Analysis of Impact on Ambient Air Quality of Outdoor Firework Display During Chinese New Year 2013 in Hong Kong

Andrew Tang

Abstract: Outdoor displays have been carried out for many years at Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. These occur at least twice a year on China National Day (CND) and Chinese New Year (CNY) with a show time of about 23 minutes. The 2013 shows attracted many hundreds of thousands of people to watch on both sides of Victoria Harbour for about half an hour. An analysis of the ambient air quality data for 2013 provided by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (HKEPD) was carried out to understand the impact on ambient air quality that may have resulted from the 2013 outdoor fireworks display during the CNY show. The data collected by HKEPD includes carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NOx), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), respirable suspended particulates (RSP or PM10), fine suspended particulates (FSP or PM2.5), and sulphur dioxide (SO2). The analysis covers a period of 5 days, 2 days prior to and 2 days after the show during CNY 2013. Due to local air movement from east to west at Victoria Harbour and the high bursting of the fireworks display, the smoke that was generated by the fireworks was quickly dispersed. There was no significant impact on the ambient air quality based on the data collected. A trace of temporary smoke cloud was observed at the bursting height of the firing location.

 


Ref: JPyro, Issue 34, 2015, pp3-12 (J34-3)

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