Effects of meteorological factors on greenhouse gas emissions at traffic intersections in Baghdad: a seasonal analysis

Baghdad has experienced notable changes in its climate over recent decades. This study aims to evaluate the impact of meteorological factors, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed on greenhouse gas emissions at traffic intersections in Baghdad city. The study focuses, in particular, on comparing greenhouse gas concentrations during summer (June and July 2023) and winter (January 2024), highlighting how climatic conditions affect the accumulation and spread of these emissions. The results indicated that the greenhouse gas concentrations were much higher during summer than in winter because of high temperatures and strong winds contributing to the accumulation of gases in crowded areas. In contrast, high humidity and weak winds in winter contributed to the accumulation of gases differently. The analysis implies that low humidity during summer months because of heat and drought worsens greenhouse gas emissions, while small thermal changes affect the level of emissions from vehicle fuel. It explicitly shows the pivotal relationship that exists between climate conditions and emissions within a city, further pinpointing the human contribution— especially from traffic—to climate change, therefore meriting attention within urban planning in climate policies regarding emissions.