Aerosols in Alaskan air masses

Results from measurements of the composition and size distribution of aerosol particles advected into central Alaska are reported. It is argued that the aerosol predominant in number, but not necessarily in mass, consists of submicron droplets of sulfuric acid. The major aerosol by mass in arctic air is a removal-resistant accumulation mode (radius 0.3 m) probably to large extent originating from pollution sources 10³ km upstream (mostly in central Eurasia) from the site in Alaska. The accumulation mode aerosol disappears when arctic air masses are replaced with relatively warmer air masses flowing in from the northern Pacific. The latter air mass systems have been strongly scavenged by clouds and precipitation associated with the Aleutian low pressure system and with forced orographic uplifting over the Alaska Mountain Range; nevertheless the Pacific air masses contain substantial (i.e., 500–1000 cm^-3) quantities of small (several hundredths of a micron in radius) particles. Arctic-derived air masses are enriched in large (i.e, 0.3 ) particles compared to Pacific Marine air masses, whereas the opposite trend is found for smaller, Aitken, particles. The smaller particles are found in greatest abundance in warmer air mass systems, presumably because of the relatively brief time since such air masses were last exposed to sunlight with attendant production of small particles from the gas phase.     

Equilibria of the marine multiphase ammonia system

A lack of empirical data has made it difficult to ascertain whether ammonia is in equilibrium between the oceanic, atmospheric gas and atmospheric particle phases in the remote marine environment. Reported here are simultaneous measurements of the saturation concentration of ammonia relative to ammonia concentrations in ocean surface waters; total seawater ammonia; atmospheric gas phase ammonia; and atmospheric particulate-phase ammonium, non-seasalt sulfate, methanesulfonate, and nitrate. Sampling was performed in May of 1987 in the northeast Pacific Ocean environment and in April and May of 1988 in the central Pacific Ocean environment.These measurements were used to determine the degree to which ammonia approached equilibrium between the oceanic and atmospheric gas and aerosol particle phases. The experimental atmospheric gas phase ammonia concentrations were compared with calculated equilibrium concentrations assuming a Henry's law type of partitioning between the gas and condensed phases. Characteristic times of the processes controlling the fate of ammonia in the marine environment also were compared.The measured atmospheric gas phase and oceanic concentrations of ammonia indicate that ammonia is not in a Henry's law equilibrium across the air/sea interface. This disequilibrium is a result of the long air/sea exchange equilibration time relative to the lifetime of ammonia in the atmosphere. Comparison of the calculated equilibrium gas phase ammonia concentrations with the measured gas phase ammonia concentrations shows that attainment of equilibrium between the atmospheric gas and particle phases is a strong function of the chemical composition of the aerosol particles. The data suggest that fully neutralized aerosol particles are not in Henry's law equilibrium with the gas phase while equilibrium is observed for particles with an average ammonium to non-seasalt sulfate molar ratio less than 1.8.     

Pollen Viability for Air Pollution Bio-Monitoring

Biological characterization of Corylus avellana L. and Pinus nigra L. pollen samples was carried out to determine the actual value of pollen as a bio-indicator of the effects of atmospheric pollution, using samples from plants naturally developed in sites controlled for air pollution. In Trentino (North Italy), we selected six stations at three different levels of air pollution, which are constantly monitored with automatic gauges by the Environmental Protection Agency of Trento.First results showed that pollen viability of both species, germinability and pollen tube length of P. nigra, were higher in areas with no road traffic compared to heavy traffic ones. Pollen viability of P. nigra was positively correlated to ozone (O₃) concentrations and altitude but negatively to sulphur dioxide (SO₂), particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 m (PM₁₀), nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentrations.     

Relative optical mass functions for air, water vapour, ozone and nitrogen dioxide in atmospheric models presenting different latitudinal and seasonal conditions

Summary A study of the dependence features of the relative optical mass functions for air, water vapour, ozone and nitrogen dioxide on the apparent solar zenith angle was performed by calculating these optical parameters by means of the well-known computer code LOWTRAN 7 at several values of and for nine atmospheric models characterized by different latitudes and seasons. Moreover, other investigations were performed on the dependence features of (i) the relative optical air mass on the thermal characteristics of the low troposphere, (ii) the relative optical water vapour mass on the vertical distribution characteristics of absolute humidity in the troposphere, and (iii) the relative optical mass function for ozone and nitrogen dioxide on the shape characteristics of the vertical profiles of the two gaseous concentrations and the concentration peak altitudes. The results are compared with the values given by the two simple formulas proposed by Kasten (1966) for air and water vapour and the formulas defined by Young (1969) and Staehelin et al. (1995) for ozone and nitrogen dioxide. From this comparison, a wide set of correction factors were obtained which can be conveniently used in the analysis of multispectral sun-radiometric measurements for calculating, with a very high precision, the values of the four optical mass functions at all the angles in the 0° to 87° range, corresponding to the various latitudinal and seasonal conditions described by the nine atmospheric models.With 9 Figures     

Determination of carbon balances for smog chamber terpene oxidation experiments using a 14C tracer technique

In the last decade, numerous studies of monoterpene hydrocarbons in the presence of ozone and oxides of nitrogen have been completed. Although insights about the reactivity of terpenes have been gained, and several products have been identified in the gas and aerosol phases, carbon balances have been generally poor. This paper describes a radiotracer technique which accounts for carbon-containing compounds in a smog chamber at the conclusion of a photooxidation or ozonolysis reaction. Instead of attempting to identify individual products, gas-phase compounds were separated from aerosols, and each phase was analyzed by a liquid scintillation counter. A carbon balance of 79 to 97% was obtained with ¹⁴C--pinene and ozone using this technique. The significance of the results are discussed in terms of the ¹⁴C--pinene concentrations used in this study, which were lower than concentrations used previously by one to four orders of magnitude. In spite of the lower concentrations, the gaseous and aerosol fractions observed in the present investigation are comparable to those observed by others. Possible reaction products are discussed with respect to likely mechanisms for -pinene oxidation.     

Numerical modeling of pollutant transport and chemistry during a high‐ozone event in northern Taiwan

An air pollution prediction model system (APOPS) is developed and applied to northern Taiwan with complex terrain and local thermal circulations. It consists of a nonhydrostatic mesoscale meteoro‐logical model system (MMPMS) and a gas/aerosol transport and air quality model (GATAM). The basic processes relevant to modeling the urban air pollution problems such as meteorology, dispersion, chemistry and deposition are solved at the same time on practically the same grid. The APOPS was tested on a high‐ozone event in northern Taiwan on 16 November 1998. Comparison with observed surface winds shows able to predict local flow patterns such as sea/land breezes and mountain‐valley wind in this high air pollution episode. The predicted surface concentrations of ozone and other pollutants are compared with measured values, and a fairly good agreement with the mean normalized biases of −6%, −11%, for one‐day simulation and for daytime, respectively, is obtained for ozone. Thus, it is confirmed that the APOPS can be utilized to predict urban air quality in complex terrain area.     

Atmospheric response to deep-sea injections of fossil-fuel carbon dioxide

The possibility of controlling atmospheric carbon dioxide accumulation and attendant climatic effects from fossil-fuel burning by diverting a fraction of the combustion product and injecting it into the deep-ocean, as proposed by Marchetti, is analyzed using an atmosphere/mixed layer/diffusive deep-ocean model for the carbon cycle. The model includes the nonlinear buffering of CO₂ at the air/sea interface, and considers the long term trends associated with consuming an assumed fossil-fuel reserve equivalent to 7.09 × 10¹⁵ kg carbon as a logistic function of time as in the projections of Siegenthaler and Oeschger, except that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are computed for five alternate strategies: (a) 100% injected into atmosphere, (b) 50% injected at oceanic depth of 1500 m and 50% into atmosphere, (c) 50% injected at sea floor (4000 m) and 50% into atmosphere, (d) 100% at 1500 m depth and (e) 100% at sea floor. Since no carbon leaves the system, all runs approached the same post-fossil fuel equilibrium after several thousand years, C _a - 1150 ppm, almost four times the pre-fossil fuel value (- 300 ppm). But the transient response of these cases showed a marked variation ranging from a peak overshoot value of 2800 ppm in the year 2130 for 100% atmospheric injection to a slight decrease to the pre-fossil fuel 300 ppm lasting till 2300 with a subsequent slow approach to equilibrium for the 100% deep-ocean injection. The implications of these results for an oceanic injection strategy to mitigate the climatic impact of fossil-fuel CO₂ is discussed, as are the ingredients of a second generation carbon cycle model for carrying out such forecasts on an engineering design basis.     

The conductivity of the air and other electrical parameters in relation to meteorological elements and air pollution in Athens

Summary The annual and diurnal variation of the conductivity near the ground at Athens, based on long-term data, are presented. The diurnal double oscillation is a characteristic of the atmospheric electric climate of Athens. In addition, the influence of air pollution due to smoke and sulfur dioxide and of wind speed (as an element affecting the dispersion of pollulants) on large ion concentration and on conductivity has been examined. The air pollution, which is often severe in Athens area, results in decreasing conductivity and increasing large ion concentration, while the influence of wind speed is also pronounced. The results justify the use of conductivity as a pollution index. Finally the plausible influence of air temperature and relative humidity and of their rate of change on air electrical conductivity, has been examined. The results are ambiguous and depending on the season, especially for relative humidity.With 3 Figures     

辽宁地区O3污染状况及相关气象要素分析

利用2015—2019年辽宁城市逐小时地面O₃浓度观测数据,结合各城市逐小时气象要素观测数据,分析了辽宁地区近5 a的O₃污染状况及影响O₃的相关气象条件。结果表明：除环辽东湾部分城市O₃浓度呈下降趋势外,辽宁地区其他城市的O₃浓度均呈明显的上升趋势,O₃正取代PM_2.5成为影响辽宁地区的首要大气污染物。O₃浓度具有夏季高、冬季低,下午高、早晨低的时间分布特征。除受污染排放源直接影响外,高温、高湿、强辐射、小风和地面低气压都有利于O₃的局地生成;在亚洲夏季风的影响下,上游地区（如京津冀地区）的污染气团会随大气环流向东北地区输送,对辽宁地区夏季O₃污染产生重要影响。     

Deposition of atmospheric mineral particles in the North Pacific Ocean

Total deposition of atmospheric mineral particles (wet plus dry) has been measured during consecutive two-week sampling intervals from January, 1981 to March, 1982 at four island stations (Midway, Oahu, Enewetak, and Fanning) of the SEAREX Asian Dust Study Network in the North Pacific. The total deposition of mineral aerosol during the period from February to June is higher than that during the period from July to January at most of the stations. A systematic geographical trend is apparent in the dust flux, with greater fluxes at higher latitudes. The deposition values are correlated with the atmospheric mineral particle concentrations at these stations. The mineral particles are transported from arid regions in Asia to the North Pacific, and the annual dust deposition to the ocean appears to be dominated by sporadic dust events of short duration. Wet deposition dominates the removal of dust particles from the atmosphere over the North Pacific. The total deposition of atmospheric mineral material to the central North Pacific is estimated to be 20×10¹² g yr^-1.     

On the regional distributions of background carbon monoxide concentrations observed in East Asia during 1991–2008

The carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations observed at Mt. Waliguan in China (WLG), Ulaan Uul in Mongolia (UUM), Tae-ahn Peninsula in Korea (TAP) and Ryori in Japan (RYO) were analysed between 1991 and 2008. The average annual concentration of CO, a toxic air pollutant, was the highest at TAP (235±44 ppb), followed by RYO (169±35 ppb), UUM (154±27 ppb) and WLG (138±24 ppb). These data obtained in East Asia were also compared with CO data from Mauna Loa, Hawaii. CO tends to be highest in spring and lowest in summer in East Asia, with the exception of WLG. TAP had the highest CO concentrations in all seasons compared with WLG, UUM and RYO, and displays a wide short-term variability in concentration. This is caused by large-scale air pollution owing to its downwind location, close to continental East Asia. CO concentrations observed at TAP were analysed as follows: according to the origin of the isentropic backward trajectory and its transport passage; as continental background airflows (CBG); regionally polluted continental airflows (RPC); oceanic background airflows (OBG); and partly perturbed oceanic airflows (PPO). The high concentrations of CO at TAP are because of the airflow originating from the East Asian continent, rather than the North Pacific. RPCs, which pass through eastern China, appear to have high CO concentrations in spring, autumn and winter. It is noteworthy that the overall trend at TAP does not show an increase despite the fact that energy use in China approximately doubled from 1991 to 2008. OBGs, however, are affected by North Pacific air masses with low CO concentrations in summer.     

Simultaneous Measurements of Black Carbon, PM10, Ozone and NOx Variability at a Locally Polluted Island in the Southern Tropics

This paper shows a comparative study of particle and surface ozone concentration measurements undertaken simultaneously at two distinct semi-urban locations distant by 4 km at Saint-Denis, the main city of La Réunion island (21.5° S, 55.5° E) during austral autumn (May 2000). Black carbon (BC) particles measured at La Réunion University, the first site situated in the suburbs of Saint-Denis, show straight-forward anti-correlation with ozone, especially during pollution peaks ( 650 ng/m³ and 15 ppbv, for BC and ozone respectively) and at night-time (90 ng/m³ and 18.5 ppbv, for BC and ozone respectively). NO_x (NO and NO₂) and PM₁₀ particles were also measured in parallel with ozone at Lislet Geoffroy college, a second site situated closer to the city centre. NO_x and PM₁₀ particles are anti-correlated with ozone, with noticeable ozone destruction during peak hours (mean 6 and 9 ppbv at 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. respectively) when NO_x and PM₁₀ concentrations exhibit maximum values. We observe a net daytime ozone creation (19 ppbv, O₃ +4.5 ppbv), following both photochemical and dynamical processes. At night-time however, ozone recovers (mean 11 ppbv) when anthropogenic activities are lower ([BC] 100 ng/m³). BC and PM₁₀ concentration variation obtained during an experiment at the second site shows that the main origin of particles is anthropogenic emission (vehicles), which in turn influences directly ozone variability. Saint-Denis BC and ozone concentrations are also compared to measurements obtained during early autumn (March 2000) at Sainte-Rose (third site), a quite remote oceanic location. Contrarily to Saint-Denis observations, a net daytime ozone loss (14.5 ppbv at 4 p.m.) is noticed at Sainte-Rose while ozone recovers (17 ppbv) at night-time, with however a lower amplitude than at Saint-Denis. Preliminary results presented here are handful data sets for modelling and which may contribute to a better comprehension of ozone variability in relatively polluted areas.     

Application of an infrared carbon dioxide and humidity instrument to studies of turbulent transport

A calibration equation and some results of the field performance of an infrared instrument, which is designed to measure simultaneous fluctuations of atmospheric carbon dioxide and water vapor, are described. Field observations show that the instrument is suitable for simultaneous measurement of turbulent fluxes of carbon dioxide and water vapor in conjunction with a sonic anemometer. Measured values of carbon dioxide and water vapor fluxes show diurnal variations characterized by crop activity with respect to assimilation, respiration and evapotranspiration. Carbon dioxide is transferred downward during the daytime and upward at night, while latent heat and sensible heat are transferred in the opposite sense. The non-dimensional gradient of carbon dioxide is expressed in the following form under weak unstable conditions: _c = (1 – 16 _v )^-1/2. Here, _v is the Monin-Obukhov stability parameter including the humidity effect. This relation was originally proposed for temperature and humidity. Thus, the results indicate that the turbulent mechanisms of carbon dioxide fluctuations are similar to those of other scalar entities. This is strongly supported by the high correlation coefficient found between fluctuations of carbon dioxide and temperature or humidity in the air layer over crop fields.     

南昌市环境空气臭氧污染现状分析

利用南昌市省外办环境空气监测点2003—2006年臭氧监测资料,使用综合污染指数法和国家《环境空气质量标准》进行分析评价。分析结果表明,南昌市省外办监测点环境空气中臭氧污染已经达到一定程度,2006年臭氧年日均值达0.203 mg/m3,年日均值超标率为12.63%;臭氧污染指数为2.03,污染负荷高达53.88%,比目前最为关注的污染物(可吸入颗粒物)污染负荷高39.07%。臭氧已成为城市环境空气中的主要污染物之一,尤其是每年的9月和10月,其污染更为严重。建议全省各城市积极创造条件开展环境空气臭氧监测,并纳入必测项目参加评价;环保部门应加强与气象部门的合作,科学分析江西环境空气臭氧污染原因,提出防治措施。     

The recent characteristics of Asian dust and haze events in Seoul, Korea

Summary The study on the characteristics of aerosol in Seoul during springtime from 1998 to 2003 is performed by the size-resolved number concentrations of aerosol. Asian dust events occur in spring most frequently, but it has been often observed in wintertime since 1999. Since 2000, the number of Asian dust days has been increasing, and the intensity has been more severe until 2002. However, there were only 3 dust days in Seoul during the spring of 2003, since the synoptic cyclone was relatively not intense enough to rise and transport dust to Korean peninsula, and the air stream was usually tiled to north of Korean peninsula. In addition, the precipitation was relatively plentiful and the air temperature was cold enough not to keep dry soil condition.Haze is the suspended particles in the air, reducing visibility by scattering light, and it is often a mixture of aerosols and photochemical smog. Dry particles with diameters of the order of 0.1µm, are small enough to scatter short wavelengths of light. Haze occurs well in winter and spring, and severe haze is observed in the afternoon. The occurrence frequency of haze has been decreasing since 2000 except in May of 2003.During Asian dust events from 1998 to 2003, the number concentration of aerosol with diameters from 0.3µm to 0.5µm decreases notably, but that larger than 1µm increases rapidly. On the other hand, for the haze events the number concentration from 0.3µm to 0.5µm increases notably, but that larger than 1µm decreases.     

青藏高原上空气溶胶含量的分布特征及其与臭氧的关系

采用1991年10月—2005年11月的HALOE资料,分析了青藏高原(27°~40°N,75°~105°E)上空气溶胶数密度、体积密度、面积密度的分布和变化特征,探讨了它们与臭氧的关系,并且与同纬度带中国东部地区(107°~122°E,27°~40°N)、北太平洋(170°E~170°W,27°~40°N)上空进行了对比。结果表明:高原上空气溶胶的体积密度、面积密度受Pinatubo火山喷发的影响主要发生在1991—1995年,然而气溶胶数密度受火山影响则不如前二者明显;高原上空气溶胶在对流层顶附近存在一个极大值区,在夏季该极大值区位于对流层顶下方(约120 hPa),而其他季节则位于对流层顶上方(约100hPa);青藏高原、中国东部地区、北太平洋三地上空气溶胶数密度的差异主要出现在60 hPa以下的气层,夏季差异最突出,高原上120 hPa附近的气溶胶数密度约为平原上的1.8倍,约为海洋上的5.5倍;在高原上空对流层顶附近以及平流层低层,气溶胶数密度与臭氧体积混合比呈很好的负相关关系,而在20 hPa以上则有明显的正相关关系;对比三地上空气溶胶与臭氧的关系,得到在对流层顶附近及平流层低层气溶胶在高原和平原上空与臭氧的变化呈很好的负相关,其中以高原上空的负相关关系更好,但是在海洋上空气溶胶和臭氧的相关不明显。而在20 hPa以上气层中,三地上空的气溶胶与臭氧的变化都具有很好的正相关关系。     

Fluxes of gases and particles above a deciduous forest in wintertime

Eddy-correlation measurements of the vertical fluxes of ozone, carbon dioxide, fine particles with diameter near 0.1 m, and particulate sulfur, as well as of momentum, heat and water vapor, have been taken above a tall leafless deciduous forest in wintertime. During the experimental period of one week, ozone deposition velocities varied from about 0.1 cm s^–1 at night to more than 0.4 cm s^-1 during the daytime, with the largest variations associated primarily with changes in solar irradiation. Most of the ozone removal took place in the upper canopy. Carbon dioxide fluxes were directed upward due to respiration and exhibited a strong dependence on air temperature and solar heating. The fluxes were approximately zero at air temperatures less than 5 °C and approached 0.8 mg m^–2 s^–1 when temperatures exceeded 15 °C during the daytime. Fine-particle deposition rates were large at times, with deposition velocities near 0.8 cm s^–1 when turbulence levels were high, but fluxes directed upward were found above the canopy when the surface beneath was covered with snow. Diffusional processes seemed to dominate fine-particle transfer across quasilaminar layers and subsequent deposition to the upper canopy. Deposition velocities for particulate sulfur were highly variable and averaged to a value small in magnitude as compared to similar measurements taken previously over a pine forest in summer.     

广州亚运会期间鼎湖山站大气污染特征

为了解广州亚运会期间华南区域大气质量状况以及气象条件对区域本底浓度值的影响,2010年11月对鼎湖山站主要污染物NO_x,SO₂,O₃,PM₁₀和PM_2.5进行了连续在线观测。利用MICAPS,NCEP FNL资料及后向轨迹模拟对观测时段大气污染物变化特征进行了分析。结果表明:观测时期鼎湖山区域NO₂,SO₂和O₃平均体积分数分别为 (7.2±3.1)×10-9,(8.5±3.8)×10-9和 (28.7±9.8)×10-9。PM₁₀和PM_2.5的月平均质量浓度分别达到113 μg·m-3和81 μg·m-3,PM_2.5超标日数达13 d (标准为世界卫生组织第1阶段值,日平均值为75 μg·m-3)。不同时段日变化分析表明,广州亚运会期间高值时段 (定义为PM_2.5质量浓度超过世界卫生组织的IT.1标准的时段) NO_x和O₃平均体积分数为13.2×10-9和20.9×10-9,较2009年同期分别下降了41.3%和10.7%。不利气象要素影响和污染物区域传输作用是形成珠江三角洲区域大气本底 (鼎湖山地区) 细粒子污染偏高的主要原因。     

Validation of chemistry transport model of the lower atmosphere in the central European region of Russia using ground-based and satellite measurement data

A modern three-dimensional chemistry transport model is adopted for computation of air pollution with photo-oxidants in the Moscow megalopolis and in the several neighboring regions. Along the vertical, the model covers the entire troposphere and has a two-scale horizontal structure, when the resolution of the “inserted” domain is about 13 km. The model computation results are compared with the satellite tropospheric nitrogen dioxide measurements and ground-based measurements of the surface ozone concentration. The analysis results of one of the episodes of enhanced ozone content is considered as an example of a possible use of the model considered as a diagnostic tool for studying issues connected with the air pollution in the region under consideration.