Exploring the Impact of Land Cover Changes on Genesis of Smog in District Lahore, Pakistan

Muhammad Ahmad; Shakeel Mahmood

Authors

Muhammad Ahmad Government College University Lahore
Shakeel Mahmood Government College University Lahore

Keywords:

Impact, Land Cover (LC), Smog, IDW, Lahore

Abstract

Introduction: Smog is a major global issue, severely impacting Pakistan, particularly Lahore. This problem arises from a mix of natural factors and human activities, notably rapid urbanization, which has intensified fog into smog, affecting human health. In Lahore, urbanization has altered land use patterns, contributing to the urban heat island effect and elevated temperatures. Changes in land cover (LC), combined with pollution sources like industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust, play a significant role in smog formation.

Novelty Statement: This study highlights the long-term impact of LC changes on smog from 2002 to 2022. Water indirectly influences smog through meteorological conditions, while particulate matter (PM) from various sources poses health risks. The primary objective is to investigate how changes in land cover contribute to smog formation.

Material and Methods: ArcGIS was used to process data on land cover images, temperature, and air pollutants (NO₂, SO₂, and CO) within a controlled Geographic Information System (GIS) environment.

Results and Discussion: Land cover images of Lahore from different years were obtained using Google Earth Pro. ArcGIS was employed to analyze temperature data, and the inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation technique was used to visualize temperature variations and air pollutant concentrations over time. LC data for 2002, 2012, and 2022 were integrated into ArcGIS to demonstrate how land cover changes contribute to smog formation in Lahore.

Conclusion: The research highlights the need for effective management of urbanization and environmental challenges to address smog-related issues.

References

H. S. Yousaf et al., “A comparative assessment of air pollutants of smog in wagah border and other sites in Lahore, Pakistan,” Braz. J. Biol., vol. 84, 2021, doi: 10.1590/1519-6984.252471.

W. Raza et al., “A review on the deteriorating situation of smog and its preventive measures in Pakistan,” J. Clean. Prod., vol. 279, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2020.123676.

D. Nasir, “The Impact of Smog in Lahore and Public Health Concerns,” Soc. Sci. Bus. Rev., vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 44–58, 2023, [Online]. Available: https://visionarypublication.com/SSBR/article/view/28

kanwal Javid, M. A. N. Akram, S. Pervaiz, R. Siddiqui, and N. Mazhar, “Index-based Approach in Relation to Built-up and LST Dynamics; A Study of Lahore, Pakistan: Index-based Approach in Relation to Built-up and LST Dynamics; A Study of Lahore, Pakistan,” Int. J. Econ. Environ. Geol., vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 32–40, Feb. 2021, doi: 10.46660/IJEEG.V12I1.144.

M. Abdullah, “Environmental impacts of urban sprawling and shrinking green cover in Lahore, Pakistan,” 2023, [Online]. Available: https://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/812130?show=full

U. A. Khan, “Evaluating the Impact of Expansion on Urban Thermal Surroundings: A Case Study of Lahore Metropolitan city, Pakistan,” Environ. Earth Ecol., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 38–49, Dec. 2020, doi: 10.24051/EEE/130757.

M. N. Ahmad, Z. Shao, and A. Javed, “Modelling land use/land cover (LULC) change dynamics, future prospects, and its environmental impacts based on geospatial data models and remote sensing data,” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., vol. 30, no. 12, pp. 32985–33001, Mar. 2023, doi: 10.1007/S11356-022-24442-2/METRICS.

X. Ma and S. Peng, “Research on the spatiotemporal coupling relationships between land use/land cover compositions or patterns and the surface urban heat island effect,” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., vol. 29, no. 26, pp. 39723–39742, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.1007/S11356-022-18838-3/METRICS.

S. A. S. Shazia Pervaiz, “Intervention of Urban Criteria Pollutants in Air Quality: A Satellite Based Analysis of World’s Smog-Induced City,” Int. J. Chem. Biochem. Sci., [Online]. Available: https://www.iscientific.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1-IJCBS-23-24-4-1.pdf

T. Zarin and M. Esraz-Ul-Zannat, “Assessing the potential impacts of LULC change on urban air quality in Dhaka city,” Ecol. Indic., vol. 154, p. 110746, Oct. 2023, doi: 10.1016/J.ECOLIND.2023.110746.

H. Chen, B. Xue, H. Chen, and B. Xue, “Research on the Factors Affecting Regional Smog in China—Based on Spatial Panel Model,” Mod. Econ., vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 1292–1309, Apr. 2019, doi: 10.4236/ME.2019.104088.

Z. Naveed and U. Khayyam, “Smog and cognitive issues in the school going children of Lahore and Islamabad, Pakistan,” Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol., vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 4151–4166, Apr. 2023, doi: 10.1007/S13762-022-04264-Y/METRICS.

L. Liang and P. Gong, “Urban and air pollution: a multi-city study of long-term effects of urban landscape patterns on air quality trends,” Sci. Reports 2020 101, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 1–13, Oct. 2020, doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-74524-9.

C. D. Ali, S., A. B., “Air Quality in Lahore: An Overview of Past, Present, and Future Trends,” Front. Environ. Sci., vol. 7, pp. 123–145, 2019.

B. Singh, V. Venkatramanan, and B. Deshmukh, “Monitoring of land use land cover dynamics and prediction of urban growth using Land Change Modeler in Delhi and its environs, India,” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., vol. 29, no. 47, pp. 71534–71554, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.1007/S11356-022-20900-Z/TABLES/8.

S. Bae and Y. C. Hong, “Health effects of particulate matter,” J. Korean Med. Assoc., vol. 61, no. 12, pp. 749–755, Dec. 2018, doi: 10.5124/JKMA.2018.61.12.749.

- Razib, A. Nayeem, M. Hossain, and A. Majumder, “PM2.5 concentration and meteorological characteristics in Dhaka, Bangladesh,” Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res., vol. 55, no. 2, pp. 89–98, Jun. 2020, doi: 10.3329/BJSIR.V55I2.47629.

G. of P. 2000., “District Census Report of Lahore. Islamabad”.

O. Riaz, “Impact of population growth on urban expansion in Lahore, 1951-1998”, [Online]. Available: http://repository.pastic.gov.pk/jspui/handle/123456789/3548

Y. Li, X., Zhang, Z., Li, W., Chen, Y., Yang, “Impacts of Impervious Surfaces on Urban Heat Islands: A Review,” Remote Sens., vol. 13, no. 13, 2021.

L. Han, W. Zhou, W. Li, and L. Li, “Impact of urbanization level on urban air quality: A case of fine particles (PM2.5) in Chinese cities,” Environ. Pollut., vol. 194, pp. 163–170, Nov. 2014, doi: 10.1016/J.ENVPOL.2014.07.022.

P. Sicard, E. Agathokleous, S. C. Anenberg, A. De Marco, E. Paoletti, and V. Calatayud, “Trends in urban air pollution over the last two decades: A global perspective,” Sci. Total Environ., vol. 858, p. 160064, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2022.160064.

M. S. Anjum et al., “An Emerged Challenge of Air Pollution and Ever-Increasing Particulate Matter in Pakistan; A Critical Review,” J. Hazard. Mater., vol. 402, p. 123943, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.1016/J.JHAZMAT.2020.123943.

B. Imran, M., Shahid, M., Akhtar, K., Zahoor, R., Hasanuzzaman, M., Lu, M., Yousaf, “Urban Heat Island and its Impact on Climate Change Vulnerability and Sustainability of Urban Areas,” Sustainability, vol. 10, no. 9, pp. 30–39, 2018.

W. Selmi, C. Weber, E. Rivière, N. Blond, L. Mehdi, and D. Nowak, “Air pollution removal by trees in public green spaces in Strasbourg city, France,” Urban For. Urban Green., vol. 17, pp. 192–201, Jun. 2016, doi: 10.1016/J.UFUG.2016.04.010.