High-resolution inventory of atmospheric emissions from transport, industrial, energy, mining and residential activities in Chile
Authors: Álamos Nicolás , Huneeus Nicolás , Opazo Mariel , Osses Mauricio , Puja Sebastián , Pantoja Nicolás , Denier van der Gon Hugo , Schueftan Alejandra , Reyes René , Calvo Rubén 
Published: January 2022

Abstract. This study presents the first high-resolution national inventory
of anthropogenic emissions for Chile (Inventario Nacional de Emisiones Antropogénicas, INEMA). Emissions for the vehicular, industrial, energy, mining and residential sectors are estimated for the
period 2015–2017 and spatially distributed onto a high-resolution grid (approximately 1 km×1 km). The pollutants included are CO2, NOx, SO2,
CO, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), NH3 and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) for
all sectors. CH4 and black carbon are included for transport and
residential sources, while arsenic, benzene, mercury, lead, toluene, and
polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furan (PCDD/F) are estimated for
energy, mining and industrial sources. New activity data and emissions
factors are compiled to estimate emissions, which are subsequently spatially
distributed using census data and Chile's road network
information. The estimated annual average total national emissions of PM10 and
PM2.5 during the study period are 191 and 173kt a−1 (kilotons per year),
respectively. The residential sector is responsible for over 90 % of these
emissions. This sector also emits 81 % and 87 % of total CO and VOC,
respectively. On the other hand, the energy and industry sectors contribute
significantly to NH3, SO2 and CO2 emissions, while the transport
sector dominates NOx and CO2 emissions, and the mining sector dominates
SO2 emissions. In general, emissions of anthropogenic air pollutants
and CO2 in northern Chile are dominated by mining activities as well as
thermoelectric power plants, while in central Chile the dominant sources are
transport and residential emissions. The latter also mostly dominates
emissions in southern Chile, which has a much colder climate. Preliminary
analysis revealed the dominant role of the emission factors in the final
emission uncertainty. Nevertheless, uncertainty in activity data also
contributes as suggested by the difference in CO2 emissions between
INEMA and EDGAR (Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research). A comparison between these two inventories also revealed
considerable differences for all pollutants in terms of magnitude and
sectoral contribution, especially for the residential sector. EDGAR presents
larger emissions for most of the pollutants except for CH4 and
PM2.5. The differences between both inventories can partly be
explained by the use of different emission factors, in particular for the
residential sector, where emission factors incorporate information on
firewood and local operation conditions. Although both inventories use
similar emission factors, differences in CO2 emissions between both
inventories indicate biases in the quantification of the activity. This inventory (available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4784286, Alamos et al., 2021) will
support the design of policies that seek to mitigate climate change and
improve air quality by providing policymakers, stakeholders and scientists
with qualified scientific spatially explicit emission information.