Sources of pollution

Inventory of emission sources

What is the Auckland Air Emissions Inventory

The Auckland Emissions Inventory is a database of estimated air emissions from four major sectors: transport, domestic (mainly fireplaces), industry and biogenic / natural sources within the Auckland region.

Background to the emissions inventory

The emissions inventory was first prepared for the ARC by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPAV), Australia, in collaboration with the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere Research (NIWA), Auckland, in 1993 and has since been updated in 1998 (EPAV) and 2004 (Endpoint Ltd).

The inventory area

The region covered in the emissions inventory includes the major urban areas of Auckland and any significant sources that are located outside of the urban regions.

What does the inventory database contain?

The inventory database contains information of stationary and mobile sources that emit key ambient air pollutants (PM₁₀, NO₂, CO and volatile organics compounds (VOCs)). Estimates of all pollutants are broken down by:

• sector (for the four major sources)
• spatially (entire region versus urban area), and
• seasonally (summer and winter).

How are emissions estimated?

Emissions are estimated for an average weekday on an hourly basis according to grid cell (3km x 3km).

How is the emissions data used?

The ARC uses data from the emission inventory for urban airshed modelling, regional strategy and policy development, as a planning tool for evaluating options to reduce air pollution in Auckland and health risk analyses.

When will the inventory be updated?

TP292 reports on the 2004 Auckland Air Emissions Inventory update. The next update is scheduled for December 2007.

For more information view our Airfacts 6: Auckland Air Emissions Inventory.