Ambient air quality in the area of open car parks of mixed-up complexes in Murmansk

Murmansk Arctic University, 9, Kommuny st., Murmansk, 183010, Murmansk, Russia

^* Corresponding author: shironinaayu@mstu.edu.ru

Abstract

Recently mixed-up complex and large shopping and entertainment centers have started to appear beyond the Arctic Circle more often, therefore the impact of vehicles located in these areas on the ambient air of the city is of particular interest. The article is considering atmosphere air pollution in the area of open car-parks of such centers in Murmansk, located in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The article describes the characteristics of the two largest shopping and entertainment centers in the city, which have open car parks at their territory. There are pedestrian zones near the car parks, and the main flow of visitors is forced to pass through the territory to get to the shopping and entertainment center, being exposed to the influence of car emissions. Parallel measurements of NO₂ and CO content in the ground layer of the atmosphere on the territory of open parking lots were carried out. It was found that the distribution of NO₂ and CO on the territory of car parks is uneven and depends on the presence of traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, artificial unevenness, proximity to the road, year season and other factors. The measurements were taken during the coronavirus pandemic, when grocery stores in shopping and entertainment centers became the main places of people and vehicles congestion.