Determination of the transport routes of and the areas potentially affectedby SO2emanating from Khatoonabad Copper Smelter (KCS), Kermanprovince, Iran using HYSPLIT

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Forward trajectories were calculated from 1 January 2005 to 30 December 2016 using HYSPLIT to determineseasonal variation of potential transport pathways of SO2emanating from KCS and identify the most affectedareas around it. Then, the air parcels of each forward trajectory were divided into three height levels: 0–100 mabove the ground level (agl.), 100–1000 m agl. 1000–5000 m agl. Finally, Kernel density analysis was conductedthrough a GIS tool to plot forward air parcels density maps. These show that the potential transport routes varyseasonally as well as the potential distances. Transport distance is approximately two times higher in winter thanin summer, and it is equal for spring and autumn. The forward air parcels trajectory calculations have shown thatthere are two main corridors for transporting SO2emanating from KCS towards to the northeast and southdirection of this copper smelter. SO2mainly transport through both corridors in spring and autumn and affectRafsanjan and Sirjan cities and Bahram-e Goor Protected Area (PA). In summer, air parcels convey SO2mainly insouth direction and influence Bahram-e Goor PA and Darab city. The northeastern corridor is highly active inwinter, and within this route, Rafsanjan City and Chah Koume PA are potentially affected. Shahr-e Babak isplaced near the source and is highly affected in all seasons except winter. The wide spatial extent of SO2transport besides KCS’long-term production of SO2imply the significant negative impact of this copper smelteron human health and the environment.