Atmosphere

25 pages, 1807 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dew and Rain Evolution from Climate Change in Semi-Arid South-Western Madagascar between 1991 and 2033 (Extrapolated)

by Adriana Rasoafaniry, Marc Muselli and Daniel Beysens

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 784; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070784 (registering DOI) - 29 Jun 2024

In the context of global warming and the increasing scarcity of fresh water resources, it becomes significant to evaluate the contribution and evolution of non-rainfall waters such as dew. This study therefore aims to evaluate the relative dew and rain contributions in three [...] Read more.

In the context of global warming and the increasing scarcity of fresh water resources, it becomes significant to evaluate the contribution and evolution of non-rainfall waters such as dew. This study therefore aims to evaluate the relative dew and rain contributions in three sites of south-western of Madagascar (Ifaty, Toliara, and Andremba), a semi-arid region which suffers from a strong water deficit. The studied period is 1/1991–7/2023, with extrapolation to 7/2033. Dew is calculated from meteo data by using a well-established energy model. The extrapolation of dew and rain follows an artificial neural network approach. It is found that dew forms regularly (2–3 days on average between events), in contrast to rain (10–15 days). The evolutions of dew and rain are similar, with an increase from 1991 to 2000, a decrease up to 2020 and a further increase until 2033. These oscillations follow the Indian Ocean dipole variations and should be influenced by climate change. Dew contributions to the water balance remain modest on a yearly basis (3–4%) but is important during the dry season (Apr.–Oct.), up to 30%. Dew therefore appears to be a reliable and sustainable resource for plants, small animals, and the population, especially during droughts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis of Dew under Different Climate Changes)

22 pages, 1807 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Air Quality in the Cartagena Basin in South-Western Europe and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

by José-Luis Moreno-Cegarra, Isidro A. Pérez and M. Ángeles García

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070783 (registering DOI) - 29 Jun 2024

Abstract

The port of Cartagena, south-east Spain, is noted for its intense activity. This paper presents the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the recorded levels of six pollutants. Fifteen years of measurements were used, with two objectives. The first was to investigate how [...] Read more.

The port of Cartagena, south-east Spain, is noted for its intense activity. This paper presents the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the recorded levels of six pollutants. Fifteen years of measurements were used, with two objectives. The first was to investigate how these pollutants evolved, together with their usual cycles. The second objective was to ascertain whether the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the concentrations recorded. The results showed that nitrogen oxide concentrations remained steady in the first half of the measurement period and decreased in the second half. SO₂ concentrations decreased irregularly, whereas O₃ and PM₁₀ presented steady concentrations. The annual cycle was observed for nitrogen oxides and O₃. Only SO₂ evidenced no weekly cycle. Finally, the analysis of pre- and post-pandemic concentrations revealed a sharp decrease in nitrogen oxides, whereas the pandemic was not seen to have had any impact on the other pollutants. In addition, NO₂ emerged as the best indicator of human activity––represented by car and maritime traffic––due to its response to the relaxation measures. Finally, Lamb weather types were calculated. The unclassified type was the most frequent. However, the greatest concentration changes were observed for anticyclonic and eastern flow types. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Metropolitan Areas and Megacities)

19 pages, 9666 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation into Spatial and Temporal Differences in Carbon Emissions and Driving Factors in the Pearl River Delta: The Perspective of Urbanization

by Ziya Gao, Dafang Wu, Zhaojun Wu and Lechun Zeng

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 782; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070782 (registering DOI) - 29 Jun 2024

Abstract

Urbanization is a significant indicator of city progress, and as urbanization advances, carbon emissions exhibit an increasing trend that must not be disregarded. Therefore, it is imperative to thoroughly examine the spatial and temporal variations as well as the factors influencing carbon emissions [...] Read more.

Urbanization is a significant indicator of city progress, and as urbanization advances, carbon emissions exhibit an increasing trend that must not be disregarded. Therefore, it is imperative to thoroughly examine the spatial and temporal variations as well as the factors influencing carbon emissions during the urbanization process. In this paper, based on the 2009–2019 PRD region, carbon emissions are measured from energy consumption, industrial production process, solid waste, and wastewater according to the IPCC coefficients, and spatial and spatial differences in carbon emissions are combined with spatial analysis and the drivers analyzed using the gray correlation scale. The results show that: (1) The total carbon emissions in the PRD region have been increasing over the study period, and the distribution of total carbon emissions shows a pattern of “strong in the east and weak in the west”, with energy consumption accounting for the highest proportion of carbon emissions. (2) The global Moran Index of carbon emissions in the PRD has been decreasing, with low and low clustering concentrated in Shaoguan and Zhaoqing, high and high clustering concentrated in Dongguan and Shenzhen, and low and high clustering concentrated in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, with cold spots mainly concentrated in Zhaoqing and hot spots mainly distributed in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Dongguan. (3) The degree of economic growth has a substantial influence on carbon emissions in the PRD cities, and the influence of technical advancement has intensified. Guangzhou City is propelled by low-carbon regulations that have a more equitable influence on all elements. Zhuhai City has a more significant influence on energy intensity, while Foshan City has a more noticeable decrease in the effect of foreign investment. To address the issue of carbon emissions, the government should establish appropriate rules to regulate carbon emissions in areas with high emissions, foster collaborative efforts across cities, and encourage the growth of environmentally friendly enterprises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban and Regional Nitrogen Cycle and Risk Management)

12 pages, 2810 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Implication of Subsequent Leaders in the Gigantic Jet

by Wen-Qian Chang, Yan-Mou Lai, Cheng-Ling Kuo, Janusz Mlynarczyk and Zhong-Yi Lin

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 781; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070781 (registering DOI) - 29 Jun 2024

Abstract

Most of the lightning appears below the cloud or inside the cloud. Unlike conventional lightning, blue jets and gigantic jets (GJ) produce upward discharge since electric discharge occurs as a form of cloud-to-air leader. We analyzed a gigantic jet recorded in the 2022 [...] Read more.

Most of the lightning appears below the cloud or inside the cloud. Unlike conventional lightning, blue jets and gigantic jets (GJ) produce upward discharge since electric discharge occurs as a form of cloud-to-air leader. We analyzed a gigantic jet recorded in the 2022 Taiwan campaign. For our color photograph recorded in the observation, high spatial resolution (150 m) at a close distance (140 km) resolves the important spatial features of the GJ phenomena. First, the GJ propagated upwardly as the fully developed jet with a maximum height of ~80 km above the cloud top ~17 km. After the fully developed stage, the subsequent leader reached its top height of ~30 km with a width of 0.5–1.0 km. The subsequent leader attempted but failed to develop from leader to fully developed jet. The subsequent leader may be interpreted as a negative stepped leader associated with cloud rebrightening, similar to the subsequent stroke in the multi-stroke lightning. Besides, the relatively higher IC flash rates associated with the rise of cloud tops benefit the required meteorological conditions for developing gigantic jets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Lightning Research)

17 pages, 5731 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Air Emission Reduction Measures during the Asian Games on Air Quality and Health Risks in Hangzhou and Surrounding Cities

by Jing Huang, Jiayan Wang, Yunan Hu and Hui Zhao

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 780; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070780 (registering DOI) - 29 Jun 2024

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the air quality in Hangzhou and its surrounding areas during the 2023 Asian Games and assess the impact of safeguard measures on air quality. By comparing air quality monitoring data from Hangzhou and nearby cities [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the air quality in Hangzhou and its surrounding areas during the 2023 Asian Games and assess the impact of safeguard measures on air quality. By comparing air quality monitoring data from Hangzhou and nearby cities between 23 September 2023, and 8 October 2023, with the same period in 2022, the analysis focused on the changes in air quality and the impact of PM_2.5 and O₃ on human health. The results show that during the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, compared to the same period in 2022, the concentrations of pollutants showed the following changes: PM₁₀ and NO₂ concentrations decreased by 16.1% and 34.1%, respectively. PM_2.5, CO, and O₃ concentrations increased by 0.9%, 9.5%, and 14.4%, respectively. Spatially, compared with the same period in 2022, the PM_2.5 concentration in Quzhou City decreased the most, reaching 23%, while the PM_2.5 concentration in Huzhou City increased the most, reaching 27.1%. The largest decrease in PM₁₀ concentration is in Wenzhou City, which is up to 28.2%, while the largest increase is in Zhoushan City, which is 9.2%. The concentration of NO₂ generally decreases in all regions, with the biggest decrease in Zhoushan City, which reaches 36.2%. The concentration of CO only decreases in Shaoxing, and the highest increase is in Huzhou City. In terms of O₃, the largest proportion increase is 23% in Ningbo. During the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, the number of deaths from all-cause and cardiovascular diseases caused by short-term exposure to PM_2.5 was 1780 and 795, respectively, which was 8.2% lower than the same period in 2022. During the Asian Games, the number of deaths from all-cause and cardiovascular diseases due to short-term exposure to O₃ was 7332 and 3177, respectively, an increase of 2.8% compared with the same period in 2022. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coordinated Control of PM2.5 and O₃ and Its Impacts in China)

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14 pages, 481 KiB

Open AccessReview

Tropospheric Ozone: A Critical Review of the Literature on Emissions, Exposure, and Health Effects

by Gabriele Donzelli and Maria Morales Suarez-Varela

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 779; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070779 (registering DOI) - 29 Jun 2024

Abstract

Tropospheric ozone is a significant air pollutant with severe adverse effects on human health. The complex dynamics of ozone formation, distribution, and health impacts underscore the need for a comprehensive understanding of this pollutant. Despite well-documented health risks, including an estimated 423,100 deaths [...] Read more.

Tropospheric ozone is a significant air pollutant with severe adverse effects on human health. The complex dynamics of ozone formation, distribution, and health impacts underscore the need for a comprehensive understanding of this pollutant. Despite well-documented health risks, including an estimated 423,100 deaths annually due to ozone exposure, millions of people in major countries continue to be exposed to unhealthy levels. Notably, the epidemiological evidence linking long-term ozone exposure to health outcomes is limited compared to short-term exposure studies, leaving some findings incomplete. Regulatory standards vary globally, with the implementation of the World Health Organization recommendation for an 8-h average limit of 50 ppb to protect public health remaining heterogeneous, leading to significant disparities in adoption across countries, and often significantly higher. Emissions from diesel and gasoline vehicles are major sources of VOCs and NOx in urban areas, and their reduction is a key strategy. Additionally, climate change may exacerbate ozone pollution through increased natural precursor emissions, leading to higher ground-level ozone in polluted regions, like the eastern US, southern Europe, and parts of Asia. Addressing tropospheric ozone effectively requires an integrated approach that considers both natural and anthropogenic sources to reduce concentrations and mitigate health impacts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Measurement and Variability of Atmospheric Ozone)

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17 pages, 1083 KiB

Open AccessReview

Carbonyl Sulfide (COS) in Terrestrial Ecosystem: What We Know and What We Do Not

by Jiaxin Li, Lidu Shen, Yuan Zhang, Yage Liu, Jiabing Wu and Anzhi Wang

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 778; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070778 (registering DOI) - 28 Jun 2024

Abstract

Over the past six decades, carbonyl sulfide (COS) in terrestrial ecosystems has been extensively studied, with research focusing on exploring its ecological and environmental effects, estimating source–sink volume, and identifying influencing factors. The global terrestrial COS sink has been estimated to be about [...] Read more.

Over the past six decades, carbonyl sulfide (COS) in terrestrial ecosystems has been extensively studied, with research focusing on exploring its ecological and environmental effects, estimating source–sink volume, and identifying influencing factors. The global terrestrial COS sink has been estimated to be about 1.194–1.721 Tg a⁻¹, with the terrestrial sink induced by plants and soils 0.50–1.20 Tg a⁻¹, accounting for 41%–69% of the total. Hence, the role of plants and soils as COS sinks has been extensively explored. Now we know that factors such as the activity of carbonic anhydrase (CA), leaf structural traits, soil microbial activity, and environmental factors play significant roles in the COS budget. Developments in observational techniques have also made important contributions to the COS budget. This paper provides an overview of the research progress made on COS based on a comprehensive review of the literature. Then, it highlights the current research hotspots and issues requiring further exploration. For instance, it has been demonstrated that there are still significant uncertainties in the estimation of COS sources and sinks, emphasizing the need for further exploration of COS measuring techniques. This review aims to provide comprehensive guidance for COS research in terrestrial ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Emission and Carbon Neutrality in China)

17 pages, 2800 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trend Analysis and Spatial Source Attribution of Surface Ozone in Chaozhou, China

by Zhongwen Huang, Lei Tong, Xuchu Zhu, Junxiao Su, Shaoyun Lu and Hang Xiao

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 777; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070777 (registering DOI) - 28 Jun 2024

Abstract

Surface ozone (O₃), a critical air pollutant, poses significant challenges in urban environments, as exemplified by the city of Chaozhou in southeastern China. This study employs a novel combination of trend analysis and spatial source attribution techniques to evaluate the long-term [...] Read more.

Surface ozone (O₃), a critical air pollutant, poses significant challenges in urban environments, as exemplified by the city of Chaozhou in southeastern China. This study employs a novel combination of trend analysis and spatial source attribution techniques to evaluate the long-term dynamics of surface ozone and identify its sources. Utilizing the Kolmogorov–Zurbenko (KZ) filter and percentile regression, we analyzed the temporal trends of daily maximum 8 h moving average ozone (MDA8 O₃) concentrations from 2014 to 2023. Our analysis revealed a general long-term downward trend in MDA8 O₃ values alongside notable monthly fluctuations, with peak concentrations typically occurring in October and April. Additionally, the percentile regression analysis demonstrated a significant downward trend in MDA8 O₃ concentrations across nearly all percentiles, with larger decline rates at higher percentiles, highlighting the effectiveness of local and regional O₃ management strategies in Chaozhou. The changes in MDA8 O₃ concentrations were mainly influenced by the short-term component, contributing 62.2%, while the contribution of the long-term fraction is relatively small. This suggests a significant influence of immediate meteorological conditions and transient pollution events on local O₃ levels. To further elucidate the origins of high O₃ concentrations, trajectory cluster analysis, trajectory sector analysis (TSA), and potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis were conducted. The trajectory cluster analysis revealed that the northeast air mass was the main transport air mass in Chaozhou during the study period, accounting for 39.1% of occurrences. The northeast cluster C with medium-distance trajectories corresponds to higher concentration of O₃, which may be the main transport pathway of O₃ pollution in Chaozhou. TSA corroborates these findings, with northeast sectors 1, 2, and 3 accounting for 50.3% of trajectory residence time and contributing 52.2% to O₃ levels in Chaozhou. PSCF results further indicate potential high O₃ sources from the northeast, especially in autumn. This comprehensive analysis suggests that Chaozhou’s elevated O₃ levels are influenced by both regional transport from the northeast and local emissions. These findings offer crucial insights into the temporal dynamics of surface O₃ in Chaozhou, paving the way for more effective and targeted air quality management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ozone Pollution and Effects in China)

19 pages, 1003 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can Bayesian Networks Improve Ground-Strike Point Classification?

by Wandile Lesejane, Hugh G. P. Hunt, Carina Schumann and Ritesh Ajoodha

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070776 (registering DOI) - 28 Jun 2024

Viewed by 64

Abstract

Studying cloud-to-ground lightning strokes and ground-strike points provides an alternative method of lightning mapping for lightning risk assessment. Various k-means algorithms have been used to verify the ground-strike points from lightning locating systems, producing results with room for improvement. This paper proposes using [...] Read more.

Studying cloud-to-ground lightning strokes and ground-strike points provides an alternative method of lightning mapping for lightning risk assessment. Various k-means algorithms have been used to verify the ground-strike points from lightning locating systems, producing results with room for improvement. This paper proposes using Bayesian networks (BNs), a model not previously used for this purpose, to classify lightning ground-strike points. A Bayesian network is a probabilistic graphical model that uses Bayes’ theorem to represent the conditional dependencies of variables. The networks created for this research were trained from the data using a score-based structure-learning procedure and the Bayesian information criterion score function. The models were evaluated using confusion matrices and kappa indices and produced accuracy values ranging from 86% to 94% and kappa indices of up to 0.76. While BN models do not outperform k-means algorithms, they offer an alternative by not requiring predetermined distances. However, the easy implementation of the k-means approach means that no significant gain is made by implementing the more complex Bayesian network approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Lightning Research)

35 pages, 20348 KiB

Open AccessArticle

WRF-Chem Modeling of Tropospheric Ozone in the Coastal Cities of the Gulf of Finland

by Georgii Nerobelov, Yana Virolainen, Dmitry Ionov, Alexander Polyakov and Eugene Rozanov

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070775 (registering DOI) - 28 Jun 2024

Viewed by 131

Abstract

Ozone in the troposphere is a pollutant and greenhouse gas. Atmospheric models can add valuable information to observations for studying the spatial and temporal variations in tropospheric ozone content. The present study is intended to evaluate the variability in tropospheric ozone and its [...] Read more.

Ozone in the troposphere is a pollutant and greenhouse gas. Atmospheric models can add valuable information to observations for studying the spatial and temporal variations in tropospheric ozone content. The present study is intended to evaluate the variability in tropospheric ozone and its precursors near the Gulf of Finland with a focus on St. Petersburg (Russia) and Helsinki (Finland) in 2016–2019, using the WRF-Chem 3-D numerical model with a spatial resolution of 10 km, together with observations. The diurnal cycle of the near-surface ozone concentrations (NSOCs) in both cities is caused by the variability in NO₂ emissions, planetary boundary layer height, and local meteorological conditions. The seasonal variations in NSOCs and tropospheric ozone content (TrOC) are caused by the variability in total ozone content and in ozone formation in the troposphere. The model reveals a VOC-limited regime in the ~0–1 km layer around St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and the Gulf of Finland and a pronounced NO_x-limited regime in the 0–2 km layer in the forests of southern Finland, Karelia, some Russian regions, and the Baltic countries in July. The WRF-Chem model overestimates the measured NSOCs by 10.7–43.5% and the TrOC by 7–10.4%. The observed differences are mainly caused by the errors in chemical boundary conditions and emissions of ozone precursors and by the coarse spatial resolution of the modeling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Measurement and Variability of Atmospheric Ozone)

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31 pages, 23976 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GIS-Based Integrated Multi-Hazard Vulnerability Assessment in Makedonska Kamenica Municipality, North Macedonia

by Bojana Aleksova, Ivica Milevski, Slavoljub Dragićević and Tin Lukić

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 774; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070774 (registering DOI) - 28 Jun 2024

Viewed by 161

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of natural hazard susceptibility in the Makedonska Kamenica municipality of North Macedonia, encompassing erosion assessment, landslides, flash floods, and forest fire vulnerability. Employing advanced GIS and remote sensing (RS) methodologies, hazard models were meticulously developed and integrated [...] Read more.

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of natural hazard susceptibility in the Makedonska Kamenica municipality of North Macedonia, encompassing erosion assessment, landslides, flash floods, and forest fire vulnerability. Employing advanced GIS and remote sensing (RS) methodologies, hazard models were meticulously developed and integrated to discern areas facing concurrent vulnerabilities. Findings unveil substantial vulnerabilities prevalent across the area, notably along steep terrain gradients, river valleys, and deforested landscapes. Erosion assessment reveals elevated rates, with a mean erosion coefficient (Z) of 0.61 and an annual erosion production of 182,712.9 m³, equivalent to a specific erosion rate of 961.6 m³/km²/year. Landslide susceptibility analysis identifies 31.8% of the municipality exhibiting a very high probability of landslides, while flash flood susceptibility models depict 3.3% of the area prone to very high flash flood potential. Forest fire susceptibility mapping emphasizes slightly less than one-third of the municipality’s forested area is highly or very highly susceptible to fires. Integration of these hazard models elucidates multi-hazard zones, revealing that 11.0% of the municipality’s territory faces concurrent vulnerabilities from excessive erosion, landslides, flash floods, and forest fires. These zones are predominantly located in upstream areas, valleys of river tributaries, and the estuary region. The identification of multi-hazard zones underscores the critical need for targeted preventive measures and robust land management strategies to mitigate potential disasters and safeguard both human infrastructure and natural ecosystems. Recommendations include the implementation of enhanced monitoring systems, validation methodologies, and community engagement initiatives to bolster hazard preparedness and response capabilities effectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biosphere/Hydrosphere/Land–Atmosphere Interactions)

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36 pages, 24080 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Emission Factors for Particulate Matter and NO₂ from Road Transport in Sofia, Bulgaria

by Margret Velizarova, Reneta Dimitrova, Petar O. Hristov, Angel Burov, Danail Brezov, Elena Hristova and Orlin Gueorguiev

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070773 - 28 Jun 2024

Viewed by 156

Abstract

Traffic-related air pollution has a significant impact on the concentration of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) in urban areas, but there are many uncertainties associated with the modeling of PM concentration due to non-exhaust emissions. Bulgarian weather, road surfaces [...] Read more.

Traffic-related air pollution has a significant impact on the concentration of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) in urban areas, but there are many uncertainties associated with the modeling of PM concentration due to non-exhaust emissions. Bulgarian weather, road surfaces and traffic conditions differ significantly from the UK’s and other EU countries’ averages, which underpin many assumptions in established models. The hypothesis is that the emission factors differ from those used to calculate traffic emissions using the EMIT model. The objective of this work is to adjust the emissions for PM and the relationship between the fractions of NO_x and PM using the hourly mean concentrations from road transport and urban background automatic air quality stations in Sofia, Bulgaria. Various already-published and newly developed methods are applied to local observations to derive functions and relations that better represent Bulgarian road and traffic conditions. The ADMS-Urban model is validated and evaluated by comparing pollutant concentrations from simulations using original and adjusted emissions, showing an improvement in results after applying functions and relationships derived from local observations. This work is part of our efforts to improve air quality modeling in urban areas in Bulgaria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Pollution in Urban and Regional Level: Sources, Sinks and Transportation (3rd Edition))

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14 pages, 2516 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization and Application of Analytical Assays for the Determination of Oxidative Potential of Outdoor and Indoor Particulate Matter

by Andrea Bergomi, Elena Carrara, Elisa Festa, Cristina Colombi, Eleonora Cuccia, Beatrice Biffi, Valeria Comite and Paola Fermo

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 772; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070772 - 28 Jun 2024

Viewed by 111

Abstract

Recent studies indicate that mass concentration alone is not the best parameter to assess the toxicity and the health effects of particulate matter (PM). Indeed, the chemical composition of the particles plays an important role, and oxidative potential (OP) measurements are being proposed [...] Read more.

Recent studies indicate that mass concentration alone is not the best parameter to assess the toxicity and the health effects of particulate matter (PM). Indeed, the chemical composition of the particles plays an important role, and oxidative potential (OP) measurements are being proposed as an alternative way to assess toxicity. The European Union (EU) is currently proposing a draft of the new air quality directive which includes OP measurements but does not specify the methods and/or protocols of analysis. In this light, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of two literature assays, namely ascorbic acid (AA) and dithiothreitol (DTT), for routine PM analysis by testing urban PM filters from a one-year sampling campaign conducted by ARPA Lombardia. Indoor PM samples were also tested to emphasize the importance of monitoring closed spaces in which people spend most of their time. Following the optimization of the DTT assay, both methods proved to be suitable for large-scale PM analysis. The results show that the oxidative strength of urban PM is constant throughout the year for the outdoor samples (OP^AA: 0.067–0.39 nmol min⁻¹ m⁻³; OP^DTT: 0.033–0.109 nmol min⁻¹ m⁻³), indicating the need for routine OP monitoring. Instead, indoor areas were characterized by particles with a lower oxidative capacity (OP^AA: 5.40–24 pmol min⁻¹ m⁻³; OP^DTT: 9.7–32 pmol min⁻¹ m⁻³), driven both by lower concentrations and a different chemical composition. All the data collected highlight the need to add this parameter as part of the chemical characterization of PM, moving in the same direction as the new EU air quality directive. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality and Human Health)

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13 pages, 1491 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Short-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Schizophrenia Hospitalization: A Case-Crossover Study in Jingmen, China

by Yuwei Zhou, Jixing Yang, Jingjing Zhang, Yixiang Wang, Jiajun Shen, Yalin Zhang, Yuxi Tan, Yunquan Zhang and Chengyang Hu

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070771 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 108

Abstract

The impact of short-term exposure to air pollutants on the morbidity of schizophrenia, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, remains inadequately explored. The objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and the risk of [...] Read more.

The impact of short-term exposure to air pollutants on the morbidity of schizophrenia, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, remains inadequately explored. The objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and the risk of schizophrenia hospitalization in Jingmen, China. We performed a time-stratified case-crossover study using daily records of hospital admissions due to schizophrenia in Jingmen Mental Health Center from 2015 to 2017. Environmental exposures to air pollutants and meteorological conditions on case and control days were estimated on the basis of measurements from ground monitoring stations. To investigate the relationship between short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants and the risk of hospitalization for schizophrenia, a conditional logistic regression model was employed. We performed subgroup analyses stratified according to sex, age groups, and season. In total, 4079 schizophrenia hospitalizations were recorded during the designated period. Increased risk of schizophrenia was merely associated with short-term exposure to SO₂ and NO₂. The estimated odds per interquartile range (IQR) increase in exposure was 1.112 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.033, 1.196) for SO₂ (IQR = 12 µg/m³) and 1.112 (95% CI: 1.033, 1.197) for NO₂ (IQR = 18 µg/m³) on lag-0 day. Greater air pollution-schizophrenia associations were observed among middle-aged and older adults (over 45 years of age) and during the cold season. This study added case-crossover evidence indicating that short-term exposure to ambient air pollution, specifically SO₂ and NO₂, is linked to a higher risk of hospital admissions for schizophrenia. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the detrimental effects of air pollution on neuropsychiatric health conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Health (3rd Edition))

22 pages, 2537 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatio–Temporal Evolution of Electric Field, Magnetic Field and Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing Associated with the 2021 Mw7.3 Maduo Earthquake in China

by Muping Yang, Xuemin Zhang, Meijiao Zhong, Yufan Guo, Geng Qian, Jiang Liu, Chao Yuan, Zihao Li, Shuting Wang, Lina Zhai, Tongxia Li and Xuhui Shen

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070770 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 128

Abstract

This study presents the spatio–temporal evolution of the electric and magnetic fields recorded by the China Seismo–Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) and the thermal infrared remote sensing data observed by the Chinese stationary meteorological satellites Feng Yun–2G (FY–2G) associated with the 2021 Mw7.3 Maduo earthquake. [...] Read more.

This study presents the spatio–temporal evolution of the electric and magnetic fields recorded by the China Seismo–Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) and the thermal infrared remote sensing data observed by the Chinese stationary meteorological satellites Feng Yun–2G (FY–2G) associated with the 2021 Mw7.3 Maduo earthquake. Specifically, we analyzed the power spectrum density (PSD) data of the electric field in the extremely low frequency (ELF) band, the geomagnetic east–west vector data, and the temperature of brightness blackbody (TBB) data to investigate the spatio–temporal evolution characteristics under quiet space weather conditions (Dst > −30 nT and Kp < 3). Results showed that (1) the TBB radiation began to increase notably along the northern fault of the epicenter ~1.5 months prior to the occurrence of the earthquake. It achieved its maximum intensity on 17 May, and the earthquake occurred as the anomalies decreased. (2) The PSD in the 371 Hz–500 Hz and 700 Hz–871 Hz bands exhibited anomaly perturbations near the epicenter and its magnetic conjugate area on May 17, with particularly notable perturbations observed in the latter. The anomaly perturbations began to occur ~1 month before the earthquake, and the earthquake occurred as the anomalies decreased. (3) Both the magnetic –east–west component vector data and the ion velocity Vx data exhibited anomaly perturbations near the epicenter and the magnetic conjugate area on 11 May and 16 May. (4) The anomaly perturbations in the thermal infrared TBB data, CSES electric field, and magnetic field data all occurred within a consistent perturbation time period and spatial proximity. We also conducted an investigation into the timing, location, and potential causes of the anomaly perturbations using the Vx ion velocity data with magnetic field –east–west component vector data, as well as the horizontal –north–south and vertical component PSD data of the electric field with the magnetic field –east–west component vector data. There may be both chemical and electromagnetic wave propagation models for the “lithosphere—atmosphere—ionosphere” coupling (LAIC) mechanism of the Maduo earthquake. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ionospheric Sounding for Identification of Pre-seismic Activity)

13 pages, 2812 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trace Extraction and Repair of the F Layer from Pictorial Ionograms

by Jiayi Wang, Lei Qiao, Chunxiao Yan, Zhaoyang Qiu and Kejie Wang

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 769; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070769 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 137

Abstract

Publicly available ionograms are often in the form of pictures. This paper proposes a novel algorithm for extracting and repairing the F layer traces from pictorial ionograms. Extensive efforts have been invested in ionogram autoscaling and critical parameter identification to improve the efficiency [...] Read more.

Publicly available ionograms are often in the form of pictures. This paper proposes a novel algorithm for extracting and repairing the F layer traces from pictorial ionograms. Extensive efforts have been invested in ionogram autoscaling and critical parameter identification to improve the efficiency of scaling algorithms. To obtain the parameters of the F layer automatically, it is necessary to accurately extract the F layer trace. However, research on F layer trace extraction with repair is relatively limited. The method employed in this study makes full use of the characteristics of different types of echoes on the ionograms, and the procedure includes noise preprocessing, coupling noise processing, and trace repair. To enhance the applicability of the repair, two different automatic filling algorithms are adopted to repair the F layer trace. The aim of this paper is to present an adaptive algorithm to automatically extract and repair F layer traces from different pictorial ionograms. The results of Hainan Fuke ionograms illustrate the reliability of the F layer trace extraction and trace repair. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Upper Atmosphere)

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21 pages, 3089 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Critical Drought Characteristics: A New Concept Based on Dynamic Time Period Scenarios

by Ahmad Abu Arra, Mehmet Emin Birpınar, Şükrü Ayhan Gazioğlu and Eyüp Şişman

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 768; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070768 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 173

Abstract

In research on monitoring drought events, analysis is often carried out using a single period as a reference. On the other hand, changing this default period in drought calculations causes the drought index values obtained from research to differ. As a gap in [...] Read more.

In research on monitoring drought events, analysis is often carried out using a single period as a reference. On the other hand, changing this default period in drought calculations causes the drought index values obtained from research to differ. As a gap in the literature, this point highlights the necessity of investigating the effect of various time periods on drought characteristics. It underscores the need to propose a new concept and methodology to address this gap effectively. This research aims to analyze critical drought characteristics through dynamic time period scenarios. For the first time in the literature, drought indices and potential and critical characteristics were analyzed for various (dynamic) time periods. Drought analysis was carried out for 13 time period scenarios with 10-year intervals from a meteorological station in Durham (1872–2021) by changing the initial time condition using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). The results showed that in addition to the similarities, there are significant differences between drought characteristics. For example, in some time period scenarios, a drought event was recorded during a specific period, while in other scenarios (S5–S7, S10–S13), no drought was detected during the same period, like in SPI 1. Additionally, for SPI 12, the drought duration varied significantly, lasting between 20 and 29 months, and for SPI 6, the drought duration varied between 3 and 13 months. Regarding the intensity, SPI 1 ranged between −0.89 and −1.33, indicating a 33% difference, and the SPI 3 intensity ranged between −1.08 and −1.91, indicating a 50% increase in intensity. This research significantly contributes to the field by providing a novel approach using dynamic time period scenarios to determine critical drought characteristics, offering valuable insights for water resource management, drought mitigation planning, and design purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drought Monitoring, Prediction and Impacts)

17 pages, 1298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation and Validation of Short-Wave Scattering in the Anisotropic Ionosphere under a Geomagnetic Field

by Zhigang Zhang, Jingyi She, Hongwei Fu, Lin Zhao and Shengyun Ji

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 767; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070767 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 121

Abstract

Short-wave communication, operating within the frequency range of 3–30 MHz, is extensively employed for long-distance communication because of its extended propagation range and robustness. The ionosphere undergoes complex transformations when influenced by the geomagnetic field, evolving into an uneven and anisotropic electromagnetic medium. [...] Read more.

Short-wave communication, operating within the frequency range of 3–30 MHz, is extensively employed for long-distance communication because of its extended propagation range and robustness. The ionosphere undergoes complex transformations when influenced by the geomagnetic field, evolving into an uneven and anisotropic electromagnetic medium. This complex property makes the transmission of electromagnetic fields within the ionosphere extremely complex, posing significant challenges for accurately evaluating electromagnetic scattering phenomena. To address the aforementioned challenges, this paper proposes a new method for calculating short-wave ionospheric scattering based on a complex anisotropic multilayer medium transmission matrix. Firstly, by utilizing the characteristic changes of ionospheric electron density with height, the ionization layer is divided into multiple horizontal thin layers, each with an approximately uniform electron density, forming a multilayer horizontal anisotropic structure. Subsequently, the scattering characteristics of electromagnetic waves in the ionosphere were calculated using the transmission matrix approach. The results calculated using this method are consistent with actual measurement values and superior to traditional short-wave ionospheric transmission calculation methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intelligent Modeling of the Ionosphere and Troposphere for Radio Application)

12 pages, 1063 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Zenith Tropospheric Delay (ZTD) Derived from VMF3_FC and VMF3_OP Products Based on the CMONOC Data

by Haoran Zhang, Liang Chen, Fei Yang, Jingge Ma, Junya Zhang, Wenyu Sun and Shiqi Xu

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 766; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070766 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 116

Abstract

Prior tropospheric information, especially zenith tropospheric delay (ZTD), is particularly important in GNSS data processing. The two types of ZTD models, those that require and do not require meteorological parameters, are the most commonly used models, whether the non-difference or double-difference mode is [...] Read more.

Prior tropospheric information, especially zenith tropospheric delay (ZTD), is particularly important in GNSS data processing. The two types of ZTD models, those that require and do not require meteorological parameters, are the most commonly used models, whether the non-difference or double-difference mode is applied. To improve the accuracy of prior tropospheric information, the Vienna Mapping Functions (VMFs) data server provides a gridded set of global tropospheric products based on the ray-tracing technique using Numerical Weather Models (NWMs). Note that two types of gridded tropospheric products are provided: the VMF3_OP for the post-processing applications and the VMF3_FC for real-time applications. To explore the accuracy and adaptability of these two grid products, a comprehensive analysis and discussion were conducted in this study using the ZTD data from 255 stations of the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) as references. The numerical results indicate that both VMF3_FC and VMF3_OP exhibit high accuracy, with RMSE/Bias values of 17.53/2.25 mm and 14.62/2.67 mm, respectively. Both products displayed a temporal trend, with larger RMSE values occurring in summer and smaller values in winter, along with a spatial trend of higher values in the southeast of China and lower values in the northwest of China. Additionally, VMF3_OP demonstrated superior performance to VMF3_FC, with smaller RMSE values for each month and each hour. For the RMSE difference between these two products, 108 stations had a difference of more than 3 mm, and the number of stations with a difference exceeding 1 mm reached 217. Moreover, the difference was more significant in the southeast than in the northwest. This study contributes to the understanding of the differences between the two precision products, aiding in the selection of suitable ZTD products based on specific requirements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GNSS Meteorology: Algorithm, Modelling, Assessment and Application)

13 pages, 561 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Carbon Sink Capacity in Coal Mining Areas: A Case Study from Taiyuan City, China

by Fan Chen, Yang Liu, Jinkai Guo, He Bai, Zhitao Wu, Yang Liu and Ruijin Li

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 765; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070765 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 158

Abstract

Climate warming and air pollution are atmospheric environmental problems that have aroused broad concern worldwide. Greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of global warming. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, increasing carbon sink capacity and improving environmental quality are essential for building [...] Read more.

Climate warming and air pollution are atmospheric environmental problems that have aroused broad concern worldwide. Greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of global warming. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, increasing carbon sink capacity and improving environmental quality are essential for building green and low-carbon enterprises under carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. Currently, the research on the methods and application of carbon sink capacity assessment in coal mining enterprises is limited. Given this, this study estimated the carbon absorption, carbon storage, and net ecosystem productivity of a typical coal mining area in Taiyuan City, China, and compared the characteristics and applicability of the three methods. The results showed the following: (1) The total carbon absorption (carbon sink) of the mining area in 2021 was 117.39 t, the primary source of which is forest land. (2) The total carbon storage in the mining area in 2021 was 29,561.96 t. From different land use types, the carbon storage in the mining area mainly came from forest land (27,867.73 t); from the perspective of carbon pool, soil carbon storage (21,970.96 t) had the most significant contribution to the carbon storage of mining areas. (3) The net ecosystem productivity of the mining area in 2021 was 781.97 g/(m²·a), indicating that the ecosystem of the mining area was a carbon sink. (4) The three estimation methods differed in the current case. The estimation method for carbon absorption is the simplest, and the results are the most intuitive. The estimation method for net ecosystem productivity is the most complex. The carbon sink estimation via carbon storage needs to collect two years of data. Enterprises should assess the carbon sink capacity of mining areas based on existing conditions and data. This study proposes methods for estimating carbon sink capacity in mining areas, which have positive practical significance for the low-carbon green development of coal mine enterprises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Air Pollution Control and Low-Carbon Development)

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16 pages, 6712 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Conservation Status and Effectiveness of Multi-Type Protected Areas for Carbon Sequestration in the Loess Plateau, China

by Sony Lama, Jingjing Zhang and Xiaofeng Luan

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 764; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070764 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 186

Abstract

Evaluating the conservation effectiveness of multiple types of protected areas (PAs) on carbon sequestration services can enhance the role of PAs in mitigating global warming. Here, we evaluated the conservation status and effectiveness of national parks, nature reserves, forest parks, geo-parks, and scenic [...] Read more.

Evaluating the conservation effectiveness of multiple types of protected areas (PAs) on carbon sequestration services can enhance the role of PAs in mitigating global warming. Here, we evaluated the conservation status and effectiveness of national parks, nature reserves, forest parks, geo-parks, and scenic spots on carbon sequestration within the Loess Plateau throughout 2000–2020. The results show that all existing PA types have good representation and conservation effectiveness on carbon sequestration. Nature reserves are the most representative of carbon sequestration but are the least effective in protecting carbon sequestration and are the only ones that are weekly effective in protecting critical carbon sequestration. The main factors influencing these results are PA size, 2000 precipitation, slope, change rate of evapotranspiration, PA rank, and 2000 evapotranspiration. We suggest upgrading the critical carbon sequestration distribution areas in scenic spots, forest parks and geo-parks to national parks or nature reserves in the future and implementing appropriate protection and restoration measures in low carbon sequestration areas within grassland and wild plant nature reserves to help achieve the goal of carbon neutrality early. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban and Regional Nitrogen Cycle and Risk Management)

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22 pages, 5448 KiB

Open AccessArticle

IMERG in the Canadian Precipitation Analysis (CaPA) System for Winter Applications

by Stéphane Bélair, Pei-Ning Feng, Franck Lespinas, Dikra Khedhaouiria, David Hudak, Daniel Michelson, Catherine Aubry, Florence Beaudry, Marco L. Carrera and Julie M. Thériault

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 763; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070763 - 27 Jun 2024

Viewed by 191

Abstract

Several configurations of the Canadian Precipitation Analysis system (CaPA) currently produce precipitation analyses at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). To improve CaPA’s performance during the winter season, the impact of assimilating the IMERG V06 product (IMERG: Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM—Global Precipitation [...] Read more.

Several configurations of the Canadian Precipitation Analysis system (CaPA) currently produce precipitation analyses at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). To improve CaPA’s performance during the winter season, the impact of assimilating the IMERG V06 product (IMERG: Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM—Global Precipitation Measurement mission) into CaPA is examined in this study. Tests are conducted with CaPA’s 10 km deterministic version, evaluated over Canada and the northern part of the United States (USA). Maps from a case study show that IMERG plays a contradictory role in the production of CaPA’s precipitation analyses for a synoptic-scale winter storm over North America’s eastern coast. While its contribution appears to be physically correct over southern portions of the meteorological system, and early in its intensification phase, IMERG displays unrealistic spatial structures over land later in the system’s life cycle when it is located over northern (colder) areas. Objective evaluation of CaPA’s analyses when IMERG is assimilated without any restrictions shows an overall decrease in precipitation, which has a mixed effect (positive and negative) on the bias indicators. But IMERG’s influence on the Equitable Threat Score (ETS), a measure of CaPA’s analyses accuracy, is clearly negative. Using IMERG’s quality index (QI) to filter out areas where it is less accurate improves CaPA’s objective evaluation, leading to better ETS versus the control experiment in which no IMERG data are assimilated. Several diagnostics provide insight into the nature of IMERG’s contribution to CaPA. For the most successful configuration, with a QI threshold of 0.3, IMERG’s impact is mostly found in the warmer parts of the domain, i.e., in northern US states and in British Columbia. Spatial means of the temporal sums of absolute differences between CaPA’s analyses with and without IMERG indicate that this product also contributes meaningfully over land areas covered by snow, and areas where air temperature is below −2 °C (where precipitation is assumed to be in solid phase). Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Atmospheric Techniques, Instruments, and Modeling)

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17 pages, 492 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Chinese Residents’ Perceptions of Air Pollution Affect Their Evaluation of Central Government Performance? The Moderating Role of Environmental Knowledge

by Yifei Shen, Chuntian Lu and Meng Liu

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 762; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070762 - 26 Jun 2024

Viewed by 180

Abstract

In China, winning the battle for blue skies is a focal point of the central government’s environmental governance efforts. Public evaluations provide validity and legitimacy to the Chinese government’s top-level design for environmental governance. This study utilizes data from two waves of the [...] Read more.

In China, winning the battle for blue skies is a focal point of the central government’s environmental governance efforts. Public evaluations provide validity and legitimacy to the Chinese government’s top-level design for environmental governance. This study utilizes data from two waves of the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) conducted in 2013 and 2021, paired with objective air quality data, to conduct a longitudinal analysis of public evaluation of central government environmental governance in China. Furthermore, it explores the relationships between perceived air pollution, objective air quality, environmental knowledge, and public assessment of central government environmental performance. The findings indicate the following: (1) Over the past decade, there has been a noticeable improvement in air quality in China, leading to a significant enhancement in public perception of the central government’s environmental performance. (2) Subjective perceptions of air pollution have a significant negative impact on evaluations of the central government, whereas objective environmental governance measures do not exhibit significant effects. (3) Environmental knowledge plays a negative moderating role in the relationship between perceived air pollution and public assessment of central government environmental performance; individuals with higher levels of environmental knowledge tend to express greater dissatisfaction with the central government’s environmental performance upon perceiving air pollution. These research findings offer valuable insights for informing the formulation of environmental governance policies by the central government of China and provide lessons for other developing and highly polluting countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicology and Health Effects of Air Pollution)

18 pages, 3515 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deep Learning for Flash Drought Detection: A Case Study in Northeastern Brazil

by Humberto A. Barbosa, Catarina O. Buriti and T. V. Lakshmi Kumar

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 761; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070761 - 26 Jun 2024

Viewed by 183

Abstract

Flash droughts (FDs) pose significant challenges for accurate detection due to their short duration. Conventional drought monitoring methods have difficultly capturing this rapidly intensifying phenomenon accurately. Machine learning models are increasingly useful for detecting droughts after training the models with data. Northeastern Brazil [...] Read more.

Flash droughts (FDs) pose significant challenges for accurate detection due to their short duration. Conventional drought monitoring methods have difficultly capturing this rapidly intensifying phenomenon accurately. Machine learning models are increasingly useful for detecting droughts after training the models with data. Northeastern Brazil (NEB) has been a hot spot for FD events with significant ecological damage in recent years. This research introduces a novel 2D convolutional neural network (CNN) designed to identify spatial FDs in historical simulations based on multiple environmental factors and thresholds as inputs. Our model, trained with hydro-climatic data, provides a probabilistic drought detection map across northeastern Brazil (NEB) in 2012 as its output. Additionally, we examine future changes in FDs using the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) driven by outputs from Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) under the SSP5-8.5 scenario of 2024–2050. Our results demonstrate that the proposed spatial FD-detecting model based on 2D CNN architecture and the methodology for robust learning show promise for regional comprehensive FD monitoring. Finally, considerable spatial variability of FDs across NEB was observed during 2012 and 2024–2050, which was particularly evident in the São Francisco River Basin. This research significantly contributes to advancing our understanding of flash droughts, offering critical insights for informed water resource management and bolstering resilience against the impacts of flash droughts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drought Monitoring, Prediction and Impacts)

18 pages, 2616 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Validation Method on Retrieval of Atmospheric Temperature and Humidity Profile Using a Microwave Sounder

by Qiurui He, Jiaoyang Li, Ruiling Zhang, Junqi Jia and Xiao Guo

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 760; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070760 - 26 Jun 2024

Viewed by 147

Abstract

The commonly used reference atmospheric profiles for the validation of retrieved atmospheric profiles for microwave sounders have bias compared with real atmospheric profile values, which is detrimental to the validation of the retrieval. Microwave sounder observations are the direct measurements of microwave radiation [...] Read more.

The commonly used reference atmospheric profiles for the validation of retrieved atmospheric profiles for microwave sounders have bias compared with real atmospheric profile values, which is detrimental to the validation of the retrieval. Microwave sounder observations are the direct measurements of microwave radiation in atmospheric conditions and are a true representation of the status of the atmosphere. This paper proposed a validation method for the retrieved atmospheric temperature and atmospheric humidity profiles of the satellite-based microwave sounder using its own in-orbit observations. The validation experiments are performed both for the retrievals of the microwave temperature sounder-II (Xi’an Branch, China Academy of Space Technology, Xi’an, China. MWTS-II) and the microwave humidity and temperature sounder (National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. MWHTS). The validation results show that the retrieved temperature profiles of MWTS-II have higher accuracy compared to the temperature profiles of ERA5 in the atmospheric pressure range of 3–30 hPa, and the accuracy of the rest of the pressure range is comparable between the profiles of ERA5 and the retrieved profiles. And the retrieved temperature profiles of MWHTS have higher accuracy compared to the temperature profiles of ERA5 in the atmospheric pressure level around 50 hPa and lower accuracy in the rest of the pressure levels. In addition, the retrieved humidity profiles of MWHTS have higher accuracy compared to the humidity profiles of ERA5 in the atmospheric pressure range of 350–925 hPa. The proposed validation method for the retrieved atmospheric temperature and atmospheric humidity profiles of MWHTS using its own observations is promising for improving the feasibility and reliability of the validation, and can be a good reference for the application of the satellite in-orbit observations and the optimization of the microwave sounders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Atmospheric Techniques, Instruments, and Modeling)

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11 pages, 510 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Endotoxins in Household Dust in Northern China: Associations with Home Environment Factors and Childhood Asthma and Allergies

by Yuxuan Zhao, Yixin Liu, Lianwang Cui, Jing Hou, Feng Gao, Dan Norback and Yuexia Sun

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 759; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070759 - 26 Jun 2024

Viewed by 164

Abstract

The available information on endotoxin in Chinese households is limited and there is inconsistency regarding its impact on asthma and allergies in children. A case-control study was performed in 324 homes in Tianjin, China. Linear regression analysis was performed to identify the determinants [...] Read more.

The available information on endotoxin in Chinese households is limited and there is inconsistency regarding its impact on asthma and allergies in children. A case-control study was performed in 324 homes in Tianjin, China. Linear regression analysis was performed to identify the determinants of endotoxin concentrations in household dust. Logistic regression models were employed to investigate the associations of endotoxin concentrations with asthma and allergies in children. Endotoxin concentrations were determined from 284 valid dust samples, ranging from 94 to 11,625 EU/g, with a mean concentration of 3638 EU/g. We found a significant positive association between endotoxin concentrations and children’s current asthma. Old houses, ventilation systems without exhaust fans and windows opened infrequently were related to higher concentrations of endotoxins. In conclusion, endotoxin exposure in the home might be a risk factor for current asthma in children. Strategies for controlling endotoxin concentrations such as building maintenance and ventilation improvements are recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicology and Health Effects of Air Pollution)

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23 pages, 3519 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Resolution Modeling of Air Quality in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) Using a New Urban-Scale Inventory

by Sylvain Gnamien, Cathy Liousse, Sekou Keita, Rajesh Kumar and Véronique Yoboué

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 758; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070758 - 25 Jun 2024

Viewed by 167

Abstract

In West African cities, the impacts of the air quality on the health of the population is expected to increase significantly in the near future. For the first time to our knowledge, we conducted a high-resolution modeling study over Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) using [...] Read more.

In West African cities, the impacts of the air quality on the health of the population is expected to increase significantly in the near future. For the first time to our knowledge, we conducted a high-resolution modeling study over Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) using the WRF-Chem model and the simplified GOCART model to simulate carbonaceous aerosols BC and OC, sulfate, dust, sea salt, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀. The simulations were carried out during January and February 2019, a period over which there are databases of observations available. The DACCIWA inventory provided anthropogenic emissions at the regional scale, whereas a new emission inventory has been developed for the city of Abidjan. In 2019, the emissions were 4986.8 Gg for BC, 14,731.4 Gg for OC, and 7751.6 Gg for SO₂. Domestic fires were the primary OC source (7719.5 Gg), while road traffic was the largest BC emitter (2198.8 Gg). Our modeling results generally overestimate urban particle concentrations, despite having a better agreement for those based on the inventory of the city of Abidjan. Modeled concentrations of BC are higher in administrative centers due to road traffic, while OC concentrations are significant in densely populated neighborhoods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Air Quality Modelling)

22 pages, 5339 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Spatial Variability of Air Pollution Using Mobile BC Measurements in a Citizen Science Project: A Case Study in Mechelen

by Martine Van Poppel, Jan Peters, Stijn Vranckx, Jo Van Laer, Jelle Hofman, Bram Vandeninden, Charlotte Vanpoucke and Wouter Lefebvre

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 757; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070757 - 25 Jun 2024

Viewed by 192

Abstract

Mobile monitoring is used as an additional tool to collect air quality data at a high spatial resolution and to complement data from fixed air quality stations. Citizens are interested in contributing to air quality monitoring, and while the availability of low-cost air [...] Read more.

Mobile monitoring is used as an additional tool to collect air quality data at a high spatial resolution and to complement data from fixed air quality stations. Citizens are interested in contributing to air quality monitoring, and while the availability of low-cost air quality sensors can create opportunities to measure the air quality at a high spatial resolution, the data are often of lower quality, and sensors that measure combustion-related aerosols (like black carbon) are not commonly available. Mobile monitoring using a mid-range instrument can fill this gap. We present the results of a mobile BC (black carbon) monitoring campaign performed by citizens in Mechelen as part of a local citizen observatory (CO), Meet Mee Mechelen, initiated as part of the European H2020 project, Ground Truth 2.0. The goal of the study was two-fold: (1) to propose and evaluate a mobile monitoring method (data collection and data processing) to construct pollution maps of BC concentrations and (2) to demonstrate how to organize community-based air quality monitoring to measure both the spatial and temporal variations in air pollution levels. Measurements were taken during peak hours in four campaigns characterized by different meteorological conditions: October–November 2017, February–March 2018, June–July 2018 and September 2018. The results show large spatial and temporal variabilities. Spatial variability is influenced by traffic volume, stop-and-go traffic and also the building environment and the distance of biking paths from road traffic. The four different campaigns show similar spatial patterns, but due to background and meteorological influences, the absolute concentrations differ between seasons. A rescaling method using data from fixed stations in the air quality monitoring network (AQMN) was presented to construct maps representative of longer periods. This paper shows that mobile measurements can be used by CO to assess the spatial variability of air quality in a city. The data can be used to evaluate mobility plans, carry out hot spot detection, evaluate the exposure of cyclists as a function of cycling infrastructure and perform model validation. However, it is important to use high-quality instruments and apply the correct measurement methodology (number of repetitions, season) to obtain meaningful data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Application of Low-Cost Environmental Sensors for the Evaluation of Ambient Air Quality and Related Emission Sources)

14 pages, 2146 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Construction and Application of a Model for Evaluating Tourism Climate Suitability in Terraced Agricultural Cultural Heritage Sites: A Case Study of Longji Terraced Fields in China

by Luyao Hu, Xiaoyu Guo, Pengbo Yan and Xinkai Li

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070756 - 24 Jun 2024

Viewed by 259

Abstract

As one of the globally significant agricultural cultural heritages, Longji Terraced Fields in Longsheng, Guangxi, China, attract numerous tourists. This study aims to describe the weather phenomena and climate change characteristics of Longji Terraced Fields in recent years to reveal their impact on [...] Read more.

As one of the globally significant agricultural cultural heritages, Longji Terraced Fields in Longsheng, Guangxi, China, attract numerous tourists. This study aims to describe the weather phenomena and climate change characteristics of Longji Terraced Fields in recent years to reveal their impact on the tourism economy. Utilizing meteorological station data and considering the actual situation in Longsheng, Guilin, the existing models for evaluating tourism climate comfort are improved. The tourism climate comfort of Longji Terraced Fields from 2002 to 2022 is discussed. The results show that the improved model can better reflect the local situation. The results show that the current Holiday Climate Index and Modified Climate Index for Tourism are not suitable for evaluating the Longji Terraces. Adjustments were made to these indices to account for the high annual precipitation and relative humidity of Longsheng. Combining extensive questionnaire surveys, it was found that the improved evaluation model better reflects tourists’ perceptions of climate comfort. Analysis indicates that when the modified model value is above 70, tourist satisfaction exceeds 80%. The most comfortable tourism periods for the Longji Terraces are August, September, and October, while the least comfortable periods are January, February, and March. This study helps to understand the seasonal variations in tourism climate comfort at Longji Terraced Fields and provides a scientific basis for local tourism industry responses to climate change, thereby increasing tourism revenue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Climatology)

15 pages, 679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Analysis of Intra-Urban Air Pollution Disparities through an Environmental Justice Lens: A Case Study of Philadelphia, PA

by Madeline Scolio, Charlotte Borha, Peleg Kremer and Kabindra M. Shakya

Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 755; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070755 - 24 Jun 2024

Viewed by 277

Abstract

Urban air pollution has been long understood as a critical threat to human health worldwide. Worsening urban air quality can cause increased rates of asthma, respiratory illnesses, and mortality. Air pollution is also an important environmental justice issue as it disproportionately burdens populations [...] Read more.

Urban air pollution has been long understood as a critical threat to human health worldwide. Worsening urban air quality can cause increased rates of asthma, respiratory illnesses, and mortality. Air pollution is also an important environmental justice issue as it disproportionately burdens populations made vulnerable by their socioeconomic and health status. Using spatially continuous fine-scale air quality data for the city of Philadelphia, this study analyzed the relationship between two air pollutants: particulate matter (PM_2.5, black carbon (BC), and three dimensions of vulnerability: social (non-White population), economic (poverty), and health outcomes (asthma prevalence). Spatial autoregressive models outperformed Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression, indicating the importance of considering spatial autocorrelation in air pollution-related environmental-justice modeling efforts. Positive relationships were observed between PM_2.5 concentrations and the socioeconomic variables and asthma prevalence. Percent non-White population was a significant predictor of BC for all models, while percent poverty was shown to not be a significant predictor of BC in the best fitting model. Our findings underscore the presence of distributive environmental injustices, where marginalized communities may bear a disproportionate burden of air pollution within Philadelphia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Air Quality Modelling)

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