Features in Number Concentration-Size Distributions of Aerosols in the Free Atmosphere over the Desert Areas in the Asian Continent: Balloon-Borne Measurements at Dunhuang,China

Vertical changes of aerosol concentration and size in the freetroposphere over the Asian desert areas were firstly observed using a balloon-borne optical particle counter at DunHuang, China (40°00N, 94°30E) (17 August and 17 October 2001, and 11 January 2002). In the free troposphere highly concentrated aerosol layers were frequentlyobserved, suggesting the importance of regional scale particletransportation over the Asian continent. Concentration ofparticles with a diameter larger than 0.15 m was about 5–10particles cm^-3 in the free troposphere.Particle number-size distribution in the free troposphereshows important contribution of super micron particles. Regionalscale transportation, in addition to diffusion of soil particlesfrom the lower atmosphere to the free troposphere through localand small scale air motions, is suggested by backward trajectoryanalysis of air masses containing super micron particles. The importance of horizontal transport of coarse size particles in the free troposphere was strongly suggested.Thickness of the boundary mixing layer, from distributions ofparticle concentration, was about 4 km in summer (17 August 2001)and apparently higher than the height of layers in fall (17 October2001) and in winter (11 January 2002), which suggest an active mixingof particles near the boundary in summer. In winter measurement(11 January 2002), strong inversion was found in the vertical profile of temperature, suggesting cold ground surface and vertically stable atmosphere near the ground.     

Influence of Inversion Layers on the Distribution of Air Pollutants in Urban Areas

The air quality in urban areas is on the one hand determined by the intensity of emissions. On the other hand atmospheric dispersion and chemical transformation conditions as well as topographic location have great influence on the ambient air concentrations. Within, this study the correlation between pollutant concentrations and the dynamics of atmospheric barrier and mixing layers has been experimentally investigated by tethered balloon soundings.The most important barrier layer is the surface inversion. During clear sky it develops in the late afternoon and is dissolved by warm air from the heated ground in the morning. Emitted pollutants are kept beneath this inversion. But, at the same time, the component ozone is depleted below and stored above the layer within the so called `ozone reservoir layer'. During night elevated mountain sites are decoupled from the ground conditions and stay within this reservoir without a remarkable nocturnal decrease of ozone concentration. The regularly observed ground level ozone increase in the morning hours is firstly caused by down mixing from the reservoir. The conditions and dynamics are illustratively depicted by vertical profiles of the different components and diagrams of temperature and concentration isopleths over the height and the experiment time lasting over five days.     

Satellite and Ground Based Monitoring of Aerosol Plumes

Plumes of atmospheric aerosol have been studied using a rangeof satellite and ground-based techniques. The Sea-viewing WideField-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) has been used to observe plumesof sulphate aerosol and Saharan dust around the coast of theUnited Kingdom. Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) was retrievedfrom SeaWiFS for two events; a plume of Saharan dusttransported over the United Kingdom from Western Africa and aperiod of elevated sulphate experienced over the Easternregion of the UK. Patterns of AOT are discussed and related tothe synoptic and mesoscale weather conditions. Furtherobservation of the sulphate aerosol event was undertaken usingthe Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer instrument(AVHRR). Atmospheric back trajectories and weather conditionswere studied in order to identify the meteorologicalconditions which led to this event. Co-located ground-basedmeasurements of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were obtained for 4sites within the UK and PM_2.5/10 ratios were calculatedin order to identify any unusually high or low ratios(indicating the dominant size fraction within the plume)during either of these events. Calculated percentiles ofPM_2.5/10 ratios during the 2 events examined show thatthese events were notable within the record, but were in noway unique or unusual in the context of a 3 yr monitoringrecord. Visibility measurements for both episodes have beenexamined and show that visibility degradation occurred duringboth the sulphate aerosol and Saharan dust episodes.     

Three-Dimensional Ground-Based Measurements of Urban Air Quality to Evaluate Satellite Derived Interpretations for Urban Air Pollution

Urban air quality and meteorological measurements were carried out in the region of Brescia (Italy) simultaneously to the acquisition of satellite data during winter and summer smog conditions in 1999. The main objectives of the campaigns were: delivery of data for the validation of air pollution interpretations based on satellite imagery, and determination of the aerosol optical thickness in spectral ranges similar to those used by satellites. During the winter campaign the ground-based network was complemented by local stations and by SODAR, DOAS, and FTIR remote sensing measurements. Size distributions of aerosol particles up to 4,000 m a.s.l. were measured by means of an ultra-light aircraft, which was also equipped with meteorological sensors and an ozone sensor. During the summer campaign an interference filter actinometer, an integrating nephelometer and an ozone LIDAR were operated additionally. The satellite images acquired and processed were taken from SPOT. Optical thickness retrieved from interference filter actinometer measurements were compared with the retrievals from the satellite imagery in the same spectral intervals. It is concluded that remaining aerosols in the reference image yield an off-set in the satellite retrieval data and that information about the vertical structure of the boundary layer is very important.     

The Assessment of Atmospheric Pollution using Satellite Remote Sensing Technology in Large Cities in the Vicinity of Airports

This paper investigates the potential of usingsatellite remotely sensed imagery for assessing atmosphericpollution. A novel approach, which comprised radiativetransfer calculations and pseudo-invariant targets fordetermining aerosol optical thickness has been developed.The key parameter for assessing atmospheric pollution inphotochemical air pollution studies is the aerosol opticalthickness. The need for identifying suitable pseudo-invariantobjects in satellite images of urban areas is of great interest for increasing the potential of earthobservation for monitoring air pollution in such areas. Theidentification of large water bodies and concrete apronsthat can serve as suitable dark and bright targetsrespectively in different geographical areas wasdemonstrated in this study. This study added evidence onthe correlation found between the visibility valuesmeasured at Heathrow Airport area during satellite overpassand aerosol optical thickness derived from Landsat-5 TMband 1 images.     

Nature of Atmospheric Aerosols over the Desert Areas in the Asian Continent: Chemical State and Number Concentration of Particles Measured at Dunhuang,China

Measurements of aerosol were made in August and October 2001, and January 2002, at Dunhuang, China (40°00N, 94°30E), to understand the nature of atmosphericparticles over the desert areas in the Asian continent. Balloon-borne measurements with an optical particle counter suggested that particle size and concentration had a noticeable peak in size range of super micron in not only the boundary mixing layer but also the free troposphere. Thickness of the boundary mixing layer, from distributions of particle concentration, was about 4 km in summer (17 August 2001), about2.5 km in fall (17 October 2001), and about 3 km in winter (11 January 2002), which suggest active mixing of particles near the boundary in summer. Number-size distribution of particleshowed a noticeable peak in the super micron particles size range inthe mixing boundary layer: 0.4–2 particles cm^-3 at diameter>1.2 m in summer, 0.05–4 particles cm^-3 at diameter >1.2 m in fall, and 0.1–5 particles cm^-3 at diameter>1.2 m in winter. In winter strong inversion of atmospherictemperature was found in the height range from the boundary to about 3 km and vertical distribution of particle concentration well corresponded with the temperature distribution. Chemical elements of individual aerosols, which were collectedin the boundary layer atmosphere at Dunhuang (18 October 2001) were analyzed with an electron microscope equipped with EDX. Thosesingle particle analysis suggested that most of the particles with supermicron size were soil particles, and those particles had littlesulfate on its surface. This is a very important different point,comparing with the chemical state of soil particles, which weretransported from the desert area of China to Japan, and showed frequentlythe existence of sulfate on the particle surface. Therefore, it isstrongly suggested that dust particles can be chemically modifiedduring their long-range transport from desert areas to Japan.     

The effect of dust emissions from open storage piles to particle ambient concentration and human exposure

The current study focus on the determination of dust emissions from piles in open storage yards of a municipal solid waste (MSW) composting site and the subsequent atmospheric dust dispersion. The ISC3-ST (Industrial Source Complex Version 3 – Short Term) model was used for the evaluation of the PM₁₀ ambient concentrations associated with the dispersion of MSW compost dust emissions in air. Dust emission rates were calculated using the United States Environmental Protection Agency proposed dust resuspension formulation from open storage piles using local meteorological data. The dispersion modelling results on the spatial distribution of PM₁₀ source depletion showed that the maximum concentrations were observed at a distance 25–75 m downwind of the piles in the prevailing wind direction. Sensitivity calculations were performed also to reveal the effect of the compost pile height, the friction velocity and the receptor height on the ambient PM₁₀ concentration. It was observed that PM₁₀ concentrations (downwind in the prevailing wind direction) increased with increasing the friction velocity, increasing the pile height (for distances greater than 125 m from the source) and decreasing the receptor height (for distances greater than 125 m from the source). Furthermore, the results of ISC3-ST were analysed with the ExDoM (Exposure Dose Model) human exposure model. The ExDoM is a model for calculating the human exposure and the deposition dose, clearance, and finally retention of aerosol particles in the human respiratory tract (RT). PM₁₀ concentration at the composting site was calculated as the sum of the concentration from compost pile dust resuspension and the background concentration. It was found that the exposure to PM₁₀ and deposited lung dose for an adult Caucasian male who is not working at the composting site is less by 20–74% and 29–84%, respectively, compared to those for a worker exposed to PM concentrations at the composting site.     

Air Quality Management in Izmir Region of Turkey as Required by Clean Air Plans

Future (24 h later) daily ground level SO₂ concentration in Istanbul was modeled and predicted using a new and powerful technique, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) in the case of meteorological parameters as input variables. Results show that the trend of SO₂ from higher values in winter to lower values in spring and summer, and again to higher values towards winter can be correctly represented by the neural networks. The model better predicted the lower SO₂ values in spring and summer seasons when compared to higher values in winter season because of the pattern distribution in training data sets. Beside the amount of the database, the more the variation of the values of the parameters in their own ranges, the more the network learns the database. As a result of this study, considerably successful results were obtained when considering the complex and nonlineer structure of the atmosphere, which is the source of the database.     

Discriminate Analysis for Dust Storm Prediction in the Gobi and Steppe Regions in Mongolia

A discriminate analysis method for probability forecast of dust storms in Mongolia has been developed. The prediction method uses data recorded at 23 meteorological stations in the Gobi and steppe regions of Mongolia, including surface air pressure and geo-potential height at the 500-hPa level on grid points, and weather maps from 1975 to 1990. Weather elements such as air temperature, pressure, geo-potential height etc, which influence the formation of dust storms, are prepared as predictors. To select the most informative/important predictors (variables), we used a mean correlation matrix of variables together with the Mahalonobis distance, and correlation coefficients between dust storms and predictors with an orthogonalization for removing correlated predictors. The most informative predictors for dust storm prediction are intensities of surface cyclones and migratory anticyclones, passage of cold fronts, the horizontal gradients of the surface air pressure in the cold frontal zone, cyclonic circulations from the ground surface up to the 500-hPa level, the geo-potential height at 500-hPa level and its temporal changes. Selected predictors are used in discriminate analysis for formulating dust storm prediction equations. Sandstorm data have been classified into three classes, viz., strong, moderate and weak dust storms, depending on their intensities, durations and areas covered. Predictions of the probabilities of dust storm occurrence use the prediction equations for each class. The prediction is made from 12 hours to 36 hours. Verification of the probability forecasts of dust storms is also shown. The accuracy of forecasts is 72.2–79.9% with the data used for developing equations (dependent variables), in contrast to 67.1–72.0% with unrelated data for deriving equations (independent variables).     

Feature of Dust Particles in the Spring Free Troposphere over Dunhuang in Northwestern China: Electron Microscopic Experiments on Individual Particles Collected with a Balloon-borne Impactor

Free tropospheric aerosol particles were collected using a balloon-borne particle impactor in August of 2002 and March of 2003 at Dunhuang in northwestern China (40°00′N, 94°30′E), and the morphology and elemental composition of the aerosol particles were analyzed in order to understand the mixing state of coarse dust particles (diameter >1 μm) over the desert areas in the Asian continent in spring. Electron microscopic experiments on the particles revealed that dust particles were major constituents of coarse mode particles in the free troposphere over the Taklamakan Desert in spring and summer. Si-rich or Ca-rich particles are major components of dust particles collected in the free troposphere over dunhuang and the values of [number of Ca-rich particles]/[number of Si-rich particles] differs markedly between spring and summer, being about 0.3 in the spring of 2003 and about 1.0 in the summer of 2002 at heights 3–5 km above sea level. It is likely that the condition of the ground surface and the strength of vertical mixing in source areas of Asian dust are potential factors causing the difference in the chemical types of dust particles. Comparison of the elemental compositions of these particles with those of particles collected over Japan strongly suggests that these particles were chemically modified during their long-range transport in the free troposphere. Analysis of wind systems shows that both the predominating westerly wind in the free troposphere and the surface wind strongly controlled by the geographical structure of the Tarim Basin are important in the long-range transport of KOSA particles originating in the Taklamakan Desert.     

The Spatial and Temporal Variation of Measured Urban PM10 and PM2.5 in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area

We have studied particulate matter (PM) concentrations,PM₁₀ and PM_2.5, measured in an urban air qualitymonitoring network in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area during1997–1999. The data includes PM₁₀ concentrationsmeasured at five locations (two urban traffic, one suburbantraffic, one urban background and one regional backgroundsite) and PM_2.5 concentrations measured at twolocations (urban traffic and urban background sites). Theconcentrations of PM₁₀ show a clear diurnal variation,as well as a spatial variation within the area. Bycontrast, both the spatial and temporal variation of thePM_2.5 concentrations was moderate. We have analysedthe evolution of urban PM concentrations in terms of therelevant meteorological parameters in the course of oneselected peak pollution episode during 21–31 March, 1998.The meteorological variables considered included wind speedand direction, ambient temperature, precipitation, relativehumidity, atmospheric pressure at the ground level,atmospheric stability and mixing height. The elevated PMconcentrations during the 1998 March episode were clearlyrelated to conditions of high atmospheric pressure,relatively low ambient temperatures and low wind speeds inpredominantly stable atmospheric conditions. The resultsprovide indirect evidence indicating that the PM₁₀concentrations originate mainly from local vehiculartraffic (direct emissions and resuspension), while thePM_2.5 concentrations are mostly of regionally andlong-range transported origin.     

Increase of Ozone Concentration in an Inland Basin During the Period of Nocturnal Thermal High

Since ground level ozone concentrations in the basin on one day before the occurrence of unusually high air temperature with nocturnal thermal high showed a typical urban type of a maximum ozone concentration at 1300 LST and a minimum at night. However, a maximum ozone concentration under extremely high air temperature of 39.2 °C was detected at 1700 LST or 1800 LST at two environmental monitoring sites, which was 4 or 5 hr delayed from the typical occurrence time, 1300 LST. Its maximum value showed about 50 or 70% increase of the concentration more than the typical maximum value and its concentration gradually decreased until 2100 LST. After 1200 LST until 1800 LST, air temperature was maintained over 35 °C and the high temperature made a great contribution to the increase of O₃ for several hours. The deviated occurrence time of a maximum ozone concentration is mainly attributed to meteorological and topographic effects – shifted occurrence time of maximum air temperature, shrunken atmospheric boundary layer depth and wind. While daytime O₃ concentration due to photochemical production of O₃ from NO₂ increased, NO₂ concentration decreased, with their reverse respondent patterns each night. A secondary maximum concentration of O₃ at 2300 LST or 2400 LST is due to a much shallower depth of nocturnal surface inversion layer with daytime producing more O₃ than that of the daytime convective boundary layer, resulting in the increase of ozone concentration, though the reduction of ozone occurred under the reversal process of O₃ into NO₂.     

Improvements in Air Quality Modelling by Using Surface Boundary Layer Parameters derived from Satellite Land Cover Data

Many atmospheric dispersion models include only simpletreatment of surface features to estimate the wind profilesand stability parameters. Detailed characterisation of theland cover, particularly in large and complex urbanconurbations, is especially important, as the surfacefeatures can vary significantly over the area. This paperdiscusses the use of satellite land cover data to derivespatially resolved surface boundary layer (SBL) parameters.These parameters have been used in an air quality model,PEARL (Prediction Air Quality in Urban and RegionalLocations) for estimating monthly and annual COconcentrations. Land cover data, derived from LANDSATThematic Mapper Imagery, has been used to estimate SBLparameters (surface roughness length, albeedo, Bowen ratioand anthropogenic heat flux) for a study area of 10000km² encompassing Greater London and the surroundingcounties. The SBL parameters have been assigned according tomajor land cover types for the whole area at a spatialresolution of 1 × 1 km. Predictions from two versions of the PEARL model (one with land cover data and one without)have been compared with each other and with measured data forannual and monthly CO concentrations from seven London airquality monitoring sites. This comparison shows thatdifferences between predicted and observed values can bereduced by up to a factor of three. The use of SBLparameters derived from land cover data also yields moredetailed predicted annual CO spatial patterns especially inand around suburban areas. The performance of both versionsof the model for monthly CO concentrations has been comparedwith a range of statistical measures. This comparisonconfirms that improved agreement is observed betweenmodelled and measured monthly CO concentrations when use ismade of spatially resolved SBL parameters.     

Concentrations,Cumulative Exposure and Critical Levels of Ozone in Ireland

Concentrations of tropospheric ozone(O₃) and exceedance of critical levels to vegetationhave been investigated and mapped for Ireland. Hourlyozone concentration data (1995–1997) at 7 sevenmonitoring stations and the CORINE landcover database,supported by a Geographical Information System, wereused. AOT40 (Accumulated exposure Over a Threshold of 40ppb) was calculated for daylight hours for each station,and mapped using surface interpolation. Average O₃concentrations vary from year to year, and were estimatedto be 28 ppb, 26 ppb and 24 ppb for 1995, 1996 and 1997respectively. Ozone concentrations show a large diurnalvariation, with a maximum in the afternoon and a minimumat night-time. The critical level for crops and (semi-)natural vegetation was exceeded in all years examined.The highest exceedance occurred in 1995, where thecritical level was exceeded for almost 35% of the mappedarea. Approximately 15% and 1% of the mapped area wasexposed to exceedance levels during 1996 and 1997respectively. The maximum cumulative exposures (AOT40)were approximately 5000, 3890 and 3230 ppbh in 1995, 1996and 1997 respectively. The critical level for forests wasnot exceeded during the period of investigation.     

Ozone Deposition to a Coniferous and Deciduous Forest in the Czech Republic

Estimates of ozone concentration and deposition flux to coniferous and deciduous forest in the Czech Republic on a 1 × 1 km grid during growing season (April–September) of the year 2001 are presented. Ozone deposition flux was derived from ozone concentrations in the atmosphere and from its deposition velocities. To quantify the spatial pattern in surface concentrations at 1 km resolution incorporating topography, empirical methods are used. The procedure maps ozone concentrations from the period of the day when measurements are representative for the forest areas of countryside. The effects of boundary layer stability are quantified using the observed relationship between the diurnal variability of surface ozone concentration and altitude. Ozone deposition velocities were calculated according to a multiple resistance model incorporating aerodynamic resistance (R _a ), laminar layer resistance (R _b ) and surface resistance (R _c ). Surface resistance (R _c ) comprises stomatal resistance (R _sto ). R _sto was calculated with respect to global radiation, surface air temperature and land cover. Modelled total and stomatal ozone fluxes are compared with the maps describing equivalent values of AOT40 (accumulated exposure over threshold of 40 ppb). For forests, the critical level (9,000 ppbh May–July daylight hours) is exceeded over 50% of forested territory. This indicates the potential for effects on large areas of forest. There is significiant correspondence between the exposure index AOT40 and the total ozone flux, but the relation between the total ozone flux and AOT40 exposure index is not clear in all parts of the forest territory.     

Hardening performance of reclaimed gypsums for stabilizing agent to improve soft clayey ground

For a prospective solution of effective recycling of gypsum board wastes, the present study was conducted to evaluate applicability of reclaimed gypsum as stabilizing agent for improvement of soft clayey ground. A series of unconfined compression tests and needle penetration tests were conducted to understand the fundamental properties of reclaimed gypsum and gypsum treated soils and the durability in water. An important finding was strength decrease in relation to mixing time of gypsum and soil. This may attribute to excessive mixing that caused breakage of the promptly hardened gypsum treated clay. In addition, from sounding and laboratory tests on the stabilized ground by shallow mixing method with different execution conditions, it was found that the strength of stabilized ground appeared in an early stage and that the hardening effect of cement that was used in combination with gypsum continued in a longer period. Regarding an environmental aspect, a specific amount of cement could have restrained leaching fluorine satisfactorily under the standard level in the field by adopting suitable mixing proportions based on the laboratory mixing test results. For practical application, the mixing procedure was a major factor of strength growth when hemihydrate gypsum was used to stabilize soft clayey ground.     

火电厂烟塔合一和烟囱排放大气环境影响比较——以宝鸡第二发电厂为例

以宝鸡第二发电厂间接空冷机组为例,分别采用德国AUSTAL2000大气预测模式与美国AERMOD大气预测模式,对烟塔合一和烟囱两种排放方式的大气环境影响进行分析预测,并分析了地形因素对预测结果的影响。通过对比分析得知,烟塔合一排放的地面浓度分布较分散,而烟囱排放造成的地面浓度分布较集中。考虑地形影响时采用AUSTAL2000计算的烟塔合一地面浓度比AERMOD计算的烟囱小,不考虑地形时则反之。     

Aerosol Properties Over Japan Determined by Sun/Sky Photometry

The field-experiment campaigns of the Asian Atmospheric Particulate Environment Change Studies (APEX-E1 in December 2000, -E2 in spring 2001, and -E3 in spring 2003) aimed at understanding Asian aerosols. Our sun/sky photometric measurements of atmospheric light have joined these campaigns by using multispectral photometers (CE-318-1 and -2, Cimel Electronique; and POM-100P, Prede) at Noto, Shirahama, and Fukue-jima, Japan. This paper focuses on aerosol retrieval during the APEX-E3 campaign. Aerosol optical thickness, Ångström exponent, single-scattering albedo and the refractive index derived from these ground-based measurements can be classified into three categories of aerosols: (1) an oceanic type of typical background aerosols over Japan, (2) an anthropogenic type, and (3) a soil-dust type. The data from APEX experiments demonstrate that aerosols over Japan exhibit complicated spatial and temporal features involving mixtures of compounds.     

Potential and Shortcomings of Numerical Weather Prediction Models in Providing Meteorological Data for Urban Air Pollution Forecasting

The last decade progress in numericalweather prediction (NWP) modelling and studies of urbanatmospheric processes for providing meteorological data forurban air pollution forecasting is analysed on examples ofseveral European meteorological centres. Modern nested NWP models are utilising land-use databasesdown to 1 km resolution or finer, and are approaching thenecessary horizontal and vertical resolution suitable forcity scale. The recent scientific developments in the fieldof urban atmospheric physics and the growing availabilityof high-resolution urban surface characteristics datapromise further improvements of the capability of NWPmodels for this aim. A strategy to improve NWP data forthe urban air pollution forecasting is suggested.