A model for the maximum credible hourly impact on any ground receptor from point sources with momentumdominated plume rise

A pollutant dispersion model is developed, allowing rapid evaluation of the maximum credible one-hour-average concentration on any given ground-level receptor, along with the corresponding critical meteorological conditions (wind speed and stability class) for stacks with momentum-dominated plume rise in urban or rural areas under buoyancy or no buoyancy induced dispersion. Site-specific meteorological data are not required, as the computed concentrations are maximized against all credible combinations of wind speed, stability class, and mixing height.The analysis is based on the dispersion relations of Pasquill-Gifford and Briggs for rural and urban settings respectively, the buoyancy induced dispersion correlation of Pasquill, the wind profile exponent values suggested by Irwin, the momentum plume rise relations of Briggs, as well as the Benkley and Schulman's model for the minimum mixing heights.The model is particularly suited for air pollution management studies, as it allows fast screening of the maximum impact on any selected receptor and evaluation of the ways to have this impact reduced. Also, for regulatory purposes, as it allows accurate setting of minimum stack height requirements as function of the exit gas volume and velocity, the pollutant emission rates and their hourly concentration standards, as well as the source location relative to sensitive receptors.     

Modelling mixing height from routinely measured surface and upper air meteorological data

A one‐dimensional model is developed for the estimation of hourly mixing height values from routinely measured upper air and surface meteorological data. A diagnostic technique is used in the model to calculate the convective and mechanically induced mixing height values under different atmospheric, and day and night‐time conditions. In the scheme, for the day‐time hours, the mixing height is determined as the larger of the convective and mechanically induced mixing height values. For the night‐time hours, only the mechanically induced mixing height values are considered. Three‐hourly mixing height values are modelled using once‐a‐day upper air temperature profile data (from radio‐sonde) and three‐hourly surface meteorological data. The spatial and temporal variation of mixing height are modelled in the Brisbane airshed and their relationship with the atmospheric stability, solar radiation and transport wind speed is developed.     

Evaluation of Locations for Small Wind Turbines in Costal Urban Areas Based on a Wind Energy Potential Map

The purpose of the study was to evaluate potential locations for the installation of small wind turbines in urban areas. Four study sites in An-Ping, Tainan were chosen for measurement in this empirical study. The measurement data were used to verify the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The weather information was gathered in order to understand the overall wind environment in the studied area. CFD software was used to simulate the wind environment in the study area from 16 directions. The distribution of wind environment was first presented, and then the distribution of exceedance probability in each grid, which was based on an exceedance probability assessment, was obtained. In addition to the installation heights of the turbines, the influence of surrounding buildings was taken into consideration. Finally, a wind energy potential map indicating the potential regions and non-potential regions for installing small wind turbines was illustrated by the ArcGIS system. A wind energy potential map, superimposed with locations of buildings of different floor heights, was used to evaluate the possible sites for the installment of small wind turbines at heights of 10, 20, and 30 m. The results proved that installing micro wind turbines in open spaces and on the roofs of three-, four-, and five-story buildings at a height of 20 m is relatively beneficial for coastal urban areas.     

基于曲线投影动态聚类模型的大气质量监测布点研究

聚类数和聚类方法是聚类分析研究的核心,具有重要的实用价值。针对各单项大气质量监测指标的不相容问题,在投影寻踪动态聚类模型的基础上,通过引入S型曲线作为投影方式,提出了基于曲线投影动态聚类的大气质量监测布点研究新方法。从理论上讲,作为一种完全由数据驱动的方法,该模型充分体现了投影寻踪聚类的设计思想,能把最佳聚类数和对应的聚类结果的分析有机地融合在一起,具有物理意义清晰,可操作性强等特点。实例应用结果表明,通过把待研究地区大气监测点多维指标综合成一维投影指标,并利用免疫进化算法优化目标函数,模型能提供明确、客观及稳健的监测布点最佳方案,实现大气质量监测经济性和代表性的平衡。上述研究可为其它非线性、非正态高维数据分类问题开辟一条新途径。     

大气污染物排放监测中最低等效排气筒计算规律研究

通过实例分析了在排气筒组中，以不同的排气筒高度作为起点依次等效，不会影响等效排气筒污染物排放速率和等效排气筒位置的计算结果，但会对等效排气筒高度的计算产生影响。研究表明，在排气筒组中，将排气筒从高到低排列进行等效，计算出的等效排气筒高度最低，相应执行标准最严。     

An integrated methodology for estimation of forest fire-loss using geospatial information

These days, wildfires are prevalent in almost all areas of the world. Researchers have been actively analyzing wildfire damage using a variety of satellite images and geospatial datasets. This paper presents a method for detailed estimation of wildfire losses using various geospatial datasets and an actual case of wildfire at Kang-Won-Do, Republic of Korea in 2005. A set of infrared (IR) aerial images acquired after the wildfire were used to visually delineate the damaged regions, and information on forest type, diameter class, age class, and canopy density within the damaged regions was retrieved from GIS layers of the Korean national forest inventory. Approximate tree heights were computed from airborne LIDAR and verified by ground LIDAR datasets. The corresponding stand volumes were computed using tree volume equations (TVE). The proposed algorithm can efficiently estimate fire loss using the geospatial information; in the present case, the total fire loss was estimated as $5.9 million, which is a more accurate estimate than $4.5 million based on conventional approach. The proposed method can be claimed as a powerful alternative for estimating damage caused by wildfires, because the aerial image interpretation can delineate and analyze damaged regions in a comprehensive and consistent manner; moreover, LIDAR datasets and national forest inventory data can significantly reduce field work.     

External Contribution to Urban Air Pollution

Elevated particulate matter concentrations in urbanlocations have normally been associated with local trafficemissions. Recently it has been suggested that suchepisodes are influenced to a high degree by PM₁₀sources external to urban areas. To further corroboratethis hypothesis, linear regression was sought betweenPM₁₀ concentrations measured at eight urban sites inthe U.K., with particulate sulphate concentration measuredat two rural sites, for the years 1993–1997. Analysis ofthe slopes, intercepts and correlation coefficientsindicate a possible relationship between urban PM₁₀and rural sulphate concentrations. The influences of winddirection and of the distance of the urban from the ruralsites on the values of the three statistical parametersare also explored. The value of linear regression as ananalysis tool in such cases is discussed and it is shownthat an analysis of the sign of the rate of change of theurban PM₁₀ and rural sulphate concentrations providesa more realistic method of correlation. The resultsindicate a major influence on urban PM₁₀ concentrations from the eastern side of the UnitedKingdom. Linear correlation was also sought using PM₁₀ data from nine urban sites in London and nearby ruralRochester. Analysis of the magnitude of the gradients andintercepts together with episode correlation analysisbetween the two sites showed the effect of transportedPM₁₀ on the local London concentrations. This articlealso presents methods to estimate the influence of ruraland urban PM₁₀ sources on urban PM₁₀ concentrations and to obtain a rough estimate of thetransboundary contribution to urban air pollution from thePM₁₀ concentration data of the urban site.     

Light non-methane hydrocarbons at two sites in the Indo-Gangetic Plain

Measurements of light (C(2)-C(5)) non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) were made along with ozone (O(3)), oxides of nitrogen (NO(x)), carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH(4)) at Hissar and Kanpur in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) in India during the month of December, 2004. Air samplings during noon and evening hours provided an opportunity to study the emission characteristics and changes during this period at these sites. The mixing ratio of O(3) was higher during noon hours due to photochemical formation, while the levels of precursor gases showed elevated values during the evening hours on a clear sky day. On foggy days there is no such variation. The lower mixing ratios of O(3) observed on foggy days could be due to the slower rate of photochemical formation caused by a reduction in solar flux and surface deposition caused by the presence of a stable planetary boundary layer. Propene and ethene show the highest evening to noon ratio due to their faster reactivities with OH radicals. Correlations among different species of the measured gases indicate contributions of emissions from biomass and biofuel burning as well as fossil fuel combustion. Although qualitatively in relation to O(3), the propylene (propene) equivalents of NMHCs have been calculated to investigate their roles in O(3) photochemistry and compared with the data from Ahmedabad, an urban site in western India. The important result, which has emerged from the analysis of the observed data, is that while the total amount of these NMHCs is least at Hissar and highest at Ahmedabad, the total propylene-equivalent is highest at Hissar and lowest at Ahmedabad. Further, these two sites in the IGP show significant contributions, almost 72-77%, by propene and ethene while the contribution by these two gases at Ahmedabad is only about 47%. The surface level mixing ratios of O(3) could be treated as representative for the chemical characterization of air mass at a regional scale over the IGP as the month long trends of O(3) show significant similarity compared to the trends in precursors at the two sites.     

Distribution of vehicular pollutants in street canyons of Varanasi, India: a different case

In present study horizontal and vertical distribution of traffic-related pollutants (CO and SO(2)) within the street canyons in (CO and SO(2)) Varanasi, India was monitored. The results showed that average horizontal profiles of traffic-related pollutant concentrations within street canyon at leeward side were approximately same as that of windward side. However, the vertical concentration of both the pollutants decreases with height above the ground and study indicated that CO and SO(2) concentrations at different heights below the roof showed clear vertical self-gradient. CO and SO(2) concentration decreased with height and the minimum value occurred at the roof. It was concluded from the observed results that pollutants from vehicular exhaust emissions in the street canyon of Varanasi were evenly distributed. This result may be due to the fact that wind vortices are not formed. Therefore, urban planners can use this type of streets so that there is proper ventilation and dispersal of pollutants.     

Precipitable water modelling using artificial neural network in Çukurova region

Precipitable water (PW) is an important atmospheric variable for climate system calculation. Local monthly mean PW values were measured by daily radiosonde observations for the time period from 1990 to 2006. Artificial neural network (ANN) method was applied for modeling and prediction of mean precipitable water data in Çukurova region, south of Turkey. We applied Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) learning algorithm and logistic sigmoid transfer function in the network. In order to train our neural network we used data of Adana station, which are assumed to give a general idea about the precipitable water of Çukurova region. Thus, meteorological and geographical data (altitude, temperature, pressure, and humidity) were used in the input layer of the network for Çukurova region. Precipitable water was the output. Correlation coefficient (R²) between the predicted and measured values for monthly mean daily sum with LM method values was found to be 94.00% (training), 91.84% (testing), respectively. The findings revealed that the ANN-based prediction technique for estimating PW values is as effective as meteorological radiosonde observations. In addition, the results suggest that ANN method values be used so as to predict the precipitable water.     

When speed matters: The importance of flight speed in an avian collision risk model

Renewable energy continues to grow globally, and the number of offshore wind farms is set to increase. Whilst wind energy developments provide energy security and reduced carbon budgets, they may impact bird populations through collision mortality, habitat modification and avoidance. To date, avian collision mortality has received the most attention and collision risk models have been developed to estimate the potential mortality caused by wind turbines. The utility of these models relies not only on their underlying assumptions but also on the data available to ensure the predictions are informative. Using a stochastic collision risk model (sCRM; based on the Band collision risk model) as an example, we explore the importance of bird flight speed and consider how the assumptions of the model influence the sensitivity to flight speed. Furthermore we explore the consequences of using site-specific GPS-derived flight speed rather than a standard generic value, with Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus as an example, and consider how this generic value is currently used. We found that the model was most sensitive to the parameters of bird density, non-avoidance rate and percentage of birds at collision risk height, as well as bird flight speed. Using site-specific flight speed data derived from GPS tags rather than a standard value reduced the predicted number of collisions. We highlight that within the model, both the estimation of the probability of collision (PColl) and the flux of birds are sensitive to the bird flight speed; this sensitivity acts in opposite directions but the two do not necessarily balance out. Therefore, when the sCRM is used as generally done, there is little difference in collision estimates if airspeeds (bird flight speed relative to air through which it is moving) are used rather than groundspeeds (bird flight speed relative to ground). Estimates of seabird collision rates in relation to offshore wind farms are impacting future offshore wind development. By using site specific flight speed estimates and, accounting for different speeds in relation to wind direction, we demonstrate that cumulative collision estimates can be affected, highlighting the need for more representative flight speed data and where possible site-specific data.     

测点高度对道路交通噪声监测数据的影响

通过在4城市对132条道路进行了道路交通噪声测点高度试验,系统分析了测点高度从手工监测的1.2 m向自动监测的4.5 m转化后,在不同道路情况对道路交通噪声监测数据的影响。结果表明,测点高度提高后监测结果变化在±3 dB(A)以内。待测道路的车道数和测点与机动车道的距离是其主要影响因素。对两测点高度进行对比,4.5 m高度噪声值随水平距离增加衰减较小,测量结果更稳定。     

Measuring forest structure along productivity gradients in the Canadian boreal with small-footprint Lidar

The structure and productivity of boreal forests are key components of the global carbon cycle and impact the resources and habitats available for species. With this research, we characterized the relationship between measurements of forest structure and satellite-derived estimates of gross primary production (GPP) over the Canadian boreal. We acquired stand level indicators of canopy cover, canopy height, and structural complexity from nearly 25,000 km of small-footprint discrete return Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) data and compared these attributes to GPP estimates derived from the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). While limited in our capacity to control for stand age, we removed recently disturbed and managed forests using information on fire history, roads, and anthropogenic change. We found that MODIS GPP was strongly linked to Lidar-derived canopy cover (r?=?0.74, p?<?0.01), however was only weakly related to Lidar-derived canopy height and structural complexity as these attributes are largely a function of stand age. A relationship was apparent between MODIS GPP and the maximum sampled heights derived from Lidar as growth rates and resource availability likely limit tree height in the prolonged absence of disturbance. The most structurally complex stands, as measured by the coefficient of variation of Lidar return heights, occurred where MODIS GPP was highest as productive boreal stands are expected to contain a wider range of tree heights and transition to uneven-aged structures faster than less productive stands. While MODIS GPP related near-linearly to Lidar-derived canopy cover, the weaker relationships to Lidar-derived canopy height and structural complexity highlight the importance of stand age in determining the structure of boreal forests. We conclude that an improved quantification of how both productivity and disturbance shape stand structure is needed to better understand the current state of boreal forests in Canada and how these forests are changing in response to changing climate and disturbance regimes.     

A Numerical Study of Airflow and Pollutant Dispersion Inside an Urban Street Canyon Containing an Elevated Expressway

The goal of this study is to investigate numerically the wind flow and pollutant dispersion within an urban street canyon containing an elevated expressway and reveal the impacts of elevated expressway on the atmospheric environment in the canyon. A two-dimensional numerical model for simulating airflow and pollutant dispersion inside urban street canyons is first developed based on the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations coupled with the standard k???ε turbulence model and the convection–diffusion equation for passive species transport, and then it is validated against a wind tunnel experiment. It was found that the model-predicted results agree well with the experimental data. Having established this, the wind fields and pollutant distributions in the canyon containing an elevated expressway are evaluated. The numerical results show that the expressway height above the street floor and the gap distance between the expressway and the building wall have considerable influence on airflow and pollutant level inside a canyon: (1) the vortical flow structure in the canyon varies with the expressway height for a constant gap distance, under certain expressway heights, only one main clockwise vortex is formed, while under others one main vortex as well as one or two secondary vortices above and below the expressway are created; (2) the pollutant level within the canyon increases when an expressway is placed in the canyon, especially when the expressway height equals the building height the flow velocities in the canyon are drastically reduced and air exchange in and above the canyon is seriously impeded by the expressway, which leads to a much higher pollution level in the canyon; and (3) the wider gap distance is favorable to pollutant removal from the canyon.     

Sewage and the biota on seashores: Assessment of impact in relation to natural variability

The three largest sewage outfalls serving Sydney, New South Wales, Australia are to be moved several kilometres offshore in 1991–2. Changes in their environmental impact due to these moves are likely, but detection relies on a good understanding of the present impacts on the natural environment. Biological surveys in 1986–8 of rocky intertidal sites located directly at the present cliff outfalls have been compared to several (2) other shores some distance away (which serve as controls). This technique of multiple control sites is recommended as a way of including natural variability in the data set. By comparing the community structure at the point of impact to the range among control sites, it is theoretically possible to be more sure of whether purported impacts represent a response out of the ordinary. Effects detected in this way include gross reductions in species diversity, with complete dominace of rocky shore biota by ephemeral green algae and the absence of animals. Zonation disappears close to outfalls. These striking effects were, however, very localised. Denudation experiments suggested great recruitment and productivity of these algae, but the community as a whole is held at an early stage of succession. Such clear alterations attributable to sewage pollution suggests that this ecosystem would be a good indicator of any changes occurring once outfalls are moved offshore. Continued monitoring including multiple control sites is recommended.     

Evolution of building façade road traffic noise levels in Flanders

The evolution of daytime fa?ade noise levels by road traffic at 250 dwellings in Flanders is assessed. Three identical man-operated measurement campaigns have been conducted in the years 1996, 2001 and 2009, during fall. A practical methodology has been developed, based on short time noise measurements and context observations at these locations. The uncertainty introduced by short-term sampling has been quantified as a function of the noise level. Furthermore, a correction is proposed for measuring at a random moment during daytime. Analysis of the data showed that road traffic noise levels hardly changed globally over this period of 13 years. The distribution of changes in noise level at corresponding measurement locations is nevertheless rather wide-all improvements are equally compensated by increases in noise levels at other locations. The percentage of the dwelling fa?ades exposed to daytime noise levels above 65 dBA has increased slightly between 1996 and 2001, but seems to stagnate in 2009. In spite of the increased interest and actions of policy makers during the past decades, noise exposure caused by road traffic at dwelling fa?ades is a persistent problem.     

Transport and modification of humic substances present in Antarctic snow and ancient ice

We performed a study of fulvic acids extracted from fresh and aged snow, and from recent and ancient ice in Antarctica. The fresh snow samples were collected in coastal and inland sites to evaluate the influence of the distance from the sea on organic matter transport. Moreover, in a site (Melbourne Mountain) samples were collected at different heights to study the influence of altitude on transport. The obtained results showed that dissolved fulvic acid concentrations are influenced neither by distance nor by height while particulate fulvic acid concentrations are influenced by both parameters. Moreover, the results showed that fulvic acids transported for a long distance can undergo chemical modifications. Chemical modifications are better evidenced by the analysis of samples taken in trenches at different depth, which showed structural changes attributable to the loss of nitrogen-containing compounds and to an increase in aromatic character of the structures due to reduction and/or condensation processes. With ageing, the humification process proceeds with heavy carbon losses as demonstrated by results obtained from fulvic acids isolated from ice aged between twenty-five thousand and seventy thousand years.     

Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Aerosols and Dustfall in Macao

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), widespread environmental pollutants, have been measured in aerosols and dustfall in Macao. In this paper, we compare concentration distributions and determine the partitioning of PAHs in aerosols and dustfall for different areas, sampling times and sampling heights. The results demonstrate that the concentrations of PAHs in aerosols and dustfall vary at the different sites and heights. The concentrations of PAHs and most of the individual PAHs in aerosols at night were higher than those in the daytime when using the unit of g/g and lower than those when using the unit of g m^-3. It is shown that the distribution of individual PAHs in aerosols differs significantly from that in dustfall.     

Assessment of the status of work zone air environment due to opencast coal mining

In India coal production will have to be increased to meat theenergy demand at a very high rate. By 2000 AD the coolproduction from opencast (O/C) mining will rise to 250 Mt. whichwill be about 70% of the total coal production. The increasing trend of O/C mining leads to cause air pollution problem. A surveywas conducted to assess the status of work zone air envirnmentdue to opencast coal mining in Jharia Coalfield. Keeping in viewof place of dust generation air quality monitoring stations wereselected. Methodology adapted for sampling and analysis of airpollutants have been described. Four season data revealed thatmaximum concentration of SPM was observed at dragline sectionand the next high concentration was at haul roads. At all thelocations SPM and RPM concentrations exceeded the permissiblelimits specified by Indian Pollution Control Board. Shift wiseand location wise analysis for getting higher concentration ofSO₂ and NO_x have been discussed. Wind velocity anddirections, mixing heights, ventilation coefficient of the areahave been analyzed. Huge dust generation creates vision problemto HEMM operators. The methodology adopted may be utilised onindustrial scale for various sites.     

昆明市不同功能区夏季空气微生物污染监测

为了监测和评价昆明市空气微生物污染状况,通过平皿自然沉降法,于2010年夏季对其不同功能区空气真菌和细菌进行了初步监测。结果表明:昆明市夏季空气微生物以细菌为主;以空气真菌含量评价为清洁;8月空气真菌含量最高,7月空气细菌含量最低;空气微生物含量日变化不明显。