Estimation of urban sensible heat flux using a dense wireless network of observations

The determination of the sensible heat flux over urban terrain is challenging due to irregular surface geometry and surface types. To address this, in 2006–07, a major field campaign (LUCE) took place at the école Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne campus, a moderately occupied urban site. A distributed network of 92 wireless weather stations was combined with routine atmospheric profiling, offering high temporal and spatial resolution meteorological measurements. The objective of this study is to estimate the sensible heat flux over the built environment under convective conditions. Calculations were based on Monin–Obukhov similarity for temperature in the surface layer. The results illustrate a good agreement between the sensible heat flux inferred from the thermal roughness length approach and independent calibrated measurements from a scintillometer located inside the urban canopy. It also shows that using only one well-selected station can provide a good estimate of the sensible heat flux over the campus for convective conditions. Overall, this study illustrates how an extensive network of meteorological measurements can be a useful tool to estimate the sensible heat flux in complex urban environments.     

A Large-Eddy Simulation Study of the Convective Boundary Layer over Philadelphia during the 1999 Summer NE-OPS Campaign

This study presents a large-eddy simulation (LES) study of the convective boundary layer on August 1, 1999 over Philadelphia, PA during a summer ozone episode. The study is an evaluation of the Colorado State University's Regional Atmospheric Modeling System Version 4.3 (RAMS4.3) with the LES option using Northeast Oxidant and Particulate Study (NE-OPS) data. Simulations were performed with different imposed sensible heat fluxes at the ground surface. The model was initialized with the atmospheric sounding data collected at Philadelphia at 1230 UTC and model integrations continued till 2130 UTC. The resulting mean profiles of temperature and humidity obtained from the LES model were compared with atmospheric soundings, tethered balloon and aircraft data collected during the NE-OPS 1999 field campaign. Also the model-derived vertical profiles of virtual temperature were compared with NE-OPS Radio Acoustic Sounder System (RASS) data while the humidity profiles were compared with NE-OPS lidar data. The comparison of the radiosonde data with the LES model predictions suggests that the growth of the mixing layer is reasonably well simulated by the model. Overall, the agreement of temperature predictions of the LES model with the radiosonde observations is good. The model appears to underestimate humidity values for the case of higher imposed sensible heat flux. However, the humidity values in the mixing layer agree quite well with radiosonde observations for the case of lower imposed sensible heat flux. The model-predicted temperature and humidity profiles are in reasonable agreement with the tethered balloon data except for some small overestimation of temperature at lower layers and some underestimation of humidity values. However, the humidity profiles as simulated by the model agree quite well with the tethered balloon data for the case of lower imposed sensible heat flux. The model-predicted virtual temperature profile is also in better agreement with RASS data for the case of lower imposed sensible heat flux. The model-predicted temperature profile further agrees quite well with aircraft data for the case of lower imposed heat flux. However, the relative humidity values predicted by the model are lower compared with the aircraft data. The model-predicted humidity profiles are only in partial agreement with the lidar data. The results of this study suggest that the explicitly resolved energetic eddies seem to provide the correct forcing necessary to produce good agreement with observations for the case of an imposed sensible heat flux of 0.1 K m s^–1 at the surface.     

The performance of RAMS in representing the convective boundary layer structure in a very steep valley

Data from a comprehensive field study in the Riviera Valley of Southern Switzerland are used to investigate convective boundary layer structure in a steep valley and to evaluate wind and temperature fields, convective boundary layer height, and surface sensible heat fluxes as predicted by the mesoscale model RAMS. Current parameterizations of surface and boundary layer processes in RAMS, as well as in other mesoscale models, are based on scaling laws strictly valid only for flat topography and uniform land cover. Model evaluation is required to investigate whether this limits the applicability of RAMS in steep, inhomogeneous terrain. One clear-sky day with light synoptic winds is selected from the field study. Observed temperature structure across and along the valley is nearly homogeneous while wind structure is complex with a wind speed maximum on one side of the valley. Upvalley flows are not purely thermally driven and mechanical effects near the valley entrance also affect the wind structure. RAMS captured many of the observed boundary layer characteristics within the steep valley. The wind field, temperature structure, and convective boundary layer height in the valley are qualitatively simulated by RAMS, but the horizontal temperature structure across and along the valley is less homogeneous in the model than in the observations. The model reproduced the observed net radiation, except around sunset and sunrise when RAMS does not take into account the shadows cast by the surrounding topography. The observed sensible heat fluxes fall within the range of simulated values at grid points surrounding the measurement sites. Some of the scatter between observed and simulated turbulent sensible heat fluxes are due to sub-grid scale effects related to local topography.     

广州市空气污染物和气象要素的主成分与典型相关分析

用主成分和典型相关分析方法分析广州市近4a(2001—2004年)的空气污染物与气象要素之间的关系,按夏半年、冬半年和全年3个时间尺度分别进行。结果表明:污染物数据所得到的主成分分别代表机动车污染源(汽油燃烧和扬尘)和工业污染源(工业燃煤和燃油),气象数据的主成分分析表明空气的温度、湿度及对流速度对空气污染作用明显,而污染物和气象要素的主成分分析表明气温高低和空气干湿程度对大气污染的影响较大。污染物与气象要素两组数据之间的典型相关分析表明污染物与气象要素之间存在显著的相关关系,其中温度和风速对气态污染物有显著影响。     

河西走廊极端干旱区PM10质量浓度分布特征及其与气象要素关系研究

利用敦煌和酒泉2007—2011年的PM10质量浓度资料和风速、气温、相对湿度、气压、天气现象等相关气象要素资料,分析了河西走廊西部极端干旱区不同下垫面环境PM。0质量浓度的时空分布特征,结果表明,下垫面是沙地环境的敦煌PMl0质量浓度年平均值为128．9lμg·m-1,明显高于绿洲环境酒泉的76．1mg·m-1两站均是春季大于其他季节,尤以4月最为显著,敦煌和酒泉分别达到272．1lμg·m0和151lμg·m-2;PMl0质量浓度的不同分布特征与气象因素有密切的关系,尤其受沙尘天气的影响较大,其最大值可以反映沙尘天气的强度,非沙尘日PMl0质量浓度在不同下垫面条件下虽有一定相差,但空气质量状况均在“良”以上。两站PM10质量浓度日变化差异较大,敦煌四季的日变化特征均不特别显著,变化比较平稳,基本都呈单峰单谷型分布,最大值出现在17：00时左右,最小值出现在6：00左右;酒泉春、秋季日变化基本一致,呈单峰型,最大值出现在正午时段;夏季日变化规律性不明显,变化幅度比较平缓;冬季呈双峰双谷型,最大值和次大值分别出现在16：00和2：00左右,最小值和次小值分别出现在10：00和0：00左右。进一步分析发现,在沙尘日和非沙尘日PM10质量浓度明显不同,其对应的压、温、湿、风及能见度也有一定规律,沙尘日的日均风速和日最大风速大于非沙尘日,相对湿度、气压和能见度小于非沙尘日。两站的气温、气压、相对湿度、风速等气象要素与PM10质量浓度均有一定相关性,但PM10质量浓度的分布最终是受各要素综合影响的结果,敦煌和酒泉,PM值与PM10质量浓度日均值的相关性都很显著,相关系数分别为0．8961和0．9152,远高于其他各单气象要素与PM10质量浓度的相关性。两站沙尘日的昂M均值分别是非沙尘日2-3倍,因此气象影响指数能有效的区别沙尘日和非沙尘日。IPM的分布也能较好的反映PMl0质量浓度的分布,因此可用抽d来量化评价PM10质量浓度。     

Determination of the optimum MM5 configuration for long term CMAQ simulations of aerosol bound pollutants in Europe

Realistic meteorological fields are a prerequisite for the determination of pollutant concentrations and depositions by means of a chemistry transport model. Different configurations of the 5th generation NCAR/Penn State University mesoscale meteorological model MM5 were tested to determine the optimum set up for long term hindcasts that cover several months up to years. Four dimensional data assimilation (FDDA) significantly enhances the spatio temporal representation of temperature, humidity and wind. Best agreement with radiosonde observations could be achieved when temperature, humidity and wind were grid nudged every 6 h. The quality of the resulting meteorological fields showed no significant systematic temporal or spatial variation over Europe in a model run of the year 2000. It was found that the hydrological cycle was not correctly reproduced by the model when no nudging was applied. The relevant model run showed too high relative humidity and too high rainfall when compared to observations. This led to considerably lower aerosol concentrations close to ground and a shift in the deposition patterns of particle bound pollutants like the carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P). Guest Editor: Dr. S. T. Rao.     

Impact of consistent boundary layer mixing approaches between NAM and CMAQ

Discrepancies in grid structure, dynamics and physics packages in the offline coupled NWS/NCEP NAM meteorological model with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model can give rise to inconsistencies. This study investigates the use of three vertical mixing schemes to drive chemistry tracers in the National Air Quality Forecast Capability (NAQFC). The three schemes evaluated in this study represent various degrees of coupling to improve the commonality in turbulence parameterization between the meteorological and chemistry models. The methods tested include: (1) using NAM predicted TKE-based planetary boundary height, h, as the prime parameter to derive CMAQ vertical diffusivity; (2) using the NAM mixed layer depth to determine h and then proceeding as in (1); and (3) using NAM predicted vertical diffusivity directly to parameterize turbulence mixing within CMAQ. A two week period with elevated surface O₃ concentrations during the summer 2006 has been selected to test these schemes in a sensitivity study. The study results are verified and evaluated using the EPA AIRNow monitoring network and other ozonesonde data. The third method is preferred a priori as it represents the tightest coupling option studied in this work for turbulent mixing processes between the meteorological and air quality models. It was found to accurately reproduce the upper bounds of turbulent mixing and provide the best agreement between predicted h and ozonesonde observed relative humidity profile inferred h for sites investigated in this study. However, this did not translate into the best agreement in surface O₃ concentrations. Overall verification results during the test period of two weeks in August 2006, did not show superiority of this method over the other 2 methods in all regions of the continental U.S. Further efforts in model improvement for the parameterizations of turbulent mixing and other surface O₃ forecast related processes are warranted.     

Canopy-wake dynamics and wind sheltering effects on Earth surface fluxes

The atmospheric boundary layer adjustment at the abrupt transition from a canopy (forest) to a flat surface (land or water) is investigated in a wind tunnel experiment. Detailed measurements examining the effect of canopy turbulence on flow separation, reduced surface shear stress and wake recovery are compared to data for the classical case of a solid backward-facing step. Results provide new insights into the interpretation for flux estimation by eddy-covariance and flux gradient methods and for the assessment of surface boundary conditions in turbulence models of the atmospheric boundary layer in complex landscapes and over water bodies affected by canopy wakes. The wind tunnel results indicate that the wake of a forest canopy strongly affects surface momentum flux within a distance of 35–100 times the step or canopy height, and mean turbulence quantities require distances of at least 100 times the canopy height to adjust to the new surface. The near-surface mixing length in the wake exhibits characteristic length scales of canopy flows at the canopy edge, of the flow separation in the near wake and adjusts to surface layer scaling in the far wake. Components of the momentum budget are examined individually to determine the impact of the canopy wake. The results demonstrate why a constant flux layer does not form until far downwind in the wake. An empirical model for surface shear stress distribution from a forest canopy to a clearing or lake is proposed.     

Sensitivity of atmospheric dispersion simulations by HYSPLIT to the meteorological predictions from a meso-scale model

Mesoscale transport and dispersion of air pollutants from a few major point sources in the Mississippi Gulf coastal region is calculated using a coupled modeling system consisting of the atmospheric dynamical model WRF and the lagrangian particle model HYSPLIT. The sensitivity of the dispersion model results to the meteorological fields is studied by conducting an ensemble of simulations using the WRF model for the same dispersion case. Several parameterization schemes for the physical processes of boundary layer turbulence and land surface temperature/moisture prediction in WRF are used in various combinations to produce different meteorological members which are then used for dispersion simulation. The uncertainty in the simulated concentration probabilities to the meteorological model configurations and the ensemble mean are presented. The parameters used for determining the uncertainties include the wind fields, temperature, area of concentration and the levels of concentration. The results indicate that dispersion model results are influenced by the choices made in respect of the planetary boundary layer and land surface schemes in the mesoscale model to produce the meteorological forecast thereby leading to certain amount of uncertainty in the resultant concentrations. Results show that the specific choices made about the atmospheric model configuration can significantly after the simulated concentrations.     

Spatial interpolation of air temperature using environmental context: Application to a crop model

The air temperature is one of the main input data in models for water balance monitoring or crop models for yield prediction. The different phenological stages of plant growth are generally defined according to cumulated air temperature from the sowing date. When these crop models are used at the regional scale, the meteorological stations providing input climatic data are not spatially dense enough or in a similar environment to reflect the crop local climate. Hence spatial interpolation methods must be used. Climatic data, particularly air temperature, are influenced by local environment. Measurements show that the air above dry surfaces is warmer than above wet areas. We propose a method taking into account the environment of the meteorological stations in order to improve spatial interpolation of air temperature. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of these corrected climatic data in crop models. The proposed method is an external drift kriging where the Kriging system is modified to correct local environment effects. The environment of the meteorological stations was characterized using a land use map summarized in a small number of classes considered as a factor influencing local temperature. This method was applied to a region in south-east France (150×250 km) where daily temperatures were measured on 150 weather stations for two years. Environment classes were extracted from the CORINE Landcover map obtained from remote sensing data. Categorical external drift kriging was compared to ordinary kriging by a cross validation study. The gain in precision was assessed for different environment classes and for summer days. We then performed a sensitivity study of air temperature with the crop model STICS. The influence of interpolation corrections on the main outputs as yield or harvest date is discussed. We showed that the method works well for air temperature in summer and can lead to significant correction for yield prediction. For example, we observed by cross validation a bias reduction of 0.5 to 1.0°C (exceptionally 2.5°C for some class), which corresponds to differences in yield prediction from 0.6 to 1.5 t/ha.     

Sea-water seasonal changes at a heavy tourism investment site on the Jordanian northern coast of the Gulf of Aqaba,Red Sea

The Gulf of Aqaba exhibits a strong seasonality due to convective mixing during winter and stratification during summer. The present study provides a detailed appraisal of summer and winter sea-water characteristics at the northern coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, that is witnessing rapid development and increasing changes in its geomorphological characteristics. Sea-water temperature, salinity, nutrients, and chlorophyll a concentrations were measured biweekly at five coastal and four cross-sectional stations during the periods February to April and July to September 2004. Meteorological conditions were continuously recorded at the Marine Science Station. The coastal study sites included four open coastal stations and a marina with one-way exchange with the open water. The effect of convective mixing was clearly apparent on the sea-water characteristics. Natural seasonal characteristics of higher nutrients and chlorophyll a concentrations were recorded during winter at most of the open coastal stations. In the cross-sectional stations, the concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll a were not different between the surface and the bottom during winter, but the bottom waters had generally higher concentrations during summer. Some deviations from the natural seasonal cycle were recorded at the marina and other coastal stations. Here, higher nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations were recorded in summer than in winter. These deviations that are most likely due to anthropogenic effects are discussed.     

Intercomparison of Two Models,ETA and RAMS,with TRACT Field Campaign Data

In this work a model intercomparison between RAMS and ETA models is carried out, with the aim of evaluating the quality and accuracy of these mesoscale models in reproducing the time evolution of the meteorology in real complex terrain. This is of great importance not only for meteorological forecast but also for air quality assessment. Numerical simulations are performed to reproduce the mean variables' fields and to compare them with measurements collected during the field campaign TRACT. The domain covers the Rhine valley and surrounding mountainous region and we consider a time period of two days. Results from simulations are compared to observations relative to ground stations and radiosoundings. A qualitative analysis is joined to a quantitative estimation of some reference statistical indexes. Both RAMS and ETA models performances are satisfactory when compared to the measured data and also their relative agreement is good. The mean variable fields are reproduced with a satisfactory degree of reliability, even if the simulated profiles are not able to describe the largest fluctuations of the variables. At the surface stations, the best agreement between predictions and observations is obtained for the wind velocity, while the quality of the results is lower for temperature and humidity.     

Numerical Investigation of Boundary-Layer Evolution and Nocturnal Low-Level Jets: Local versus Non-Local PBL Schemes

Numerical simulations of the evolution of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) and nocturnal low-level jets (LLJ) have been carried out using MM5 (version 3.3) with four-dimensional data assimilation (FDDA) for a high pollution episode in the northeastern United States during July 15–20, 1999. In this paper, we assess the impact of different parameterizations on the PBL evolution with two schemes: the Blackadar PBL, a hybrid local (stable regime) and non-local (convective regime) mixing scheme; and the Gayno–Seaman PBL, a turbulent kinetic energy (TKE)-based eddy diffusion scheme. No FDDA was applied within the PBL to evaluate the ability of the two schemes to reproduce the PBL structure and its temporal variation. The restriction of the application of FDDA to the atmosphere above the PBL or the lowest 8 model levels, whichever is higher, has significantly improved the predicted strength and timing of the LLJ during the night. A systematic analysis of the PBL evolution has been performed for the primary meteorological fields (temperature, specific humidity, horizontal winds) and for the derived parameters such as the PBL height, virtual potential temperature, relative humidity, and cloud cover fraction. There are substantial differences between the PBL structures and evolutions simulated by these two different schemes. The model results were compared with independent observations (that were not used in FDDA) measured by aircraft, RASS and wind profiler, lidar, and tethered balloon platforms during the summer of 1999 as part of the NorthEast Oxidant and Particle Study (NE-OPS). The observations tend to support the non-local mixing mechanism better than the layer-to-layer eddy diffusion in the convective PBL.     

Sea-water seasonal changes at a heavy tourism investment site on the Jordanian northern coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea

The Gulf of Aqaba exhibits a strong seasonality due to convective mixing during winter and stratification during summer. The present study provides a detailed appraisal of summer and winter sea-water characteristics at the northern coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, that is witnessing rapid development and increasing changes in its geomorphological characteristics. Sea-water temperature, salinity, nutrients, and chlorophyll a concentrations were measured biweekly at five coastal and four cross-sectional stations during the periods February to April and July to September 2004. Meteorological conditions were continuously recorded at the Marine Science Station. The coastal study sites included four open coastal stations and a marina with one-way exchange with the open water. The effect of convective mixing was clearly apparent on the sea-water characteristics. Natural seasonal characteristics of higher nutrients and chlorophyll a concentrations were recorded during winter at most of the open coastal stations. In the cross-sectional stations, the concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll a were not different between the surface and the bottom during winter, but the bottom waters had generally higher concentrations during summer. Some deviations from the natural seasonal cycle were recorded at the marina and other coastal stations. Here, higher nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations were recorded in summer than in winter. These deviations that are most likely due to anthropogenic effects are discussed.     

Study On the Hydraulic Characteristics of Taichung Harbour in Taiwan

For this study, field measurements of current profiles, buoy trajectories and the lag of two tidal stations were performed to explore the flow characteristics of Taichung Harbour. in order to distinguish the effects of wind drift current on circulation inside Taichung Harbour, field surveys during both summer and monsoon (winter) season were completed separately. the speed of the drift current was about 3.5% that of the, wind speed, based on the field data. the horizontal dispersion coefficients were close to Bowden's (1965) formula for the tidal current. the water temperature showed a two-layer profile, with the mixing thickness about 4 to 6 metres for the upper layer. the corresponding Richardson number was about 70. the tidal lag between the two tidal stations was 9.68 minutes. All the results agree well with the theoretical results.     

横断山区干旱河谷气候变化趋势研究

利用横断山区干旱河谷内20个典型气象台站的长时序逐月气温、降水、相对湿度、日照时间、极端最高气温和极端最低气温等数据,采用线性倾向估计、Mann-Kendall趋势检验以及集中度和集中期等分析方法,研究了横断山区干旱河谷的气候变化趋势.结果表明：（1）全球变化背景下,横断山区干旱河谷平均气温总体呈现升高趋势,升幅为0.11℃·（10 a）-1,较整个横断山区的0.15℃·（10 a）-1略低,冬季升温幅度高于其他季节;（2）金沙江下游的元谋、东川和巧家段河谷呈现持续降温趋势,特别是春季降温较为明显;（3）横断山区干旱河谷降水量呈微弱减少趋势,为-1.48 mm·（10 a）-1,这主要是由于夏季降水减少量超过其他季节降水增加量所致;（4）多数河谷站点年降水量的集中度呈微弱下降趋势,而集中期则有所提前,但不明显;（5）干旱河谷相对湿度和日照时间在近几十年间均呈现减少趋势,相对湿度每10 a约减少0.16百分点,而日照时间则平均每10a减少24.26 h.     

近35a西藏那曲地区湖泊动态遥感与气候因素关联度分析

利用1976、1990、2000和2010年4期遥感影像对西藏那曲地区面积大于1 km2湖泊的动态变化进行信息提取,并结合1966—2010年研究区9个站点的气象数据,探讨其对气候变化的响应。结果表明,2010年那曲地区大于1 km2湖泊的总面积为16 841.93 km2,湖泊总数为469。近35 a那曲地区大于1 km2湖泊面积共增加3 505.12km2,增幅为26.28%,其中以2000—2010年增长速度最快,达18.18%;近35 a湖泊数量增加96,增幅为25.73%,其中以1990—2000年增幅最大,达13.38%。色林错面积从1976年的1 648.61 km2增加到2010年的2 332.55km2,超过纳木错成为西藏第一大咸水湖。1966年以来,那曲地区年平均温度、年平均最高温度、年平均最低温度、年平均相对湿度和年平均降水量总体呈上升趋势,年平均蒸发量呈下降趋势,气候朝暖湿方向发展,其中温度变化最明显,线性气温倾向率为0.51℃.(10 a)-1。湖泊动态变化与气象因子的灰度关联分析表明,气温升高引起冰雪融水增加、降水量增加、相对湿度增加和蒸发量减少,是近35 a来那曲地区湖泊面积和数量不断增加的主要原因。气象要素与湖泊面积间的回归方程表明,两者具有显著线性相关关系。     

Modeling the interaction between tides and storm surges for the Taiwan coast

An unstructured grid, two-dimensional hydrodynamic model was established and applied to the coast of Taiwan to investigate the tide-surge interaction. Tidal elevations at the open boundaries coupled with a global ocean tidal model and the meteorological conditions using a cyclone model are used to drive the model. The model was calibrated and verified with the observed tidal levels at six tidal stations for seven typhoon events to ascertain the capability and feasibility of the model. The results show reasonable agreement between the simulated and observed tidal levels. The validated model was then applied to probe the influence of tide-surge interaction on phase, water levels, and storm surge height. We found that the tide-surge interaction influenced both the magnitude and timing of the surge, which depended on the typhoon path. The storm surge heights at different tidal stations were significantly influenced by wind stresses and directions. The water level rise due to the storm surge during high tide was greater at neap tide than at spring tide. Changing tidal ranges altered the prediction of the surge enough to induce the changes in peak water levels.     

长白山区沟谷乌拉苔草Carex meyeriana沼泽湿地气候效应

通过对长白山区沟谷沼泽典型乌拉苔草湿地土壤温度、乌拉苔草群落相对湿度、叶片温度、风速、光量子通量密度以及蒸腾速率的日变化和蒸腾速率的季节变化的研究,初步揭示沟谷乌拉苔草沼泽湿地的气候效应。结果表明长白山沟谷沼泽湿地具有三江平原沼泽同样的冷湿效应。土壤化通时间比三江平原化通时间提前1个多月,蒸腾速率日变化不同季节趋势基本一致,不同层次叶片的蒸腾速率日变化趋势基本一致,最大值在7至8月份蒸腾速率(H2O)达到100~140 mol.m-2.s-1。光量子通量密度与温度成正比,与湿度成反比,大气温度日变化和叶片温度日变化趋势基本相同,相对湿度的日变化趋势和大气温度的变化趋势正好相反,和光量子通量密度的变化趋势相反。沟谷湿地的同样具有小气候效应。     

An assessment of the air pollution data from two monitoring stations in Kuwait

This article assesses the air pollution data from two monitoring stations in Kuwait. The measurements cover major pollutants, i.e., CO, CO₂, methanated and non-methanated hydrocarbons, NO _x , SO₂, O₃, and particulate matter (PM10). The data also includes meteorological parameters, i.e., solar intensity, temperature, wind speed, and wind direction, and has been collected over a period 4 years, from 2001 to 2004. Data analysis includes the assessment of annual hourly averages and 1-h maxima. Typical pollutant concentration trends, similar to those previously reported for Kuwait and for other locations around the world, are observed except for particulate matter measurements, which have higher values because of proximity to the desert. Emissions of nitrogen oxides show a consistent increase over the years. This is caused by the increase in the number of motor vehicles and the expansion in power generation and industrial activities. The data collected is a subset of the air quality criteria, as defined by the US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency).