Application of ground-based Lidar for studies of the dynamics of ozone in a mountainous basin

A ground-based Differential Absorption Lidar was employed to study the dynamics of atmospheric O3 within the planetary boundary layer of a basin in the 'Fichtelgebirge' mountains, NE Bavaria. In particular, the night-time dynamics of O3 linked to the ground were investigated. The Lidar system measured vertical profiles of O3 up to 1 km above ground. For detailed analysis of the night-time dynamics of ozone, supplementary data from three ground-based stations (measuring mixing ratios of O3 and NO(x), as well as meteorological parameters) are essential. The Lidar results could be evaluated with these data from various altitudes above the basin floor. For the station with the largest (vertical) distance to the ground-based Lidar, the agreement was very good at all times. The Lidar method proved to be useful for examining the spatial distribution of O3. The observed night-time decrease of O3 at the bottom of the basin was due to deposition and to advection of air masses containing less O3 from the mountain slopes.     

Surface solar ultraviolet radiation: A theoretical approach of the SUVR reaching the ground in Athens, Greece

Daily total ozone observations made during 1985–1993 by both the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) flown on the Satellite Nimbus-7 and the Dobson Spectrophotometer have been used in order to investigate the fluctuations of the daily broad-band and spectral solar ultraviolet radiation reaching the ground. This investigation has been performed by employing a recently developed parametric algorithm for the estimation of the spectral and broad-band solar ultraviolet radiation which takes the total ozone variations into consideration. Total ozone reductions during the summertime from 1985 to 1993 over Athens, Greece (37.6° N, 23.4° E), cause an increase in the ultraviolet irradiance which reaches the ground of 0.54 %, 0.98 %, 2.60 % and 0.79 % per decade for the months of July at 300 nm, 312 nm, 320 nm and UVB (280-320 nm), respectively.     

Screening and Scenarios of Traffic Emissions at Trier,Germany

SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: In the course of the European Council Directive on permissible air pollutant limit values, valid starting from 2005 there is an urgent call for action, particularly for fine dust (PM10). Current investigations (Junk & Helbig 2003, Reuter & Baumüller 2003) show that the limit values in certain places in congested areas are exceeded. Only if it is possible to locate these Hot Spots purposeful measures to reduce the ambient air pollution can be conducted. For an efficient identification of these Hot Spots numerical computer models or establishing special measurements networks are too expensive. Using the statistical model STREET 5.0 (KTT 2003) a cost-effective screening of the air pollution situation caused by the traffic can be done. METHODS: STREET is based on the 3-dimensional micro-scale non-hydrostatic flow- and dispersion model MISCAM (Eichhorn 1989). The results of over 100.000 different calculations with MISCAM are stored in a Database and used to calculate the emissions with STREET. In collaboration with the city council of Trier more than 150 streets were investigated, mapped, and calculated. A special urban climate measuring network supplies the necessary meteorological input data about the wind field and precipitation events in the valley of the Moselle. Information about road width and road orientation as well as building density was derived from aerial photographs. Traffic censuses and mobile air pollutants measurements supplied the remaining input data. We calculated the mean annual air pollutant concentrations for NO2, CO, SO2, O3, benzene as well as PM10. RESULTS: A comparison of the model results with the values obtained from the stations of the central emission measuring network of Rhineland-Palatinate (ZIMEN, annual report 2002) shows very good agreements. The model was not only used to calculate the annual air pollutant but also for urban planning and management. The absolute level of the air pollutant is mainly dependent on the amount of traffic in the street canyons. Therefore four different case-scenarios with varying quantity of traffic were calculated and interpreted for each street. The results of the calculation show that on the basis of the mean values for both NO2 and benzene, it is not to be expected that the limits PERSPECTIVES: Furthermore the model can be used to find the maximum tolerable numbers of cars for a street without exceeding the air pollutant thresholds.     

Anthropogenic threats to evolutionary heritage of angiosperms in the Netherlands through an increase in high-competition environments

Present biodiversity comprises the evolutionary heritage of Earth's epochs. Lineages from particular epochs are often found in particular habitats, but whether current habitat decline threatens the heritage from particular epochs is unknown. We hypothesized that within a given region, humans threaten specifically habitats that harbor lineages from a particular geological epoch. We expect so because humans threaten environments that dominated and lineages that diversified during these epochs. We devised a new approach to quantify, per habitat type, diversification of lineages from different epochs. For Netherlands, one of the floristically and ecologically best-studied regions, we quantified the decline of habitat types and species in the past century. We defined habitat types based on vegetation classification and used existing ranking of decline of vegetation classes and species. Currently, most declining habitat types and the group of red-listed species are characterized by increased diversification of lineages dating back to Paleogene, specifically to Paleocene-Eocene and Oligocene. Among vulnerable habitat types with large representation of lineages from these epochs were sublittoral and eulittoral zones of temperate seas and 2 types of nutrient-poor, open habitats. These losses of evolutionary heritage would go unnoticed with classical measures of evolutionary diversity. Loss of heritage from Paleocene-Eocene became unrelated to decline once low competition, shade tolerance, and low proportion of non-Apiaceae were accounted for, suggesting that these variables explain the loss of heritage from Paleocene-Eocene. Losses of heritage from Oligocene were partly explained by decline of habitat types occupied by weak competitors and shade-tolerant species. Our results suggest a so-far unappreciated human threat to evolutionary heritage: habitat decline threatens descendants from particular epochs. If the trends persist into the future uncontrolled, there may be no habitats within the region for many descendants of evolutionary ancient epochs, such as Paleogene.     

Procedural rationality and ethical theory

This paper is based on one given by Professor Faludi at the Conference on Planning Theory at Torino, Italy in 1986. It answers criticisms of his procedural planning theory voiced by various theorists and enjoined by the authors of the call for papers for the conference. The paper argues that the misgivings voiced by critics have their parallel in ethical theory and develops the view that procedural rationality and utilitarianism share an ethical principle. The paper concludes with a call for an end to sterile debate and an acceptance of different modes of argument.     

Effects of new technologies with special regard for the implementation process per se

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the implementation process to new technologies [e.g. drawing board/computer-aided design (CAD), microfiche/electronic data processing] on the employees concerned. Since the emphasis of the study lay in the intrinsic relationship of the implementation process with stress reactions, the parameters were measured at the place of work in a longitudinal design. Employees (n = 279) in seven companies (work fields: CAD, clerical work, telephone information desk) were tested three times — two months prior to, during, and 12 months after implementation. Aspects of strain and satisfaction were taken into account at each measurement phase. A special test-instrument was designed to describe the ’style of implementation‘ (manner in which implementation took place) particular to each company. The level of strain was found to increase during the implementation process. The amount of this increase was found to correlate with the company's style of implementation as well as with the type of the individual's work activity. The highest levels were found among those employees little included in the implementation process and those whose work is described as monotonous.     

Noncovalent bonds are key mechanisms for the cohesion of barnacle (Balanus crenatus) adhesive proteins

Cement of the barnacle species, Balanus crenatus, was isolated and separated by SDS-PAGE. Reductive and nonreductive conditions yielded the same result of six major proteins (in the range up to 100 kDa) occurring as two triplets. A third triplet of lower molecular mass was faintly visible. The presence of a reductive agent had only little impact on the solubility of B. crenatus cement. The strong effect of the denaturing conditions (the presence of SDS and the incubation at elevated temperature) on the solubility of the barnacle cement and the absence of disulfide signals in Raman spectra suggest a complex structure of the barnacle cement noncovalently bound. It can be speculated that this protein complex in its quaternary structure is formed by small subunits and is equivalent to the globular cement structures previously detected.     

Factors affecting adolescents’ use of urban public spaces in their leisure time: an exploratory study from the city of Vienna

Urban public spaces are important areas for leisure, recreation and physical activity and therefore contribute to the quality of life in cities. In particular, for adolescents they provide important spaces to meet with their peers, away from parental or school control. In many cities worldwide, public spaces have undergone severe developmental processes, and often a withdrawal from public space is noted. With regard to the opportunities those spaces provide for adolescents, it is necessary to investigate their current meaning for adolescents in a leisure context. In this article, qualitative research methods were used to investigate factors affecting adolescents’ use of public spaces in Vienna, Austria. In total 45 adolescents were interviewed. Results show that public open spaces are not regarded as important leisure spaces, and data reveal a strong retreat to private areas for leisure purposes. Perceived insecurities and fears support these processes and often result in avoidance of public spaces but also the wish for more control by authorities.