Evaluation of nitrogen dioxide photolysis rates in an urban area using data from the 1997 Southern California Ozone Study

The photolysis of nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde are two of the most influential reactions in the formation of photochemical air pollution, and their rates are computed using actinic flux determined from a radiative transfer model. In this study, we compare predicted and measured nitrogen dioxide photolysis rate coefficients (j_NO2). We used the Tropospheric Ultraviolet-Visible (TUV) radiation transfer model to predict j_NO2 values corresponding to measurements performed in Riverside, California as part of the 1997 Southern California Ozone Study (SCOS’97). Spectrally resolved irradiance measured at the same site allowed us to determine atmospheric optical properties, such as aerosol optical depth and total ozone column, that are needed as inputs for the radiative transfer model. Matching measurements of aerosol optical depth, ozone column, and j_NO2 were obtained for 14 days during SCOS’97. By using collocated measurements of the light extinction caused by aerosols and ozone over the full height of the atmosphere as model input, it was possible to predict sudden changes in j_NO2 resulting from atmospheric variability. While the diurnal profile of the rate coefficient was readily reproduced, j_NO2 model predicted values were found to be consistently higher than measured values. The bias between measured and predicted values was 17–36%, depending on the assumed single scattering albedo. By statistical analysis, we restricted the most likely values of the single scattering albedo to a range that produced bias on the order of 20–25%. It is likely that measurement error is responsible for a significant part of the bias. The aerosol single scattering albedo was found to be a major source of uncertainty in radiative transfer model predictions. Our best estimate indicates its average value at UV-wavelengths for the period of interest is between 0.77 and 0.85.     

Differences of the oxidation process and secondary organic aerosol formation at low and high precursor concentrations

Current atmospheric quality models usually underestimate the level of ambient secondary organic aerosol(SOA), one of the possible reasons is that the precursors at different concentrations may undergo different oxidation processes and further affect SOA formation. Therefore, there is a need to perform more chamber studies to disclose the influence. In this work, SOA formation over a wide range of initial precursor concentrations(tens of ppb to hundreds of ppb levels) was investigated in a 30 m3 indoor smog chamber,and mainly through the analysis of multiple generations of VOCs detected from HR-To FPTRMS to expound the difference in the oxidation process between low and high precursor concentrations. Compared to high initial concentrations, gas-phase intermediates formed at low concentrations had a higher intensity by about one order of magnitude, and the lowvolatility compounds also had a higher formation potential due to the competition between semi-volatile intermediates and precursors with oxidants. In addition, the formed SOA was more oxidized with higher f44 value(0.14 ± 0.02) and more relevant to real atmosphere than that formed at high concentrations. This work should help to deeply understand SOA formation and improve the performance of air quality models for SOA simulation.     

基于MODIS的华东地区气溶胶光学厚度时空变化特征分析

选用2001年1月-2015年12月MODIS数据,运用线性趋势等方法研究华东地区气溶胶光学厚度(AOD)的变化特征及影响因素。结果表明,2001-2015年华东地区AOD平均值变化范围在0.4~0.7之间,且呈现递减趋势。山东省西部、安徽省北部及江苏省AOD相对较高;福建省、浙江省南部及江西省南部地区AOD较低。华东地区气溶胶最低值出现在12月,最高值出现在6月;虽然冬季AOD变化趋势增长较高,但最高值仍出现在夏季。AOD主要受地形、NDVI、风速及人类活动等因素的影响,地形、NDVI、风速均与AOD呈负相关。     

Influence of workpiece materials on aerosol emission from die sinking electrical discharge machining process

Simultaneous investigation of environmental emissions and machining aspects of electrical discharge machining process is essential for achieving hygienic and efficient machining. The main objective of the present work is to experimentally investigate and analyze the aerosol emission rate and the material removal rate from a die sinking electrical discharge machining process for three commonly used work piece materials viz., tool steel, mild steel and aluminum using Taguchi methodology of Experimental Design in order to suggest suitable process conditions for green manufacturing. The aerosol emission profile of all workpiece materials was found to be closely related to the material removal profile. A significant variation in emission and material removal rate was observed for workpiece materials which may be accorded to the variation in melting and vaporization temperatures. It was also observed that majority of aerosol constituents evolved from workpiece materials and that the constituents with low melting points were having high relative concentration in the aerosol emitted. The study introduced a parameter, the relative emission rate for comparing the emission for various process parameters and workpiece–tool material combinations. The favorable machining parameters for each material were then identified by employing signal to noise ratio analysis of the relative emission rate.