Analysis of the Trend and Seasonal Cycle of Carbon Monoxide Concentrations in an Urban Area (4 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope Air quality is an field of major concern in large cities. This problem has led administrations to introduce plans and regulations to reduce pollutant emissions. The analysis of variations in the concentration of pollutants is useful when evaluating the effectiveness of these plans. However, such an analysis cannot be undertaken using standard statistical techniques, due to the fact that concentrations of atmospheric pollutants often exhibit a lack of normality and are autocorrelated. On the other hand, if long-term trends of any pollutant’s emissions are to be detected, meteorological effects must be removed from the time series analysed, due to their strong masking effects. Materials and Methods The application of statistical methods to analyse temporal variations is illustrated using monthly carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations observed at an urban site. The sampling site is located at a street intersection in central Valencia (Spain) with a high traffic density. Valencia is the third largest city in Spain. It is a typical Mediterranean city in terms of its urban structure and climatology. The sampling site started operation in January 1994 and monitored CO ground level concentrations until February 2002. Its geographic coordinates are W0°22′52″ N39°28′05″ and its altitude is 11 m. Two nonparametric trend tests are applied. One of these is robust against serial correlation with regards to the false rejection rate, when observations have a strong persistence or when the sample size per month is small. A nonparametric analysis of the homogeneity of trends between seasons is also discussed. A multiple linear regression model is used with the transformed data, including the effect of meteorological variables. The method of generalized least squares is applied to estimate the model parameters to take into account the serial dependence of the residuals of this model. This study also assesses temporal changes using the Kolmogorov-Zurbenko (KZ) filter. The KZ filter has been shown to be an effective way to remove the influence of meteorological conditions on O₃ and PM to examine underlying trends. Results The nonparametric tests indicate a decreasing, significant trend in the sampled site. The application of the linear model yields a significant decrease every twelve months of 15.8% for the average monthly CO concentration. The 95% confidence interval for the trend ranges from 13.9% to 17.7%. The seasonal cycle also provides significant results. There are no differences in trends throughout the months. The percentage of CO variance explained by the linear model is 90.3%. The KZ filter separates out long, short-term and seasonal variations in the CO series. The estimated, significant, long-term trend every year results in 10.3% with this method. The 95% confidence interval ranges from 8.8% to 11.9%. This approach explains 89.9% of the CO temporal variations. Discussion The differences between the linear model and KZ filter trend estimations are due to the fact that the KZ filter performs the analysis on the smoothed data rather than the original data. In the KZ filter trend estimation, the effect of meteorological conditions has been removed. The CO short-term componentis attributable to weather and short-term fluctuations in emissions. There is a significant seasonal cycle. This component is a result of changes in the traffic, the yearly meteorological cycle and the interactions between these two factors. There are peaks during the autumn and winter months, which have more traffic density in the sampled site. There is a minimum during the month of August, reflecting the very low level of vehicle emissions which is a direct consequence of the holiday period. Conclusions The significant, decreasing trend implies to a certain extent that the urban environment in the area is improving. This trend results from changes in overall emissions, pollutant transport, climate, policy and economics. It is also due to the effect of introducing reformulated gasoline. The additives enable vehicles to burn fuel with a higher air/fuel ratio, thereby lowering the emission of CO. The KZ filter has been the most effective method to separate the CO series components and to obtain an estimate of the long-term trend due to changes in emissions, removing the effect of meteorological conditions. Recommendations and Perspectives Air quality managers and policy-makers must understand the link between climate and pollutants to select optimal pollutant reduction strategies and avoid exceeding emission directives. This paper analyses eight years of ambient CO data at a site with a high traffic density, and provides results that are useful for decision-making. The assessment of long-term changes in air pollutants to evaluate reduction strategies has to be done while taking into account meteorological variability     

Stability of a Coal Waste Artificial Reef

The feasibility of using U.K. coal-fired power station waste materials for artificial reef production is being examined. in June, 1989, an experimental artificial reef was constructed in Poole Bay, off the central south coast of the U.K., using three different mixtures of pulverised fuel ash (PFA), flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) gypsum and slurry, stabilized with cement and formed into blocks. Fifty tonnes of 40 × 20 × 20 cm blocks were formed into eight conical reef units replicating three different PFA/gypsum mixtures and one concrete control. the reef structure is 10m below chart datum on a flat sandy sea-bed.

Combustion of coal concentrates the heavy metal content in the resultant ash. the purpose of stabilization of the ash as blocks is twofold: to immobilize heavy metals (or other components) and to provide hard substratum for the attachment of organisms. to examine the effectiveness of this stabilization and hence the environmental compatibility of the block materials, heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, Zn) content of the blocks has been monitored routinely over two years, to determine leaching rates. Sectional profiles indicate partial replacement of calcium content by magnesium. Associated with this there has also been some redistribution of heavy metals. Only in the case of cadmium has there been a detectable loss from the surface of blocks. Chromium and manganese concentrations appear to have increased. the metal content of the reef epibiota (including ascidians, Ascidia mentula; hydroids, Halecium spp.; bryozoans, Bugula spp. and red algae) growing on the ash blocks has been compared to that of epibiota attached to the concrete controls and surrounding sea-bed. to date no evidence of excess bioaccumulation of metals has been detected.

The physical integrity of the ash reef blocks has been maintained. There is evidence that the blocks are increasing in compressive strength.

An indication of the fishery enhancement potential of the experimental structure is given by the presence of eight commercially fished species (crustaceans and molluscs) including lobsters (Homarus gammarus).     

粉煤灰预处理及其对染料单体脱色效果的研究

介绍了一种粉煤灰预处理的方法-用8mol/L的H2SO4处理，可较好地改善其表面状况，并用预处理后的粉煤灰对染料单体进行脱色试验，寻找了最佳的处理方案，脱色效果较好，建立了Langmuir吸附等温模型。探讨了其脱色机理，为实际开发利用粉煤灰处理印染废水提供基础研究。     

活性炭性质对其吸附水中硝基苯性能的影响

通过对活性炭进行HNO3氧化及热处理改性,研究了活性炭性质对其吸附硝基苯性能的影响.以低温液氮(N2/77 K)吸附测定活性炭的比表面积和孔容、孔径分布;以Boehm滴定、零电荷点pHPZC的测定及元素分析定量表征活性发表面含氧官能团变化.结果表明:经改性后,活性炭比表面积及总孔容略有减小,表面性质发生较大变化.改性活性炭对硝基苯的吸附容量明显改变,吸附容量大小依次为:AC1′＞AC0′＞AC0＞AC1.经硝酸氧化后,比表面积下降、存在过多表面含氧官能团是导致AC1吸附硝基苯能力降低的主要原因;而AC1'表面适量酚羟基所提供的氢键吸附是其对硝基苯吸附量增加的主要原因.     

粉煤灰对矿井水中重金属离子的吸附研究

本文通过静态热力学实验的方法，研究了粉煤灰对矿井水中Ｐｂ＾２＋，Ｚｎ＾２＋，Ｃｕ６２＋等重金属离子的吸附性能。着重分析了ＰＨ值，吸附时间，粉煤灰活化程度等因素对其吸附能力的影响。     

免烧免蒸粉煤灰砖的研究

本文讨论了免烧免蒸粉煤灰砖的生产原理，制造技术。试验结果表明利用化学复合外加剂能够成功地生产出免烧免蒸粉煤从砖，且产品质量达到红砖１００号的标准。文中还分析了生产粉煤灰砖的经济效益和社会效益。     

利用粉煤灰生产建材产品

阐述用燃煤电厂固体废物粉煤灰生产建材产品方案技术对比、粉煤灰砖生产工艺及技术。     

浅谈粉煤灰综合治理及建议

介绍了大庆石油化工总厂热电厂自投产以来，粉煤灰综合治理的经过，所采取的措施，存在的问题和收到的成效。这对于我国高寒平原地区的燃煤电厂有一定的借鉴参考作用。     

Solid phase extraction of methomyl and thiodicarb from environmental water with an activated carbon cartridge and their determination by HPLC

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粉煤灰分选工艺流程的改进

利用闲置设备进行流程改进，提高了粉煤灰的利用率，解决了制砖所需的细骨料。每年节省运灰费用２００多万元，具有良好的经济效益和环境效益