Evaluation of African Dust Events and Effect on PM10 Concentration in Tunisia

2021 ◽  
pp. 359-365
Author(s):  
Karim Bouchlaghem ◽  
Houda Chtioui ◽  
Mohamed Hichem Gazzah
Keyword(s):  
Pm10 Concentration ◽  
African Dust ◽  
Dust Events

Identification and assessment of intense African dust events and contribution to PM10 concentration in Tunisia

2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Houda Chtioui ◽  
Karim Bouchlaghem ◽  
Mohamed Hichem Gazzah
Keyword(s):  
Pm10 Concentration ◽  
African Dust ◽  
Dust Events

scholarly journals A METAGENOMIC ASSESSMENT OF BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF DUST EVENTS IN SENEGAL

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (03) ◽  
pp. 509-526
Author(s):  
Alioune Marone ◽  
◽  
Malick Mbengue ◽  
Gregory Jenkins ◽  
Demba Ndao Niang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Source Population ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
African Dust ◽  
Hypervariable Regions ◽  
Dust Events

Previous work in the Caribbean and West Africa have shown that air samples taken during dust events contain microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses), including human pathogens that can cause many respiratory diseases. To better understand the potential downstream effect of bacteria dust on human health and public ecosystems, it is important to characterize the source population. In this study, we aimed to explore the bacterial populations of African dust samples collected between 2013-2017. The dust samples were collected using the spatula method, then the hypervariable regions (V3 and V4) of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified using PCR followed byMiSeq Illumina sequencing. Analysis of the sequencing data were performed using MG-RAST. At the phylum level, the proportions of Actinobacteria (22%), Firmicutes (20%), Proteobacteria (19%), and Bacteroidetes (13%) were respectively predominant in all dust samples. At the genus level, Bacillus(16%), Pseudomonas(10%), Nocardiodes and Exiguobacterium (5%) are the most dominated genera in African dust samples collected in this study.The study showed that molecular characterization of dust microbial population remains a very efficient method, also applicable to the search for viruses and fungi in this type of sample. It is important to note that the majority of microorganisms identified in this study can cause respiratory diseases.

scholarly journals Monitoring the contribution of desert dust intrusion to PM10 concentration in Northern Cyprus

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
HY Sulaiman ◽  
S Çakir
Keyword(s):  
Pm10 Concentration ◽  
Hysplit Model ◽  
Desert Dust ◽  
Regional Background ◽  
Northern Cyprus ◽  
Local Soil ◽  
Dust Events ◽  
Standard Limit ◽  
Urban Sites ◽  
Daily Pm10

Air quality in the Mediterranean basin has been affected by PM10 pollution induced by transported desert dust and local emission. The study used PM10 data from Nicosia, Kyrenia, Guzelyurt and Famagusta urban representatives, Kalecik rural background and Alevkayasi regional background. HYSPLIT model and satellite data were used to identify dust days and dust input was quantified using the method suggested by the European Commission. Anthropogenic background contribution of each site was then estimated by subtracting the regional background concentrations. A total of 35 dust days occurred on Cyprus island within the 3-years period; mostly during winter and spring. Daily PM10 concentration on dust days can reach up to 400 μg/m3. After removing dust background, annual PM10 concentrations were 48-58 μg/m3 in Nicosia, 42-47 μg/m3 in Famagusta, 40-50 μg/m3 in Kyrenia, 33-41 μg/m3 in Guzelyurt, 21-28 μg/ m3 in Alevkayasi, and 32-38 μg/m3 in Kalecik. PM10 concentrations were higher during winters in the urban sites. Despite the high frequency of dust events, only a fraction of exceedances of the standard limit in the urban sites were attributable to dust. Anthropogenic background sources contributions were 12.3 μg/m3 in Guzelyurt, 18 μg/m3 in Kyrenia, 18.4 μg/m3 in Famagusta, 27.8 μg/m3 in Nicosia and 9.7 μg/m3 in Kalecik. Effects of other natural sources that the study did not assess, such as sea salt and local soil resuspension, could be the reason for exceedances.

scholarly journals Assessing Heatwaves and Their Association with North African Dust Intrusions in the Algarve (Portugal)

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1090
Author(s):  
Raquel Fernandes ◽  
Marcelo Fragoso
Keyword(s):  
Kendall Test ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Simultaneous Occurrence ◽  
North African ◽  
African Dust ◽  
Pollutant Concentrations ◽  
Excess Heat Factor ◽  
Dust Events ◽  
Height Fields ◽  
Air Pollutant Concentrations

Heatwaves are an extreme meteorological event in which affected populations may also be exposed to deteriorated air quality conditions due to the increase in air pollutant concentrations, such as PM10 (particulate matter < 10 µg/m3). In order to identify heatwaves (1973–2019) in the region of Faro (Algarve) during the hot season (April–September), the Excess Heat Factor (EHF) index was applied. The Mann–Kendall test revealed an upward trend in three heatwave metrics in Faro, and the trend of accumulated heat load (EHF load) was also positive as would be expected, but its signal was not statistically significant. An inventory of North African dust events (2006–2019) was made, and their simultaneous occurrence with heatwaves was assessed, pointing to only 20% of dust events of the Sahara occurring simultaneously with heatwave days. A cluster analysis was conducted on daily geopotential height fields at 850 hPa level over the 2006–2019 period, and four distinct patterns were identified as the most prominent synoptic circulations promoting both heatwave conditions and North African dust over the Algarve.

Metagenomic investigation of African dust events in the Caribbean

2020 ◽  
Vol 367 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Marie Waters ◽  
S K Purdue ◽  
R Armstrong ◽  
Y Detrés
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Southern United States ◽  
Prominent Feature ◽  
Microbial Transport ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
African Dust ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Dust Events

ABSTRACT African dust from the Sahara and Sahel regions of Northern Africa is blown intercontinental distances and is the highest portion of atmospheric dust generated each year. During the Northern Hemisphere summer months (boreal summer), these dust events travel into the Caribbean and southern United States. While viability assays, microscopy and bacterial amplicon analyses have shown that dust-associated microbes may be diverse, the specific microbial taxa that are transported intercontinental distances with these dust events remain poorly characterized. To provide new insights into these issues, five metagenomes of Saharan dust events occurring in the Caribbean, collected in the summer months of 2002 and 2008, were analyzed. The data revealed that similar microbial composition existed between three out of the five of the distinct dust events and that fungi were a prominent feature of the metagenomes compared to other environmental samples. These results have implications for better understanding of microbial transport through the atmosphere and may implicate that the dust-associated microbial load transiting the Atlantic with Saharan dust is similar from year to year.

Atmospheric microbiology in the northern Caribbean during African dust events

Aerobiologia ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 19 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 143-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale W. Griffin ◽  
Christina A. Kellogg ◽  
Virginia H. Garrison ◽  
John T. Lisle ◽  
Timothy C. Borden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African Dust ◽  
Dust Events

A Study on Characteristics of Atmospheric Boundary Layer during Dust Events in Lanzhou, China and their Relation with PM10 Pollution

2010 ◽  
Vol 113-116 ◽  
pp. 372-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Yuan Feng ◽  
Shi Gong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Atmospheric Boundary Layer ◽  
Momentum Flux ◽  
Turbulent Flux ◽  
Layer Structure ◽  
Pm10 Concentration ◽  
Flux Transport ◽  
Strong Inversion ◽  
Dust Events

In order to understand the influence mechanism of dust events on PM10 pollution, the characteristics of atmospheric boundary-layer structure and turbulent flux transport during different kinds of dust events in Lanzhou and their relation with PM10 pollution were analyzed by using the data of PM10 concentration, gradient measurements of meteorological tower and turbulent flux measurements observed at SACOL. As dust events break out, the strong inversion in the boundary layer breaks and a mixing layer develops quickly. With the rise of wind speed, PM10 concentration increases sharply. If there is obvious dust transport from upstream regions, the peak of PM10 concentration can lag behind the peak of wind speed. The vertical transport of momentum flux is very strong. The turbulent momentum downward transport, especially the downward momentum flux of meridional velocity, is the main factor which causes the dust blowing and the heavy PM10 pollution during dust events.

Supporting Weather Forecasters in Predicting and Monitoring Saharan Air Layer Dust Events as They Impact the Greater Caribbean

2018 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arunas P. Kuciauskas ◽  
Peng Xian ◽  
Edward J. Hyer ◽  
Mayra I. Oyola ◽  
James R. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Processing System ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Naval Research ◽  
Atlantic Basin ◽  
Airborne Dust ◽  
Saharan Air Layer ◽  
African Dust ◽  
One Stop ◽  
Dust Events

AbstractDuring the spring and summer months, the greater Caribbean region typically experiences pulses of moderate to heavy episodes of airborne African dust concentrations that originate over the Sahara Desert and propagate westward across the tropical North Atlantic basin. These dust episodes are often contained within the Saharan air layer (SAL), an elevated air mass (between 850–500 hPa) marked by very dry and warm conditions within the lowest levels. During its westward transport, the SAL’s distinct environmental characteristics can persist well into the Gulf of Mexico and southern United States. As a result, the Caribbean population is susceptible to airborne dust levels that often exceed healthy respiratory limits. One of the major responsibilities within the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico (NWS-PR), is preparing the public within their area of responsibility (AOR) for such events. The Naval Research Laboratory Marine Meteorology Division (NRL-MMD) is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support the NWS-PR by providing them with an invaluable “one stop shop” web-based resource (hereafter SAL-WEB) that is designed to monitor these African dust events. SAL-WEB consists of near-real-time output generated from ground-based instruments, satellite-derived imagery, and dust model forecasts, covering the extent of dust from North Africa, westward across the Atlantic basin, and extending into Mexico. The products within SAL-WEB would serve to augment the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS-II) infrastructure currently in operation at the NWS-PR. The goal of this article is to introduce readers to SAL-WEB, along with current and future research underway to provide improvements in African dust prediction capabilities.

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