Ambient ozone injury to forest plants in Northeast and North Central USA: 16?years of biomonitoring

The US Forest Service administers a long-term, nationwide ozone biomonitoring program in partnership with other state and federal agencies to address national concerns about ozone impacts on forest health. Biomonitoring surveys begun in 1994 in the East and 1998 in the West provide important regional information on ozone air quality and a field-based record of ozone injury unavailable from any other data source. Surveys in the Northeast and North Central subregions cover 450 field sites in 24 states where ozone-sensitive plants are evaluated for ozone-induced foliar injury every year. Sites are typically large, undisturbed openings (>3 acres in size) close to forested areas where >3 bioindicator species are available for evaluation. Over the 16-year sampling period, injury indices have fluctuated annually in response to seasonal ozone concentrations and site moisture conditions. Sites with and without injury occur at all ozone exposures but when ambient concentrations are relatively low, the percentage of uninjured sites is much greater than the percentage of injured sites; and regardless of ozone exposure, when drought conditions prevail, the percentage of uninjured sites is much greater than the percentage of injured sites. Results indicate a declining trend in foliar injury especially after 2002 when peak ozone concentrations declined across the entire region.     

成都市夏季近地面臭氧污染气象特征

利用2016年7月成都市8个环境监测站点的臭氧、NO_2的监测资料以及成都市国家基准气象站和基本气象站的观测资料,对成都市夏季臭氧、NO_2浓度和气象要素的日变化特征和臭氧污染过程进行了分析。研究结果表明:成都市臭氧污染受综合气象条件和NO_2浓度的影响,高温、低湿、强辐射有利于臭氧大量生成,NO_2浓度高低决定了臭氧浓度的峰值大小;在污染期间,大气边界层高度远高于本地平均水平,数值约为平均水平的2～3倍;成都市臭氧污染的主要影响因子存在地区差异,成都市区的臭氧主要来自于自身的光化学反应,而灵岩寺地区的臭氧来自于VOCs和大气水平输送。     

京津冀区域臭氧污染趋势及时空分布特征

为研究京津冀区域的臭氧(O_3)污染情况及其时空分布特征,对2013—2015年京津冀区域13个城市80个国家环境空气监测点位的监测数据进行了统计分析。结果表明:2013—2015年,京津冀区域O_3污染状况整体呈加重趋势,其中2014年污染状况最为严重。13个城市中O_3污染最严重的城市为北京和衡水,连续3年均超标,且处于上升态势中。区域内不同城市O_3污染趋势并不相同。京津冀区域O_3浓度变化呈明显的季节变化特征,春末和夏季的O_3污染最严重。O_3-8 h(臭氧日最大8 h均值)年均值的高值区主要分布在北京中北部、承德和衡水等,2013—2015年第90百分位O_3-8 h的高值区均集中分布在北京。O_3的浓度峰值时间要晚于NOx2~5 h。O_3在春、夏季呈单峰分布,白天15:00左右出现最大值,在秋、冬季浓度较低,全天波动不大。     

湖北臭氧分布特征及其管控措施

采用地面站点观测、卫星观测以及UWCM 0-D箱子模型模拟的方法研究湖北2013—2015年臭氧时空分布特征,并探讨其管控措施。从地面站点观测看出,时间分布上,这3年臭氧年平均浓度经历先下降后上升的过程,总体呈上升趋势,而二氧化氮年平均浓度则呈现持续下降的趋势;空间分布上,湖北各区域臭氧浓度分布不均匀,呈现东高西低的递减分布趋势。从卫星观测数据看出,2015年湖北的臭氧柱浓度高于2013、2014年同期。从空间分布来看,臭氧的柱浓度是从东北到西南、从省外到省内逐渐递减,因此推测,除了本地生成,湖北的臭氧有一部分是来源于省外传输。最大臭氧生成量法显示,烯烃(乙烯和丙烯)对湖北夏天臭氧生成量的贡献远大于其他挥发性有机化合物。箱子模型模拟的结果显示,湖北应该通过控制挥发性有机化合物的排放来降低臭氧生成速率,控制氮氧化物反而使臭氧生成速率提高。     

内蒙古近地面臭氧污染时空分布特征及气象条件分析

使用2018—2020年内蒙古臭氧(O₃)、气象要素观测资料和NCEP FNL资料,统计分析内蒙古近地面O₃质量浓度的时空分布特征和变化趋势,并针对全区O₃污染典型个例分析其天气形势和气象要素的影响作用。结果表明:内蒙古2018—2020年O₃质量浓度年评价值呈逐年下降趋势,2020年较2018年下降10.3%,各盟市O₃超标率也显著降低,仅赤峰市和通辽市略微上升。内蒙古O₃质量浓度高值分布在中西部偏南地区,尤其是乌海市和鄂尔多斯市;O₃超标率峰值主要出现在5—7月,周末效应存在东西部差异。O₃浓度变化和天气形势关系密切,南部暖平流和暖高压控制有利于O₃生成,西北部冷平流和冷涡发展使得O₃浓度下降;高温、低湿、微风和较高的能见度均为诱发O₃污染的重要气象条件,而西北大风通过降低温度、能见度和易于扩散的风向使得内蒙古O₃浓度降低,但同时可能会导致PM₁₀污染。     

Estimation of Ozone Trend in Central Greece, Based on Meteorologically Adjusted Time Series

Data referring to an approximately 8-year period (1999–2007) are analyzed in order to estimate the trend of the daily maximum hourly value of ozone concentration at the east coast of central Greece, where the summer background ozone concentration is high. A Kolmogorov–Zurbenko filter is applied to remove the short-term component from the raw time series of ozone and meteorological variables. Regression models are developed in order to produce meteorologically adjusted ozone time series, involving the noise-free temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed as independent variables. The analysis verifies that the meteorological adjustment provides better results on estimating ozone’s trend, which is found to be increasing (α?=?0.001) with an annual rate of 1.34?±?0.07?μg/m³. This trend could mainly be attributed to policy and changes in the emissions of ozone’s precursors. Additionally, the short-term component of ozone concentration is also meteorologically adjusted and its impact on the trend is examined. The analysis shows that its contribution is of minor importance when the ozone trend is adjusted by temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. Moreover, the sea breeze circulation system that is frequently developed in the area influences the short-term and seasonal ozone variation, and therefore, it should be taken into account when producing meteorologically adjusted time series. The study’s conclusions could be exploited by environmental and agricultural authorities in order to develop their long-term strategies towards the air quality management.     

Variations and trends of ground-level ozone and AOT40 in the rural areas of Lithuania

The analysis of data of the ground-level ozone concentration and accumulated ozone exposure over a threshold of 40 ppb (AOT40) in the rural areas of Lithuania is presented. Trends in the annual ozone mean, 95{th} and 25{th} percentiles were determined as statistically not significant at Preila and Rugsteliskes sites during the 1994hbox{–}2004 period. Trends in the ozone concentration and its percentiles in the air masses arriving to Preila station in “polluted” and “unpolluted” sectors have been examined. Statistically significant changes in the ozone annual mean and 25th percentile were found in air masses in both “polluted” and “unpolluted” sectors in the 1988hbox{–}2002 period. The trend analysis in the ozone monthly mean and percentiles for each month of the year revealed the main changes in the ozone level in both sectors during January-May. Insignificant downward trends in monthly 95th percentile in “unpolluted” sector and upward trends in “polluted” sector were found during summer months. Values of AOT40 for the protection of forests as well as crops and semi-natural vegetation were determined during the 1994–2004 period. The estimated AOT40 values for the protection of forests were lower than the critical level at Lithuanian rural sites but AOT40 values for the protection of crops and semi-natural vegetation were found to be higher than the critical level at both sites.     

大连市臭氧污染特征及典型污染日成因

通过对大连市区10个空气监测子站的监测数据进行分析,探讨了大连市臭氧污染的时空分布、气象条件对臭氧污染的影响,对臭氧污染日进行了归类分析。结果表明,大连市臭氧污染主要出现在4—10月。在强紫外辐射、高温、低湿、低压和低风速的气象条件下,监测点位的臭氧浓度较高。臭氧污染日的日变化分为单峰型、双峰型和夜间持续升高型3种类型。通过对2015年的一次高浓度臭氧污染过程的气象条件、污染物浓度和污染气团轨迹进行分析,发现臭氧浓度在夜间持续升高现象与区域输送密切相关。     

气象条件对沈阳市环境空气臭氧浓度影响研究

利用2013年沈阳市环境空气监测点位臭氧监测数据,分析沈阳臭氧浓度变化特征,结合气象资料分析了其对臭氧浓度的影响。结果表明,沈阳市不同区域臭氧浓度变化特征基本一致。臭氧浓度日变化呈单峰趋势,最大值出现在14:00左右,最小值出现在6:00左右;臭氧浓度变化具有明显的季节特征,夏季臭氧浓度最高,春秋次之,冬季最低;臭氧浓度受温度、风速、湿度、能见度、天气情况影响,臭氧浓度变化是多因素共同作用的结果。     

支撑京津冀区域大气污染联防联控的大气监测体系构建

京津冀区域已成为全国大气污染最严重的地区之一,并且呈现出明显的区域性污染特征,加强区域间的环境合作,实施区域联防联控是解决京津冀区域大气污染问题的有效手段。对照《生态环境监测网络建设方案》的要求,目前京津冀区域大气监测体系还存在着监测网络不健全、监测项目覆盖不全面、监测新技术应用不足、质控体系不完善、信息产品供给与公众需求有差距等问题,与京津冀区域大气污染联防联控的要求不相适应。为全面提升京津冀区域大气监测体系对区域联防联控的技术支撑能力,亟需进一步完善京津冀区域的监测网络,增设传输研究、污染监控等特殊监测点位;逐步拓展监测项目,开展颗粒物化学组分和O_3前体物监测;加快遥感监测等立体监测技术在大气监测中的应用,全面分析污染物时空分布特征与传输规律;加强空气质量预报预警能力建设,为重污染天气应对提供技术支持;规范监测事权上收后的全过程质控体系,建立颗粒物标准方法比对和O_3量值传递质控机制;构建环境监测大数据平台,加强数据分析应用与信息公开。     

Statistical analyses of regional surface water quality in southeastern Ontario

Historical records from Ontario's Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Network (PWQMN) for rivers and streams were analyzed to assess the feasibility of mapping regional water quality patterns in southeastern Ontario which spans two major geologic zones, the Precambrian Shield and the St. Lawrence Lowlands, thus serving as a paradigm for much of Ontario. Despite biases toward the populated Lowlands and associated pollution problems, general spatial trends are evident via the analysis of intervariable relations, individual parameter maps and multivariate analysis. Using a robust algorithm designed to identify outliers and abstract underlying bivariate relations, a linear regional hardness-alkalinity relation was derived, where most anomalies proved to be mine drainage impacted sites. Regionally, multivariate ordination reveals that central tendencies of common indicators of ionic strength and nutrient richness correlate positively and that site clusters broadly reflect the transition from oligotrophic Shield waters to eutrophic conditions of heavily agricultural Lowland streams. Results suggest that on the Shield more precisely delineated aquatic regions may be realized by applying GIS to integrate river and synoptic lake survey data. Further synthesis with bedrock and surficial geology, physiography, pedology and other temporally invariant spatial attributes should yield regional patterns of background quality from which locally attainable water objectives might be defined. Additional synoptic surveys of sedimentary Lowland streams may be required as most available sites relflect anthropogenic pollution.     

Characteristics of particulate matter pollution in the Pearl River Delta region, China: an observational-based analysis of two monitoring sites

Two-year monitoring data (2006 and 2009), collected at the sub-urban site (WQS) and the background site (TH), were used to study the characteristics of Particulate Matter (PM) pollution in the Pearl River Delta region, China. Similar levels of PM(2.5) concentration measured at both sites seem to confirm that the fine particles have emerged as a major regional pollution issue. The seasonal variation of PM(2.5) concentration is associated with the regional monsoon circulations while the diurnal variation is related to land-sea breeze, traffic emissions and boundary layer development. Negative correlation was found in PM(2.5)-wind speed and PM(2.5)-humidity. Analysis of radiation, temperature and ozone suggests the existence of secondary aerosol formation. Transport effect may be another contributing factor to high PM pollution in the region, such as occasional long-distance dust intrusion and trans-boundary effects from upwind areas.     

上海市臭氧污染时空分布及影响因素

分析2006—2016年上海市的监测数据发现,臭氧(O_3)浓度存在逐年上升趋势,污染持续时间有所增加,但除水平风速有下降趋势外,其他相关气象因素的年际变化趋势并不显著。空间分析结果表明,上海市O_3超标主要集中在西南部郊区,但市区O_3超标潜势不容忽视。O_3污染高发季节的污染玫瑰图分析发现,上海市南部地区是影响上海市O_3污染的关键区域;对于NO_2减排的影响分析发现,尽管上海市O_3平均浓度总体处于上升趋势,但在NO_2下降幅度最为明显的内环市区和北部郊区,O_3上升幅度低于NO_2下降幅度较小的内外环区域和西部郊区,表明上海市的O_3污染控制仍需持续推进NOx的减排,并同步推进VOCs的减排。     

Review of ozone and temperature lidar validations performed within the framework of the Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change

The use of assimilation tools for satellite validation requires true estimates of the accuracy of the reference data. Since its inception, the Network for Detection of Stratospheric Change (NDSC) has provided systematic lidar measurements of ozone and temperature at several places around the world that are well adapted for satellite validations. Regular exercises have been organised to ensure the data quality at each individual site. These exercises can be separated into three categories: large scale intercomparisons using multiple instruments, including a mobile lidar; using satellite observations as a geographic transfer standards to compare measurements at different sites; and comparative investigations of the analysis software. NDSC is a research network, so each system has its own history, design, and analysis, and has participated differently in validation campaigns. There are still some technological differences that may explain different accuracies. However, the comparison campaigns performed over the last decade have always proved to be very helpful in improving the measurements. To date, more efforts have been devoted to characterising ozone measurements than to temperature observations. The synthesis of the published works shows that the network can potentially be considered as homogeneous within +/-2% between 20-35 km for ozone and +/-1 K between 35-60 km for temperature. Outside this altitude range, larger biases are reported and more efforts are required. In the lower stratosphere, Raman channels seem to improve comparisons but such capabilities were not systematically compared. At the top of the profiles, more investigations on analysis methodologies are still probably needed. SAGE II and GOMOS appear to be excellent tools for future ozone lidar validations but need to be better coordinated and take more advantage of assimilation tools. Also, temperature validations face major difficulties caused by atmospheric tides and therefore require intercomparisons with the mobile systems, at all sites.     

试点城市O3浓度特征分析

利用2009年O3试点城市的03监测数据,分析了北京、天津、上海、青岛、沈阳和广东的03浓度变化特征,统计了年超标情况,并结合气象要素数据分析了其对03浓度的影响.结果表明,不同城市各点位间03浓度变化趋势基本一致,但因点位类型不同,浓度存在差异;O3浓度呈单峰型日变化,在13:00-15:00出现最大值,6:00-7:00出现最小值;O3超标主要集中在4-8月份,广州和北京超标现象较多;O3浓度受温度、降水、风速和风向等气象要素影响较大.     

Air Quality in Norwich, UK Multi-Scale Modelling to Assess the Significance of City, County and Regional Pollution Sources

Norwich is the eastern most city in the United Kingdom. Despite a population of only 100,000 and very little local industry, studies have shown that the city experiences levels of nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulates and sulphur dioxide exceeding the UK Air Quality Standards. Because of Norwich's situation within a large, predominantly rural area a large non-resident workforce is one factor that contributes to large, often very congested traffic flows. The city's location close to the European mainland also exposes it to polluted airmasses transported from the continent, especially in the case of particulates and ozone. In order to assess the relative contributions of local and regional sources, data from rural and urban monitoring sites are to be used in conjunction with ADMS-Urban and the UK Meteorological Office's NAME model.     

A simple linear model for estimating ozone AOT40 at forest sites from raw passive sampling data

A rapid, empirical method is described for estimating weekly AOT40 from ozone concentrations measured with passive samplers at forest sites. The method is based on linear regression and was developed after three years of measurements in Trentino (northern Italy). It was tested against an independent set of data from passive sampler sites across Italy. It provides good weekly estimates compared with those measured by conventional monitors (0.85 ≤R(2)≤ 0.970; 97 ≤ RMSE ≤ 302). Estimates obtained using passive sampling at forest sites are comparable to those obtained by another estimation method based on modelling hourly concentrations (R(2) = 0.94; 131 ≤ RMSE ≤ 351). Regression coefficients of passive sampling are similar to those obtained with conventional monitors at forest sites. Testing against an independent dataset generated by passive sampling provided similar results (0.86 ≤R(2)≤ 0.99; 65 ≤ RMSE ≤ 478). Errors tend to accumulate when weekly AOT40 estimates are summed to obtain the total AOT40 over the May-July period, and the median deviation between the two estimation methods based on passive sampling is 11%. The method proposed does not require any assumptions, complex calculation or modelling technique, and can be useful when other estimation methods are not feasible, either in principle or in practice. However, the method is not useful when estimates of hourly concentrations are of interest.     

Comment on “A Reanalysis of Long-Term Surface Air Temperature Trends in New Zealand”

de Freitas et al. (2015) (henceforth dFDB) report a trend of 0.28 °C per century over the period 1909–2009 for New Zealand land surface temperatures, from their reanalysis of a composite of seven long-term records. This is much lower than the warming trend of about 0.9 °C per century reported previously by other researchers and much smaller than trends estimated from independent sea surface temperature data from the surrounding region. We show these differences result primarily from the way inhomogeneities in temperature time series at individual stations due to site or instrument changes are identified and adjusted for in the dFDB paper. The adjustments reported in that paper are based on a method designed by one of us (Salinger), but use only a short (1–2-year) overlap period with comparison stations and consider only inhomogeneities in monthly mean (rather than monthly maximum and minimum) temperatures. This leads to underestimates of the statistical significance of individual temperature discontinuities and hence rejection of many valid adjustments. Since there was a systematic tendency for the seven-station sites to be relocated to colder locations as the early half of the twentieth century progressed, this rejection of valid adjustments produces an artificially low rate of warming. We therefore disagree with the trend calculations in the dFDB paper and consider there is no reason to reject the previous estimates of around 0.9 °C warming per century.     

Baseline ambient gaseous ammonia concentrations in the Four Corners area and eastern Oklahoma, USA

Ambient ammonia monitoring using Ogawa passive samplers was conducted in the Four Corners area and eastern Oklahoma, USA during 2007. The resulting data will be useful in the multipollutant management of ozone, nitrogen oxides, and visibility (atmospheric regional haze) in the Four Corners area, an area with growing oil/gas production and increasing coal-based power plant construction. The passive monitoring data also add new ambient ammonia concentration information for the U.S. and will be useful to scientists involved in present and future visibility modeling exercises. Three week integrated passive ammonia samples were taken at five sites in the Four Corners area and two sites in eastern Oklahoma from December, 2006 through December, 2007 (January, 2008 for two sites). Results show significantly higher regional background ammonia concentrations in eastern Oklahoma (1.8 parts per billion (ppb) arithmetic mean) compared to the Four Corners area (0.2 ppb arithmetic mean). Annual mean ammonia concentrations for all Four Corners area sites for the 2007 study ranged from 0.2 ppb to 1.5 ppb. Peak ambient ammonia concentrations occurred in the spring and summer in both areas. The passive samplers deployed at the Stilwell, Oklahoma site compared favorably with other passive samplers and a continuous ammonia monitoring instrument.     

The Seasonal Variation of the Concentrations of Ozone, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Oxides in Two Nigerian Cities

A combination of multivariate statistical methods including factor analysis, principal component analysis, principal component regression, and multiple linear regression (MLR) were employed to evaluate the influence of seasons on the concentrations of ozone, sulfur (IV) oxide, and oxides of nitrogen in ambient air of Nigerian cities of Lagos and Ilorin. The former city is located in the coastal area, and it is highly congested with a high intensity of marine, vehicular, and industrial activities, and the latter city is a medium size town, located in the central guinea savannah zone of Nigeria. Samples were collected using a high-volume sampler from near the ground at various sites of diverse human and industrial activities, during wet and dry seasons from 2003 to 2006. The PCA reveals three distinct groupings during the day for all data, which is a reflection of different factors contributing to the atmospheric chemistry of these cities. The predicted ozone concentration values by MLR agree fairly well with the measured data. The dependence of ozone on meteorological parameters including relative humidity, air temperature, and sun exposure and the precursor pollutants depends on weather and the anthropogenic activities. The results for the two cities indicate that reduction in the level of NO₂ is accompanied by an increase in the level of ozone, suggesting the interconversion between the two via photochemical activity.