Temporal analysis of air pollution and its relationship with meteorological parameters in Bahrain, 2006–2012

The objective of this paper is to analyze temporal and seasonal trends of air pollution in Bahrain between 2006 and 2012 by utilizing datasets from five air quality monitoring stations. The non-parametric and robust Theil-Sen approach is employed to study quantitatively temporal variations of particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ozone (O₃). The calculated annual concentrations for PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in Bahrain were substantially higher than recommended World Health Organization (WHO) guideline standards. Results showed increasing trends for PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and SO₂ whereas O₃ and its precursor NO₂ showed decreasing behavior. The general increase in air pollution trends is in agreement with prediction of air pollution models for Middle East region due to economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization. The significances of long-term trends were examined. Additional to actual (unadjusted) trends, meteorological adjusted (deseasonalized) trends and seasonal trends were quantified. The box-plot analysis visually illustrated monthly variations of key air pollutants. It showed that only PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 exhibited seasonal pattern, and their concentrations increased during summer and decreased during winter. The effects of ambient air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and rainfall on particulate matter (PM) concentrations were further investigated. The Spearman correlation coefficient results demonstrated significant negative correlation between relative humidity and PM concentrations (??0.595 for PM₁₀ and ??0.526 for PM_2.5) while significant positive correlation was observed between temperature and PM concentrations (0.420 for PM₁₀ and 0.482 for PM_2.5).     

Assessment of spatial variations of particulate matter (PM<Subscript>10</Subscript> and PM<Subscript>2.5</Subscript>) in Bahrain identified by air quality index (AQI)

The rapid urbanization, industrialization, modernization, and the frequent Middle Eastern dust storms have negatively impacted the ambient air quality in Bahrain. The objective of this study is to identify the most critical atmospheric air pollutants with emphasis on their potential risk to health based on calculated AQI (air quality index) values using EPA approach. The air quality datasets of particulate matters (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5), ozone (O₃), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO) were measured in January 2012 and August 2012 using five mobile air quality monitoring stations located at different governorates. The results of this study demonstrated that PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 are the most critical air pollutants in Bahrain with PM_2.5 prevailing during January 2012 and PM₁₀ prevailing during August 2012. The corresponding AQI categories were utilized to evaluate spatial variability of particulate matters in five governorates. The impact of meteorological factors such as ambient air temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, and total precipitation on ambient air quality were discussed. The analysis demonstrated that the highest PM₁₀ concentrations were observed in the Northern Governorate while the highest PM_2.5 concentrations were observed in the Capital, Central, and Northern Governorates during August 2012. It was observed that the levels of PM_2.5 pollution were higher within proximity of the industrial zone. The results suggested that the average PM_2.5/PM₁₀ ratio in August 2012 was lower than in January 2012 due to the Aeolian processes. This study concludes that higher wind speed, total precipitation, relative humidity rates, and lower ambient air temperature in January 2012 assisted with the dissipation of particulate matter thus lowering the pollution levels of both PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in comparison to August 2012.     

沙拐枣属4种植物同地栽培开花物候与生殖特性比较

 选取吐鲁番沙漠植物园同地栽培的沙拐枣属（Calligonum L.）4种植物,在群体、个体、枝条、同化枝和单花5个水平上,2007—2009年连续进行开花物候和生殖特性研究。主要结论如下:①4 a中4种沙拐枣的各项开花物候参数相似,2010年各项物候参数明显推迟,4月中旬的温度是影响开花时间的主要因素。②在个体和群体水平上,泡果沙拐枣(C. calliphysa)和红皮沙拐枣(C. rubicundum)相似,表现为“集中开花模式”,花期重叠指数较高,达79.99％～100%,密刺沙拐枣(C. densum)和艾比湖沙拐枣(C. ebinuricum)相似,表现为“持续开花模式”,花期重叠指数较高,为51.79％～79.82%,4个种的共有重叠期较短。③在枝条水平上,泡果沙拐枣和红皮沙拐枣开花物候特征也表现相似,为开放集中,开花振幅高;密刺沙拐枣和艾比湖沙拐枣表现相似,为开放时间长,开花振幅低。④在同化枝水平上,开花数、持续时间和同化枝长度在种间和年际间均有不同程度的差异,同化枝水平的始花位置种间也具有差异,表现为泡果沙拐枣、红皮沙拐枣、密刺沙拐枣始花位置主要集中在第2、3关节,艾比湖沙拐枣通常在第4关节。⑤在单花水平上,泡果沙拐枣、红皮沙拐枣、密刺沙拐枣、艾比湖沙拐枣的单花开放持续时间分别为(9.14±0.26)h、(12.95±1.07)h、(10.69±1.75)h、(22.40±1.92)h。⑥在同化枝水平上,4种沙拐枣开花高峰期的坐果率较高,开花数目与坐果数显著正相关;坐果数和开花位置有一定的关系,表现为着生花多的关节坐果数也高,其中,泡果沙拐枣的花和果主要集中在第2、3、4关节,红皮沙拐枣集中在第3、4、5关节,密刺沙拐枣集中在第2、3、4、5关节,艾比湖沙拐枣集中在第4、5、6关节。     

1950—2015年中国棉花生产时空动态变化

基于1950—2015年中国棉花生产分布数据,综合运用时序变化趋势、空间分析等方法,分析中国棉花产量、面积及单产的时空分布特征和重心迁移轨迹,在此基础上量化面积和单产对棉花产量变化的贡献度。结果表明:① 1950—2015年间,中国棉花产量和单产总体呈上升趋势,产量增加521.44万t,单产增加1381.83 kg/hm²,面积经历剧烈波动、平稳发展及3次起落5个时期后,与1950年基本持平;② 棉花产量和面积区域性差距较大,但总体呈增加趋势,单产变化趋势稳定,其中西北内陆棉区棉花生产年际波动最大;③ 1950—2015年中国棉花种植区域中近87%的地区产量增加,约63%的地区棉花面积减少,70%以上地区棉花单产增加。三大棉区产量和单产增加,但增长速率不断减小,西北内陆棉区缩减幅度最小,亦是中国棉花面积增长的主力棉区;④ 中国棉花生产形成“东南—西北”的格局,主产区由黄河流域棉区转为西北内陆棉区;棉花产量和面积重心均向西北方向移动,总移动距离分别为1947 km、1398 km,2010—2015年移动速度最大,分别达到159 km/a、140 km/a;西北内陆棉区生产重心由和田迁至阿克苏,长江流域棉区由六安迁至黄冈,黄河流域棉区则由邯郸迁至聊城;⑤ 全国棉花产量贡献由单产主导逐渐转变为面积主导,从棉区来看,长江和黄河流域棉区亦由单产主导逐渐转变为面积主导,西北内陆棉区则一直为面积主导。