Determination of European methane emissions,using concentration and isotope measurements

The determination of methane emissions on a regional scale is needed in order to reduce some of the uncertainties in the global methane budget. Our measurements of the concentration and the Carbon-13 isotope composition (¹³C) of atmospheric methane are, combined with trajectories, used to get insight in the type and size of the methane emissions of a large area.     

Water quality monitoring of Al-Habbaniyah Lake using remote sensing and in situ measurements

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment - A good quality drinking water is essential for human survival. However, a large percentage of the populations in most developing countries (Nigeria...     

浅谈福建武夷山大气背景监测站的运行维护

大气背景监测站多位于高山且相对清洁地区,在运行维护方面和城市点位有很大不同,低量程仪器和其他自动监测仪器在运行维护上也有所不同。国家大气背景监测福建武夷山站是国内14个大气背景监测站之一,该站于2011年3月4日运行,文章总结该站运行以来的维护经验,从运行条件、日常维护、简单故障判断、数据处理等几个方面详细叙述,给出维护经验和注意事项,以期为其他类似背景站的运行维护提供参考。     

利用大气超级站对乌鲁木齐市一次沙尘天气过程及组份的分析

本研究利用大气超级站对乌鲁木齐市4月9日至10日沙尘天气过程,粒径谱、离子和重金属组成及变化进行分析.研究结果表明激光雷达观测结果与环境空气质量监测基本一致;小粒径颗粒在沙尘和非沙尘时段含量最多,但在沙尘时段大粒径颗粒的增长幅度远大于小粒径;沙尘过程中的离子主要来源于土壤一次源;沙尘过程中地壳元素浓度及占比均显著升高,...     

中国不同尺度大气污染物排放清单编制工作综述

大气污染物排放清单的编制可以直观表现清单编制地区的污染源状况,为政府制定污染物防控措施提供科学依据。在查阅大量文献的基础上,从清单方法学、区域和城市排放、清单不确定性3个方面对中国大部分地区的大气污染物排放清单编制工作进行了汇总整理。提出了未建立符合我国国情的排放因子和活动水平数据库、排放清单分辨率和不确定性研究水平不高、缺少对不发达地区的清单编制等问题。建议统筹排放清单编制工作,保证基础数据的准确性,逐步建立主要污染物的清单编制技术指南,加强学科间和国际间合作,开拓排放清单新的研究方向。最后,对未来大气污染物排放清单的编制工作提出了展望。     

Atmospheric Dust Loads and Their Elemental Composition at a Background Site in India

Air particulate samples collected during 1995–96 ata background site situated on the east coast of Thar Desert inRajsthan State of India were analysed for atmospheric dustloads (Suspended Particulate Matter) and elemental composition.The values of SPM ranged from 9 g M^-3 to 97g M^-3 with an average of 43 g M^-3 except a fewepisodic values, which were 3 to 5 times higher than the averageduring summer months. The results for elemental composition ofthe particulate samples showed that the concentrations ofanthropogenic toxic trace elements viz. Br, Cr, Pb, Sb, Se and Znare lower by a factor of 2 to 10 as compared to urban areas. Thehigh enrichment factors for anthropogenic elements viz. Br, Pb,Sb and Zn show an input from coal/wood fuel burning andvehicular pollution at the sampling site. The depletion of Si inSPM samples shows long distance transport of dust to the samplingsite.     

Determination of redox potential of sulfidic groundwater in unconsolidated sediments by long-term continuous in situ potentiometric measurements

This study was undertaken to investigate the redox potential (Eh) of sulfidic groundwater in unconsolidated sediments. The Eh was determined by long-term (several days to several weeks) continuous in situ potentiometric measurements using a platinum (Pt) electrode. The Eh values measured in two monitoring campaigns were ?259 and ?202 mV, respectively. Chemical analysis of groundwater showed that the redox species in the groundwater were sulfide (S^2???) and iron, respectively. The saturation indices calculated from the chemical analysis results indicated that FeS_(am) and mainly mackinawite were close to equilibrium in the analyzed waters. Comparison of the measured Eh values with those calculated using different redox couples revealed that the Eh values measured in the first monitoring campaign were nearly equal to those calculated using HS^???/SO $_{4}{^{2-}}$ , S^2???/SO $_{4}{^{2-}}$ , FeS $_{(\text{am})}$ /SO $_{4}{^{2-}}$ , and mackinawite/SO $_{4}{^{2-}}$ redox couples; on the other hand, the Eh values measured in the second monitoring campaign were almost consistent with those measured using the FeS₂/SO $_{4}{^{2-}}$ redox couple. The good fit between the measured Eh values and the theoretical calculated Eh values suggests that the sulfur system is related to the Eh value of sulfidic groundwater in unconsolidated sediments.     

Atmospheric deposition studies of heavy metals in Arctic by comparative analysis of lichens and cryoconite

Lichens and cryoconite (rounded or granular, brownish-black debris occurring in holes on the glacier surface) from Ny-Ålesund were used for understanding the elemental deposition pattern in the area. Lichen samples collected from low-lying coastal region and cryoconite samples from high altitudinal glacier area were processed and analysed for elements such as aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), cesium (Cs), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn) through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results showed that heavy metals, Al and Fe, are present in high concentration in the cryoconite samples. Al was also present in high amounts in seven of the eight lichen samples studied. The general scheme of elements in the decreasing order of their concentrations for most of the cryoconite samples was Al?>?Fe?>?Mn?>?Zn?>?V?>?Pb?>?Cr?>?Ni?>?Cu?>?Co?>?As?>?Cs?>?Cd while that for the lichen samples was Al?>?Fe?>?Zn?>?Mn?>?Pb?>?Cu?>?Cs?>?Cr?>?Ni?>?V?>?Co?>?As?>?Cd. Similarity in trends in the two sample types confirms that the environment indeed contains these elements in that order of concentration which overtime got accumulated in the samples. Overall comparison showed most elements to be present in high concentrations in the cryoconite samples as compared to the lichen samples. Within the lichens, elemental accumulation data suggests that the low-lying site (L-2) from where Cladonia mediterranea sample was collected was the most polluted accumulating a number of elements at high concentrations. The probable reasons for such deposition patterns in the region could be natural (crustal contribution and sea salt spray) and anthropogenic (local and long-distance transmission of dust particles). In the future, this data can form a baseline for monitoring quantum of atmospheric heavy metal deposition in lichens and cryoconite of Svalbard, Arctic.     

南亚次大陆对中国大气传输影响及海螺沟背景站监测的指示效应

海螺沟背景站地处人烟稀少、远离工业带区域,颗粒物浓度水平与美国背景区域相当,通常情况下各项污染物浓度呈周期性缓慢变化,但通过实时自动监测发现,也有部分时段出现污染物浓度急剧升高的现象,对这种情况进行统计分析,2015年共有43 d因远距离传输导致背景站浓度急剧升高现象,其间PM_(2.5)平均质量浓度为19.4μg/m~3,比其年均质量浓度(8.3μg/m~3)高1倍多。通过对2015年背景站监测数据与年气象分析资料的联合分析,结合HSPLIT 4.8轨迹模式对污染物来源进行溯源,在海螺沟国家大气背景区域的200、3 700 m 2个高度都存在南亚次大陆向中国境内输送的气流路径。后向轨迹200 m高度聚类分析结果:海螺沟背景站PM_(2.5)监测值超"正常"浓度范围时段有84%的大气污染气团主要来自南亚次大陆方向,同时,常规6项其他监测项目的浓度水平也存在协同上升效应。     

Atmospheric Change and Biodiversity: Co-Networks and Networking

Canada responded to the Global Biodiversity Convention by completing the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy in 1995. At the same time, Environment Canada also completed a national Science Assessment on Biodiversity. During this period, the Smithsonian Institution, in partnership with Parks and Environment Canada, initiated the implementation of a global biodiversity monitoring program in Canada. Under the auspices of the United Nations Man and the Biosphere Program, the SI/MAB monitoring protocols and plots have spread across Canada at an unprecedented rate. National champions in the science and educational sectors, working within an inter-disciplinary ecological framework, have guided the development, education, quality control and sharing of atmosphere-biodiversity observations electronically.Atmospheric-Biodiversity Networks and Networking have traditionally operated within separate mandates with little degree of integration. Air-Bio Networks were designed within an integrated framework to better understand the atmospheric stress on biodiversity and the adaptation actions, nationally and regionally. Detailed examples of the cumulative effects of climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, acid deposition, ground-level ozone, suspended particulate matter and hazardous air pollutants on biodiversity will be discussed using a Southern Ontario case study. In addition, recommendations will be presented for future paired SI/MAB plots, linked networks and networking for adaptation within the context of climate, chemical and ecological gradients.     

Atmospheric ambient trace element concentrations of PM10 at urban and sub-urban sites: source apportionment and health risk estimation

In this study, PM₁₀ concentrations and elemental (Al, Fe, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Pb, and Bi) contents of particles were determined in Düzce, Turkey. The particulate matter samplings were carried out in the winter and summer seasons simultaneously in both urban and sub-urban sampling sites. The average PM₁₀ concentration measured in the winter season was 86.4 and 27.3 μg/m³, respectively, in the urban and sub-urban sampling sites, while it was measured as 53.2 and 34.7 μg/m³ in the summer season. According to the results, it was observed that the PM₁₀ levels and the element concentrations reached higher levels, especially at the urban sampling site, in the winter season. The positive matrix factorization model (PMF) was applied to the data set for source apportionment. Analysis with the PMF model revealed six factors for both the urban (coal combustion, traffic, oil combustion, industry, biomass combustion, and soil) and sub-urban (industry, oil combustion, traffic, road dust, soil resuspension, domestic heating) sampling sites. Loadings of grouped elements on these factors showed that the major sources of the elements in the atmosphere of Düzce were traffic, fossil fuel combustion, and metal industry-related emissions.     

Influence of Meteorological Parameters on Particulates and Atmospheric Pollutants at Taichung Harbor Sampling Site

Atmospheric aerosol particles and metallic concentrations, ionic species were monitored at the Experimental harbor of Taichung sampling site in this study. This work attempted to characterize metallic elements and ionic species associated with meteorological conditions variation on atmospheric particulate matter in TSP, PM_2.5, PM_2.5–10. The concentration distribution trend between TSP, PM_2.5, PM_2.5–10 particle concentration at the TH (Taichung harbor) sampling site were also displayed in this study. Besides, the meteorological conditions variation of metallic elements (Fe, Mg, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn and Pb) and ions species (Cl⁻, NO₃ ⁻, SO₄ ²⁻, NH₄ ⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Na⁺) concentrations attached with those particulate were also analyzed in this study. On non-parametric (Spearman) correlation analysis, the results indicated that the meteorological conditions have high correlation at largest particulate concentrations for TSP at TH sampling site in this study. In addition, the temperature and relative humidity of meteorological conditions that played a key role to affect particulate matter (PM) and have higher correlations then other meteorological conditions such as wind speed and atmospheric pressure. The parameter temperature and relative humidity also have high correlations with atmospheric pollutants compared with those of the other meteorological variables (wind speed, atmospheric pressure and prevalent wind direction). In addition, relative statistical equations between pollutants and meteorological variables were also characterized in this study.     

Atmospheric Monitoring at Abandoned Mercury Mine Sites in Asturias (NW Spain)

Mercury concentrations are usually significant in historic Hg mining districts all over the world, so the atmospheric environment is potentially affected. In Asturias, northern Spain, past mining operations have left a legacy of ruins and Hg-rich wastes, soils and sediments in abandoned sites. Total Hg concentrations in the ambient air of these abandoned mine sites have been investigated to evaluate the impact of the Hg emissions. This paper presents the synthesis of current knowledge about atmospheric Hg contents in the area of the abandoned Hg mining and smelting works at ‘La Peña–El Terronal’ and La Soterraña, located in Mieres and Pola de Lena districts, respectively, both within the Caudal River basin. It was found that average atmospheric Hg concentrations are higher than the background level in the area (0.1 μg Nm^?3), reaching up to 203.7 μg Nm^?3 at 0.2 m above the ground level, close to the old smelting chimney at El Terronal mine site. Data suggest that past Hg mining activities have big influences on the increased Hg concentrations around abandoned sites and that atmospheric transfer is a major pathway for Hg cycling in these environments.     

Assessment of methane emission and oxidation at Air Hitam Landfill site cover soil in wet tropical climate

Methane (CH₄) emissions and oxidation were measured at the Air Hitam sanitary landfill in Malaysia and were modeled using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change waste model to estimate the CH₄ generation rate constant, k. The emissions were measured at several locations using a fabricated static flux chamber. A combination of gas concentrations in soil profiles and surface CH₄ and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions at four monitoring locations were used to estimate the CH₄ oxidation capacity. The temporal variations in CH₄ and CO₂ emissions were also investigated in this study. Geospatial means using point kriging and inverse distance weight (IDW), as well as arithmetic and geometric means, were used to estimate total CH₄ emissions. The point kriging, IDW, and arithmetic means were almost identical and were two times higher than the geometric mean. The CH₄ emission geospatial means estimated using the kriging and IDW methods were 30.81 and 30.49 g m^?2 day^?1, respectively. The total CH₄ emissions from the studied area were 53.8 kg day^?1. The mean of the CH₄ oxidation capacity was 27.5 %. The estimated value of k is 0.138 year^?1. Special consideration must be given to the CH₄ oxidation in the wet tropical climate for enhancing CH₄ emission reduction.     

Investigation of Mtbe and Aromatic Compound Concentrations at a Gas Service Station

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) has been used as a fuel additive at levels of 2–11% in Taiwan for the past decade. The purpose of this additive is to enhance the octane, replace the use of lead-based anti-knock gasoline additives and reduce aromatic hydrocarbons. However, it is possible that oxygenated fuel has a potential health impact. To determine the air quality impact of MTBE, measurements were made of ambient MTBE and other gasoline constituents at a service station. Additionally, environmental conditions (wind speed, wind direction, and temperature, etc.) that could affect concentrations of emission constituents were measured. Gas samples were analyzed for target MTBE and volatile organic compounds, e.g., benzene and toluene. Ambient samples were collected using Tenax adsorbent tubes for mass spectrometric analysis at a service station located in Changhua County, Taiwan. The resulting measured ambient air concentrations were compared with Taiwans regulatory standards for hazardous air pollutants. Subsequently, the factors controlling the formation of high-VOC levels at the service station and in the residential neighborhoods were identified. Additionally, the results can provide the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Taiwan with useful information and prompt them to mandate this gas service station to install a refueling vapor recovery system.     

Uranium bioassay and radioactive dust measurements at some uranium processing sites in Egypt--health effects

The safety of radiation workers in the uranium mining industry requires close and continuous monitoring of their working conditions. In this study, external radiation surveillance, radioactive dust monitoring and the bioassay of uranium were carried out in some processing sites. As dust represents one of the most important sources of radiation exposure in mills and mines, dust monitoring and bioassays were performed for a sample of workers on the production lines. The concentration of uranium in air ranged from 22.6 x 10(-7) to 11.1 x 10(-5) Bq cm-3, and the exposure levels ranged from 1 to 80 microSv h-1. Laser fluorimetric determination of uranium in urine samples showed concentrations in the range 8.4-29.2 micrograms L-1. Renal function parameters, such as serum creatinine and urea, and hematological parameters were determined in an attempt to correlate them with radiation exposure and the health status of the workers. Urine specimens collected from workers at the ore crushing and separation site showed elevated concentrations of uranium (up to 29.2 micrograms L-1) and a strong correlation between these concentrations and the registered serum creatinine. The mean uranium excretion in the investigated group was more than 20 times the occupational exposure decision level for urine uranium of 0.8 microgram L-1.     

Determination of contaminant levels and remediation efficacy in groundwater at a former in situ recovery uranium mine

There has been increasing interest in uranium mining in the United States via in situ recovery techniques. One of the main environmental concerns with in situ uranium mining is the potential for spreading groundwater contamination. There is a dearth of detailed analysis and information regarding the outcome of in situ uranium mine remediation to ascertain the environmental impacts. Regulatory measurements performed at a Wyoming in situ uranium mine were collected and analysed to ascertain the efficacy of remediation and potential long term environmental impact. Based on the measurements, groundwater sweeping followed by reverse osmosis (RO) treatment proved to be a highly efficient method of remediation. However, injection of a reductant in the form of H(2)S after groundwater sweeping and RO did not further reduce the aqueous concentration of U, Mn, or Fe. Low concentrations of target species at monitoring wells outside the mined area appear to indicate that in the long term, natural attenuation is likely to play a major role at reductively immobilizing residual (after remediation) concentrations of U(VI) thus preventing it from moving outside the mined area. Our analysis indicates the need for additional monitoring wells and sampling in conjunction with long term monitoring to better understand the impacts of the different remediation techniques.     

Continuous and filter-based measurements of PM2.5 nitrate and sulfate at the Fresno Supersite

PM(2.5) nitrate [Formula: see text] and sulfate ([Formula: see text]) were measured continuously with R&P8400N and R&P8400S instruments, respectively, and compared with filter-based measurements at the Fresno Supersite from October, 2000 through December, 2005. [Formula: see text] concentrations were higher in winter than summer with a long-term decreasing trend. Correlations between 24-h average continuous and filter-based [Formula: see text] were greater than 0.96 in 4 out of 5 years. Continuous [Formula: see text] was generally lower than filter-based [Formula: see text] although the difference decreased over time, from -52% in 2001 to +13% in 2005. These differences were similar in winter (-23%) and summer (-19%) while the corresponding differences between ambient and instrument temperature were -12 and 0.7 degrees C, respectively. Neither seasonal nor long-term trends in [Formula: see text] can be explained by variations in ambient temperature, the difference between ambient and instrument temperature, or changes in aerosol chemical composition. There were no seasonal or long-term trends in [Formula: see text] concentrations, partially due to low concentrations observed in Fresno. Long-term variability in the performance of R&P8400 [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] instruments suggest that collocation with filter measurements is needed for long-term measurements.     

南京典型站点春季大气颗粒物数谱分布特征

利用TSI公司的APS和SMPS系统,于2017年4月在江苏省环境监测中心点位连续一个月进行大气颗粒物数谱观测,结果表明,南京市春季典型月份大气颗粒物数浓度和体积浓度均值分别为1.64×104cm~(-3)和1.65×106μm~3/m~3;核模态、爱根核膜态、积聚模态和粗粒子模态数浓度占比分别为22.72%,53.52%,23.72%和0.05%,体积浓度占比分别为0.01%,1.76%,55.82%和42.41%;颗粒物数浓度平均日变化呈现双峰结构;PM_(2.5)体积浓度和质量浓度具有高度相关性;存在明显的新生粒子事件,3~10 nm颗粒物数浓度小时均值短时7 500 cm~(-3)。