the sea where the rejected water has a higher temperature, salinity, and chemical contents than the seawater (Mohamed, 2013). This creates fish impingement in the intakes that has adverse effects on the marine environment (Mohamed, 2013). There has been an address on the air quality conditions and atmospheric pollution in the Arab Region (United Nations, 2014). The high levels of suspended particulates that define air quality as fundamental environmental parameter influencing sustainable development in the Arab Region (United Nations, 2014). The report establishes dust storms and sandstorms, urban growth, greenhouse gas emissions, and transport as the sources of acid gas emissions. An atmospheric emission load of about 3,847,755 tons per year defines an increase on sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions the Arab Region (United Nations, 2014). Ultimately, the emission of acid gas causes acid rain in Qatar and neighboring areas. These emissions lead to reduced crop yield, fertilization of coastal and marine environments, acidification of soils, lakes, and streams that destabilizes ecosystems and damages seabed, fisheries and coral reefs (United Nations, 2014). There is an increased worldwide public concern on air quality and the local and global impacts of air pollution (Chaaban, 2008). Indeed, the global impact of air pollution include global warming that forces Arab countries to establish and implement mitigation measures to curb air pollution (Chaaban, 2008). Recent studies confirm that air pollution consumes about 2% of GDP in developed countries and more than 5% in developing countries. Arab countries emit about 200,000 tons/year of SO2 and 1.1 million tons/year of NOx (Chaaban, 2008). The Supreme Council for Environment and Natural Reserves in Qatar has developed a network of fixed and mobile air quality monitoring stations to conduct air quality monitoring activities (Chaaban, 2008). Another related study on severe ozone air pollution in the Persian Gulf region established that the Persian Gulf region conditions are highly favorable for ozone air pollution (Lelieveld et al., 2009). Indeed, the Persian Gulf region that is in the neighborhood of Qatar is prone to photochemical smog that contains NOx and SO2, which leads to high background ozone mixing ratios and dry local climate (Lelieveld et al., 2009). METHODOLOGY This research will use a mixed methodology to collect relevant data for addressing the research problem. Indeed, both quantitative and qualitative approaches will be relevant in establishing the environmental effects caused by the emission of acid gas in Qatar. Notably, a survey and interviews will be the best instruments to use in this study because they will cover a wide range of issues that relate to the emission of acid rain in Qatar. A survey will establish the actual area under the influence of acid rain, the magnitude of acid gas and the resultant acid rain on the reference area, and the visible and documented environmental effects of acid rain in Qatar. Interviews will establish the acid rain effects in Qatar, the frequency of acid rain in specific areas, and the mitigation measures to address the problem. The participants in the survey will involve Qatar nationals aged above 40 years and with a wide experience on environmental issues in Qatar. They will include five environmental professionals of any gender working for the government who can access relevant environmental documents. I will choose them for convenience. The interviews will involve Qatar students taking environmental studies and chosen by random sampling from Doha’s Independent Secondary Schools. The 20 students (10 of either gender) must be over 18 years old. I will use the DEGADIS Dispersion model to establish the levels of acid gas and toxic chemicals from episodic dense-gas emissions. Moreover, the AFFTOX Dispersion Model will establish the acid gas emissions from both gas and liquid sources. From the data collected, I expect to find the probable levels of acid gas and acid rain in Qatar over a period of 3 years. I also expect to establish the most prominent environmental effects from acid gas emissions. I will also establish the areas that are more prone to the effects of acid rain in Qatar. EXPECTED BENEFIT I expect that this research will derive significant benefits to the nation, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, and academicians. Indeed, the Qatar government can use the findings of this research to establish the levels of gas emissions and specifically acid gas and develop mitigation measures to curb the environmental effects emanating from such emissions. The research will benefit the entrepreneurs because they will know the risks involved in investing in the marine ecosystem. The environmentalists will benefit from this research because they will monitor the trend of acid gas emissions, acid rain, and the resultant environmental effects with the hope establishing an effective environmental strategy. Moreover, academicians will benefit from this research because they will derive additional knowledge on acid gas emissions, acid rain, and the resultant environmental effects. Ideally, the research will derive more information on the trend, dynamics, frequency, and effects of gaseous emissions especially acid gas emissions in Qatar within a defined period. RECOMMENDATIONS This research does not address all the aspects related to gaseous emissions in Qatar. As such, further research on the gaseous emissions, their influence on global warming, and its effect on the global economy is necessary. Moreover, a study on the effects of ignited and un ignited acid gas in Qatar would equally compliment my research study. These studies will be beneficial in that they will us to address gaseous emissions in Qatar in a conclusive manner. Furthermore, there is need to follow the mixed methodology of collecting relevant data because it will help researchers to collect diverse data for the benefit of establishing detailed findings. References CHAABAN, F. (2008). Air Quality. Retrieved from: http://www.afedonline.org/afedreport/english/book4.pdf Conference of the Parties. (2012). QATAR a country at a crossroads. Retrieved from: http://www.cop18.qa/Portals/0/QATAR_RAND_V5_261112.pdf Lelieveld, J. et al. (2009). Severe ozone air pollution in the Persian Gulf region. Retrieved from: http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/9/1393/2009/acp-9-1393-2009.pdf Mohamed, A. D. (2013). Energy status in Qatar. International Journal of Energy Sector Management, 7(2), 163-193. United Nations. (2014). Air Quality and Atmospheric Pollution In the Arab Region. http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd14/escwaRIM_bp1.pdf Read More