AN EXTENSION OF SIM-AIR FOR KATHMANDU, NEPAL UNDER PROGRAM FOR RAPID EVALUATION OF AIR POLLUTION (PREPAIR)

The aim of this paper is to describe an enhanced SIM-air program and an application to help develop rapid and reliable actions for air quality management in Kathmandu, Nepal, under the Stockholm Environment Institute's (SEI) Program for Rapid Evaluation of Air Pollution (PREPair). The new developments in the program include an interface to two dispersion models - The Air Pollution Model (TAPM) and Atmospheric Transport Modeling System (ATMoS); calibrations schemes to integrate monitoring data; analysis to account for CO2 savings and reduction of health impacts in a co-benefit framework; address the positive externalities within a set of scenarios; and inclusion of a library of policy interventions covering a number of institutional, technical, political, legal and economic areas. For the city of Kathmandu, Nepal, a link between the emissions inventory workbook for urban areas utilized local emission data collated by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD, Kathmandu). The emissions analysis was followed by dispersion modeling and optimization of various mitigation and control options. Whilst the modifications were initially customized for Kathmandu, the enhancement will enable users to enter their own information and to determine how the interventions will effect the local global emissions in PREPair program. A user manual will allow the model to replicate in other cities after straightforward adaptation of emissions data, meteorological data, monitoring data and acceptable policy interventions.