Estimation of Cumulative Frequency Distribution for Carbon Monoxide Concentration from Wind-Speed Data, in Buenos Aires (Argentina)

In this article we apply and test a methodology to estimate cumulative frequency distribution for air pollutant concentration from wind-speed data. We use the inverse relationship after Simpson et al. (Atmospheric Environment, 19, 75–82, 1985) between the opposing percentile values in the statistical distributions for air pollutant concentrations and wind-speed data. This relationship is valid, irrespective of the statistical distributions of both variables, if an inverse relationship between them is also applicable. The available data are five years of 8-h average carbon monoxide concentration and 8-h mean wind-speed, observed in Buenos Aires (Argentina). The performance of the obtained empirical expressions in estimating cumulative frequency distributions for 8-h CO is statistically evaluated. The results show that it is possible to obtain an acceptable cumulative frequency distribution for 8-h CO concentration at the site if the cumulative frequency distribution for wind-speed is known. Q–Q plots show a good agreement between estimated and observed values. From our data, the mean relative error of the estimations was found to be as much as 8.0%.     

Critical Loads and Dynamic Modelling to Assess European Areas at Risk of Acidification and Eutrophication

European critical loads and novel dynamic modelling data have been compiled under the LRTAP Convention by the Coordination Centre for Effects. In 2000 9.8% of the pan-European and 20.8% of the EU25 ecosystem area were at risk of acidification. For eutrophication (nutrient N) the areas at risk were 30.1 and 71.2%, respectively. Dynamic modelling results reveal that 95% of the area at risk of acidification could recover by 2030 provided acid deposition is reduced according to present legislation. Insight into the timing of effects of exceedances of critical loads for nutrient N necessitates the further development of dynamic models.     

我国自然生态系统氮沉降临界负荷评估

过量的氮沉降引起了一系列环境问题并导致生物多样性损失,因此评估当前生态系统氮沉降临界负荷对区域氮管理及其污染控制至关重要.利用稳态质量平衡法估算了当前我国自然生态系统的氮沉降临界负荷,并与氮沉降数据对比,获取了我国超过氮沉降临界负荷的生态系统空间分布情况.结果表明,6%的地区氮沉降临界负荷大于56 kg·(hm²·a)^-1,67%的地区氮沉降临界负荷在14～56 kg·(hm²·a)^-1之间,27%的地区氮沉降临界负荷小于14 kg·(hm²·a)^-1.氮沉降临界负荷较高的区域主要分布在青藏高原东部、内蒙古东北部和南部部分地区.氮沉降临界负荷较低的区域主要分布在青藏高原西部、西北地区和东南部分地区.氮沉降超过临界负荷的区域约占我国的21%,主要分布在东南和东北部分地区.东北、西北和青藏高原地区超临界负荷值普遍低于14 kg·(hm²·a)^-1.因此,未来这些超过氮沉降临界负荷地区的氮素管理和控制更为值得关注.     

Prediction of extreme ozone levels in Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is one of the most polluted cities in Western Europe, although our levels of air pollution are within the World Health Organisation air quality guidelines. However, high concentrations of air pollution have not been studied yet. Ground ozone levels is a topic of considerable environmental concern, since excessive level of ozone are taken as indicative of high pollution. In terms of the air quality guidelines ozone levels higher than 100 µg m^–3 can start to be health-hazards for human health. Our objective is to report a detailed analysis of ozone data exceeding the thresholds established by the air quality guidelines. Data analysed were collected in two measurement stations in Barcelona, for the reference period 1991–1996. Applying statistical techniques commonly used in the analysis of extreme values, mainly the Peak Over Threshold method was used for in this study. The analysis reveal that the ozone threshold values for the protection of human health has exceeded many times in both stations. The estimated return values for 3, 10, and 40 yr exceed the threshold value for information to the public of almost once in both stations, also it seems to be unlikely that the threshold value for warning to the public will be exceeded in 40 yr.     

European Critical Loads of Cadmium, Lead and Mercury and their Exceedances

Critical loads of cadmium, lead and mercury were computed by 18 countries of the LRTAP Convention. These national data were collated into a single database for the purpose of identifying sensitive areas in Europe. Computing exceedances, i.e. comparing the critical loads to atmospheric deposition, shows that cadmium was not a widespread risk in 2000, that the risk from lead deposition has decreased since 1990 but was still widespread in 2000, and that the risk from mercury remains high without much change from 1990 to 2000 in most of the countries.     

Crown condition surveys in Italian forests: issues in reporting findings

This study examines defoliation and discoloration findings collected throughout the Italian Level I network between 1997 and 2000. Prior to this period no Quality Assurance procedures had been implemented, so that earlier findings cannot be considered reliable. The aim of the study is to compare differentindices used in reporting findings, in order to determine the full potential and limitations of each. In international surveys,findings are normally expressed in terms of individual trees presenting a defoliation level greater than 2 %; this criterion,however, has been challenged since it is not based on scientificevidence. By analysing the distribution of defoliation values(grouped in 5% classes) relating to the main species (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus pubescens, Quercus cerris, Picea abies), the study examines the behaviour of statistical indices such as the median, the mode and the mean. Instead of using the traditional 25% threshold to determine the part of the population with the highest defoliation values, a procedureis suggested whereby a different threshold can be determined foreach species. It is established based on the 90° percentile of cumulative defoliation values recorded over the four-year period. Each index used to report findings possessesits own information potential, and the findings may at times appear contradictory. The use of a combined defoliation and discoloration index (Ilce = Lacking Crown Equivalent Index) is also proposed, but the results obtained do not differin substance from the results relating to defoliation alone. Thefunctional limitations of this index are due mainly to the way the data are collected: for this reason suggestions are made onhow to improve the procedure in future surveys.