Improvements to lawn and garden equipment emissions estimates for Baltimore, Maryland

Lawn and garden equipment are a significant source of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants in suburban and urban areas. Emission estimates for this source category are typically prepared using default equipment populations and activity data contained in emissions models such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) NONROAD model or the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) OFFROAD model. Although such default data may represent national or state averages, these data are unlikely to reflect regional or local differences in equipment usage patterns because of variations in climate, lot sizes, and other variables. To assess potential errors in lawn and garden equipment emission estimates produced by the NONROAD model and to demonstrate methods that can be used by local planning agencies to improve those emission estimates, this study used bottom-up data collection techniques in the Baltimore metropolitan area to develop local equipment population, activity, and temporal data for lawn and garden equipment in the area. Results of this study show that emission estimates of VOCs, particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) for the Baltimore area that are based on local data collected through surveys of residential and commercial lawn and garden equipment users are 24-56% lower than estimates produced using NONROAD default data, largely because of a difference in equipment populations for high-usage commercial applications. Survey-derived emission estimates of PM and VOCs are 24 and 26% lower than NONROAD default estimates, respectively, whereas survey-derived emission estimates for CO, CO2, and NO(x) are more than 40% lower than NONROAD default estimates. In addition, study results show that the temporal allocation factors applied to residential lawn and garden equipment in the NONROAD model underestimated weekend activity levels by 30% compared with survey-derived temporal profiles.     

Influence of regional development policies and clean technology adoption on future air pollution exposure

Future air pollution emissions in the year 2030 were estimated for the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) in central California using a combined system of land use, mobile, off-road, stationary, area, and biogenic emissions models. Four scenarios were developed that use different assumptions about the density of development and level of investment in transportation infrastructure to accommodate the expected doubling of the SJV population in the next 20 years. Scenario 1 reflects current land-use patterns and infrastructure while scenario 2 encouraged compact urban footprints including redevelopment of existing urban centers and investments in transit. Scenario 3 allowed sprawling development in the SJV with reduced population density in existing urban centers and construction of all planned freeways. Scenario 4 followed currently adopted land use and transportation plans for the SJV. The air quality resulting from these urban development scenarios was evaluated using meteorology from a winter stagnation event that occurred on December 15th, 2000 to January 7th 2001. Predicted base-case PM2.5 mass concentrations within the region exceeded 35 μg m^?3 over the 22-day episode. Compact growth reduced the PM2.5 concentrations by ～1 μg m^?3 relative to the base-case over most of the SJV with the exception of increases (～1 μg m^?3) in urban centers driven by increased concentrations of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC). Low-density development increased the PM2.5 concentrations by 1–4 μg m^?3 over most of the region, with decreases (0.5–2 μg m^?3) around urban areas. Population-weighted average PM2.5 concentrations were very similar for all development scenarios ranging between 16 and 17.4 μg m^?3. Exposure to primary PM components such as EC and OC increased 10–15% for high density development scenarios and decreased by 11–19% for low-density scenarios. Patterns for secondary PM components such as nitrate and ammonium ion were almost exactly reversed, with a 10% increase under low-density development and a 5% decrease under high density development. The increased human exposure to primary pollutants such as EC and OC could be predicted using a simplified analysis of population-weighted primary emissions. Regional planning agencies should develop thresholds of population-weighted primary emissions exposure to guide the development of growth plans. This metric will allow them to actively reduce the potential negative impacts of compact growth while preserving the benefits.     

MODELS FOR WATER AND POWER SCHEDULING FOR THE CALIFORNIA STATE WATER PROJECT1

ABSTRACT: A large-scale simulation/optimization model provides schedules for operation of water and power for the California State Water Project (SWP). The SWP consists of a series of reservoirs linked by rivers, pumping plants, canals, tunnels, and generating plants and is operated by the California Department of Water Resources. The Department provides water to municipal and agricultural users, and manages its electrical loads and resources. The model, therefore, performs hydraulic and electrical computations leading to optimal operation of the entire system. It consists of hydraulic network programming components to meet the storage objectives at all the reservoirs, a linear programming component to determine the schedules at pumping and generating plants, an electrical network programming component to balance electrical loads and resources, and a number of other simulation components. It operates on yearly, weekly, and daily bases. It is primarily used for real-time operation of the SWP and can provide hourly detail schedules which are implemented by the SWP staff via a computerized system.     

生态时代消费问题的中国方案——读《自然之境:“消费—生态”悖论的伦理探究》

<正>建设生态文明,必须在节约能源资源和保护生态环境方面形成相应的产业结构、增长方式、消费模式。消费是"人的本质"的表现和确认,也是人的本质不断升华、不断发展的重要条件。此前全球金融危机的一个深刻结论是,传统消费模式是一条资源环境难以支撑的"负重之路"。因此,转变经济发展方式和消费方式成为当下生态文明建设的重要环节。曾建平教授所著的《自然之境:"消费—生态"悖论的伦理探究》(中国人民大学出版社2018年     

Ozone Dry Deposition Velocities for Coastal Waters

Air-sea exchange rates for ozone were measured by the eddy correlation technique at a site on the north Norfolk coast in the UK. The average surface resistance to ozone uptake was found to be, r_s(O₃) = 1,000 ± 100 s m^-1. Micrometeorological measurements of trace gas fluxes to ocean surfaces are rare but a review of available measurements suggests that we can constrain sea water surface resistance for ozone to between 1,000 (Regener (1974), and this work) and 1,890 s m^-1 (Lenschow et al., 1982), yielding surface deposition velocities between 0.53 and 1.0 mm s^-1. These values are more than an order of magnitude greater than can be explained by laboratory determined mass accommodation coefficients for ozone to water. The importance of dry deposition with respect to process air-sea exchange models is highlighted. A trend in surface deposition velocity with wind speed was also observed supporting a surface chemical enhancement mechanism of ozone uptake which in turn is enhanced by near surface mixing processes.     

Precipitation-driven carbon balance controls survivorship of desert biocrust mosses

Precipitation patterns including the magnitude, timing, and seasonality of rainfall are predicted to undergo substantial alterations in arid regions in the future, and desert organisms may be more responsive to such changes than to shifts in only mean annual rainfall. Soil biocrust communities (consisting of cyanobacteria, lichen, and mosses) are ubiquitous to desert ecosystems, play an array of ecological roles, and display a strong sensitivity to environmental changes. Crust mosses are particularly responsive to changes in precipitation and exhibit rapid declines in biomass and mortality following the addition of small rainfall events. Further, loss of the moss component in biocrusts leads to declines in crust structure and function. In this study, we sought to understand the physiological responses of the widespread and often dominant biocrust moss Syntrichia caninervis to alterations in rainfall. Moss samples were collected during all four seasons and exposed to two rainfall event sizes and three desiccation period (DP) lengths. A carbon balance approach based on single precipitation events was used to define the carbon gain or loss during a particular hydration period. Rainfall event size was the strongest predictor of carbon balance, and the largest carbon gains were associated with the largest precipitation events. In contrast, small precipitation events resulted in carbon deficits for S. caninervis. Increasing the length of the DP prior to an event resulted in reductions in carbon balance, probably because of the increased energetic cost of hydration following more intense bouts of desiccation. The season of collection (i.e., physiological status of the moss) modulated these responses, and the effects of DP and rainfall on carbon balance were different in magnitude (and often in sign) for different seasons. In particular, S. caninervis displayed higher carbon balances in the winter than in the summer, even for events of identical size. Overall, our results suggest that annual carbon balance and survivorship in biocrust mosses are largely driven by precipitation, and because of the role mosses play in biocrusts, changes in intra-annual precipitation patterns can have implications for hydrology, soil stability, and nutrient cycling in dryland systems.     

Measurements and modelling of cloudwater deposition to moorland and forests

The objective of the study was to measure the size dependence of cloudwater deposition and associated average ionic fluxes to vegetated surfaces. Measurements were made over a forest canopy at Dunslair heights in south Scotland and a moorland site, Great Dun Fell, in northern England. Measurements were made using the gradient and eddy correlation techniques. Eddy correlation measurements were made using an ultrasonic anemometer, a Knollenberg forward scattering spectrometer probe (to measure liquid water fluxes and fluxes of droplets in 1 microm size intervals) and a GSI particulate volume monitor (to measure liquid-water fluxes). Measurements were made at Great Dun Fell of the size dependence of droplet deposition velocity, using the gradient technique with two Knollenberg probes. Simultaneous gradient and eddy correlation measurements were also made at Great Dun Fell of average cloud-water fluxes, together with chemical analysis of cloud water composition, using a continuous analysis system. At Dunslair Heights, eddy correlation measurements were made using both the Knollenberg and Gerber Scientific Instruments (GSI) probes, while simultaneous gradient measurements using two GSI probes were also attempted. Samples of cloud water were collected at Dunslair Heights, using passive string collectors for chemical analysis by ion chromatography. The major findings of the study were: 1. The droplet deposition velocities measured by the two techniques were similar. 2. The deposition velocities were a strong function of droplet size. Considerable resistance to deposition was evident for droplets of less than 5 microm radius. Deposition velocities for particles from about 6 to 8 microm exceeded those for momentum. 3. Except when the droplets were very small or the winds very light, bulk cloud-water deposition velocities were about 80% or more of the momentum deposition velocities to forests.     

Weekday versus weekend activity patterns for ozone precursor emissions in California's South Coast Air Basin

Ambient O3 concentrations in California's South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB) can be as much as 55% higher on weekends than on weekdays under comparable meteorological conditions. This is paradoxical because emissions of O3 precursors (hydrocarbons, CO, and nitrogen oxides [NOx]) are lower on weekends. Day-of-week emissions activity data were collected and analyzed to investigate the hypothesized causes of the "weekend O3 effect." Emission activity data were collected for various mobile, area, and point sources throughout the SoCAB, including on-road vehicles, lawn and garden equipment, barbecues, fireplaces, solvent use, and point sources with continuous emission monitoring data. The results of this study indicate significant differences between weekday and weekend emission activity patterns and emissions. Their combined effect results in a 12-18% decrease in reactive organic gases (ROGs) and a 35-41% decrease in NOx emissions on Saturdays and Sundays, respectively, relative to weekdays in summer 2000. These changes in emissions result in an increase of more than 30% in the ROG/NOx ratio on weekends compared with weekdays, which, along with lower NOx emissions, leads to increased O3 production on weekends.