Seasonal to sub-seasonal variations of the Asian Tropopause Aerosols Layer affected by the deep convection, surface pollutants and precipitation

The Asian Tropopause Aerosols Layer (ATAL) refers to an accumulation of aerosols in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere during boreal summer over Asia, which has a fundamental impact on the monsoon system and climate change. In this study, we primarily analyze the seasonal to sub-seasonal variations of the ATAL and the factors potentially influencing those variations based on MERRA2 reanalysis. The ability of the reanalysis to reproduce the ATAL is well validated by CALIPSO observations from May to October 2016. The results reveal that the ATAL has a synchronous spatiotemporal pattern with the development and movement of the Asian Summer Monsoon. Significant enhancement of ATAL intensity is found during the prevailing monsoon period of July–August, with two maxima centered over South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula. Owing to the fluctuations of deep convection, the ATAL shows an episodic variation on a timescale of 7–12 days. Attribution analysis indicates that deep convection dominates the variability of the ATAL with a contribution of 62.7%, followed by a contribution of 36.6% from surface pollutants. The impact of precipitation is limited. The ATAL further shows a clear diurnal variation: the peak of ATAL intensity occurs from 17:30 to 23:30 local time (LT), when the deep convection becomes strongest; the minimum ATAL intensity occurs around 8:30 LT owing to the weakened deep convection and photochemical reactions in clouds. The aerosol components of the ATAL show different spatiotemporal patterns and imply that black carbon and organic carbon come mainly from India, whereas sulfate comes mainly from China during the prevailing monsoon period.     

西宁盆地总有机碳同位素记录的～39 Ma亚洲内陆急剧干旱事件

始新世亚洲内陆干旱环境演化(简称干旱化)的研究比较匮乏,驱动机制存在争议。位于青藏高原东北缘的西宁盆地含有连续的始新世地层沉积序列,是研究上述科学问题的理想材料。通过西宁盆地中央西宁东和水湾平行剖面(古地磁年代均为～ 43 Ma — ～ 35 Ma)详细的总有机碳同位素记录,对始新世的干旱生态环境变化进行了研究,结果显示:上述两个平行剖面总有机碳同位素平均值均在～39 Ma发生了急剧的～2.5‰变正(分别从-27.5‰和-28.4‰变正为-25.0‰和-26.0‰),结合盆地内耐旱植物麻黄属和白刺属孢粉的百分含量急剧升高,共同指示该时期的西宁盆地发生了急剧干旱化。副特提斯海退却导致的水汽输送的减少可能是驱动西宁盆地始新世干旱生态环境变化的主要原因,全球长期变冷可能起到了背景叠加作用。     

南京青奥会期间不同天气条件下大气气溶胶中水溶性离子的分布特征

为研究青奥会期间不同天气条件下水溶性离子粒径分布特征,使用β射线测尘仪、安德森9级采样器和IC型离子色谱分析仪对南京2014-08-06~2014-09-04的PM_(2.5)、水溶性离子进行观测分析.将观测期间划分为晴天、雨天和阴天这3种天气类型.PM_(2.5)在不同天气条件下的平均浓度为晴天阴天雨天.PM_(1.1)、PM_(1.1~2.1)和PM_(2.1~10)中水溶性离子的浓度均是晴天阴天雨天,且降雨过程对细粒子的去除作用更为明显.Ca~(2+)和Mg~(2+)谱分布类似,呈双峰分布,降雨对SO_4~(2-)和NH_4~+在0.65~1.1μm清除作用较强.不同天气条件下NO_3~-/SO_4~(2-)比值均小于1,雨天和阴天时的NO-3/SO_4~(2-)值高于晴天.3种天气条件下SOR和NOR的值均大于0.1,SO_2和NO_2发生不同程度的二次转化,大气中存在更多的二次颗粒物.     

16届亚运会期间广州城区PM2.5化学组分特征及其对霾天气的影响

于2010年11月4～30日在广州城区每天昼夜各采集一个PM2.5样品.对样品进行有机碳、元素碳和水溶性离子分析,同步收集了在线PM2.5浓度、大气消光系数(bext)以及气象因子,探讨了PM2.5特征及其与大气消光系数的关系,并利用修正后的IMPROVE消光系数方程重建大气消光系数.结果发现:亚运期间PM2.5日均值质量浓度为(77.0±24.4)μg·m-3,比亚运前低27.8%.PM2.5和相对湿度是导致霾天气的重要因素.亚运期间大气消光系数为418 Mm-1,比亚运前低28.3%,(NH4)2SO4、POM(particulate organic material)和LAC(light-absorbing carbon)是主要贡献因子,贡献率达到87.0%.广州及其周边城市采取的减排措施对于缓解亚运期间广州城区的霾天气作用明显.     

Element and mineral characterization of dust emission from the saline land at Songnen Plain, Northeastern China

Recent observations of Asian dust storms show an eastern expansion of the source area to degraded lands, where dust emissions have been little studied. The dust concentrations over the saline land of the western Songnen Plain (SSL), Northeastern China, are circumstantially higher than those from the northwestern Chinese deserts. These concentrations are sensitive to the surface soil conditions and wind velocity on the ground. The dust samples collected during dust storm events on the SSL contain abundant Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Fe and Ti, as well as toxic elements such as Cu, V, Zn and Ba. Individual particle analysis reveals that fine saline particles (< 10 μm in diameter) on the saline land, consisting largely of carbonate, halite and sulfate together with lithogenic minerals such as SiO₂ and aluminosilicate, are eventually uplifted during the interval from spring to autumn. The predominantly fine saline particles uplifted from the SSL are likely transported eastward by the winter monsoon circulation and westerlies. Recent degradation of saline lands in Northeastern China would not only increase the frequency of dust storm events in the downwind area, but also might change the chemical composition of the Asian dust emissions.     

Soccer,concussions, and safety: Perceptions of parents of youth soccer participants

Introduction: The rate of concussions in youth soccer is among the highest of all youth sports. Parents play an important role in caring for their children and making decisions regarding whether they should participate in a sport, such as soccer, where concussions are well known. This study examined parental perceptions regarding: (a) coaches’ role in concussion management, (b) heading restriction policies, and (c) overall concussion risk and participation issues. Method: Online surveys were completed by 419 parents of youth soccer players who participated in the largest U.S. youth soccer programs nationwide. Results: Findings indicated 44.5% of the respondents had considered keeping their children from playing organized soccer and 47.2% were concerned about a potential decline in youth soccer participation due to concussions. Nearly 69% of responding parents agreed that heading should be banned for participants 10 years old or younger, while 56.5% thought heading should not be limited for participants 13 or older. Only 35% of parents were very confident about their child’s coach’s ability to properly identify concussions and remove those suspected of a concussion from play. Parents’ socioeconomic status (SES), soccer coaching and playing experience, and previous history of concussion(s) were key predictors of greater perceived risk about concussions. Conclusions: Findings from this study shed light on parents’ perceptions about concussions and related safety issues in youth soccer. Understanding what parents believe about concussions is vital to preserve youth soccer participation and can be used to strengthen education and policies that promote a safer environment for youth sport participants. Practical Applications: Youth soccer coaches can benefit from stronger, comprehensive educational efforts at the league/club level. Additionally, parents of youth athletes who are in the lower SES communities should be targeted to receive concussion safety information and/or interventions that would improve their knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding concussion safety.     

钦江青年水闸断面水污染指数变化规律研究

以钦江青年水闸断面为研究对象,采用2001年~2009年的水质监测数据,计算了污染最重的氨氮、溶解氧和石油类3项污染因子的污染指数(Pi)及断面的综合污染指数(Pj)。通过分析得出,钦江青年水闸断面氨氮污染指数在2004年-2009年基本维持平缓,溶解氧和石油类污染指数在2001年-2006年期间上升幅度比较大,在2007年-2009年,逐步下降并且持续平缓。水质综合污染指数在2003年和2006年分别达到了5.440、4.940,断面水质属轻污染级别,2007年-2009年青年水闸断面的综合污染指数基本保持稳定(<4),河流水质的年际变化不大。     

广州市环境空气监测与预警体系在亚运会中的应用

本文以2010年广州亚运会空气质量监测保障为例,从广州市环境空气质量监测网络、空气质量预报、预警体系和环境质量会商及信息发布管理机制等方面,介绍了广州市环境空气监测与预警体系。通过2010年广州亚运会空气质量保障监测实践,证明广州市环境空气监测与预警体系是适应广州环境保护工作发展,并能满足特殊环境空气质量保障目标需求,具有示范作用和可供全国中心城市借鉴的先进的环境空气质量监测与预警体系。     

奥运时段北京及近周边区域空气污染观测与比对分析

为研究奥运时段北京与近周边区域空气质量的相互影响,评价区域污染源协同减排对奥运时段北京空气质量的作用,寻求北京空气污染预警的有效途径,2008-06-01～2008-10-03在北京奥运村以及近周边的河北涿州、廊坊、香河、燕郊进行了空气污染联网观测.结果表明,夏秋季节北京和近周边首要污染物均为颗粒物,北京和周边可吸入颗粒物(PM10)平均质量浓度分别为(114±66)μg/m3和(128±59)μg/m3;细粒子(PM2.5)质量浓度则分别为(77±47)μg/m3和(81±51)μg/m3;臭氧质量浓度小时最大值的平均分别为(164±52)μg/m3和(165±55)μg/m3;NOx分别为(58±23)μg/m3和(25±14)μg/m3.相对于6月,奥运会时段(8月8日～8月24日)北京地区PM10、PM2.5、O3、NOx的浓度分别下降69%、62%、18%和41%,残奥会时段(9月6日～9月17日)PM10、PM2.5、O3、NOx的浓度分别下降56%、49%、17%和16%.北京大气中细粒子浓度受周边影响严重,而NOx有向周边扩散的潜势,夏季臭氧则表现出区域污染的特征.结合气象要素分析表明,近周边区域联网观测,有助于北京空气质量预警研究,并可为区域协同防控空气污染提供科学支撑.     

2008北京残奥会期间大气黑碳气溶胶污染特征

利用单颗粒黑碳光度计(SP2)对2008年残奥会期间北京市黑碳(BC)气溶胶的质量浓度、粒径分布及单颗粒混合态进行连续在线观测.结果表明:观测期间BC浓度均值为1.65μg/m3,低于往年同期水平;质量粒径分布呈单峰型,峰值位于207nm;内混态BC比例平均为56.1%,高于其他国内外城市,说明本地源排放贡献相对较小.随大气边界层高度及本地源排放变化,BC浓度在上午8:00和午夜0:00出现2个峰值,内混态BC比例日变化趋势与之相反.风向风速分析表明,残奥会期间来自五环外未限行区域的机动车排放对市区BC浓度有明显影响.