scholarly journals Heterogeneous Uptake of N2O5 in Sand Dust and Urban Aerosols Observed during the Dry Season in Beijing

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Men Xia ◽  
Weihao Wang ◽  
Zhe Wang ◽  
Jian Gao ◽  
Hong Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Storm Event ◽  
Uptake Coefficient ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Dinitrogen Pentoxide ◽  
Sand Storm ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
First Time ◽  
Aerosol Volume

The uptake of dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) on aerosols affects the nocturnal removal of NOx and particulate nitrate formation in the atmosphere. This study investigates N2O5 uptake processes using field observations from an urban site in Beijing during April–May 2017, a period characterized by dry weather conditions. For the first time, a very large N2O5 uptake rate (k(N2O5) up to ~0.01 s−1) was observed during a sand storm event, and the uptake coefficient (γ(N2O5)) was estimated to be 0.044. The γ(N2O5) in urban air masses was also determined and exhibited moderate correlation (r = 0.68) with aerosol volume to surface ratio (Va/Sa), but little relation to aerosol water, nitrate, and chloride, a finding that contrasts with previous results. Several commonly used parameterizations of γ(N2O5) underestimated the field-derived γ(N2O5). A new parameterization is suggested for dry conditions, which considers the effect of Va/Sa, temperature, and relative humidity.

scholarly journals Reduction of Air Pollution in Poland in Spring 2020 during the Lockdown Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 3784
Author(s):  
Patryk Tadeusz Grzybowski ◽  
Krzysztof Mirosław Markowicz ◽  
Jan Paweł Musiał
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Number Density ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Tropospheric No2 ◽  
Clean Air ◽  
Column Number

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of human well-being including air quality. The present study aims at quantifying this effect by means of ground-level concentrations of NO2, PM2.5, as well as aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements and tropospheric NO2 column number density (NO2 TVCD), during the imposed governmental restrictions in spring 2020. The analyses were performed for both urban and non-built-up areas across the whole of Poland accompanied by Warsaw (urban site) and Strzyzow (a background site). The results revealed that mean PM2.5 concentrations in spring 2020 for urban and non-built-up areas across Poland and for Warsaw were 20%, 23%, 15% lower than the 10-year average, respectively. Analogous mean NO2 concentrations were lower by 20%, 18%, 30% and NO2 TVCD revealed 9%, 4%, 9% reductions in 2020 as compared to 2019. Regarding mean AOD, retrieved from MERRA-2 reanalysis, it was found that for the whole of Poland during spring 2020 the reduction in AOD as compared to the 10-year average was 15%. The contribution of the lockdown within total air pollution reduction is not easily assessable due to anomalous weather conditions in 2020 which resulted in advection of clean air masses identified from MERRA-2 reanalysis and Strzyzow observatory.

scholarly journals Biodiversity of the Fusarium fungi causing root rot of winter cereals in Belarus

2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-127
Author(s):  
N. A. Krupenko* ◽  
S. F. Buga ◽  
A. G. Zhukovskiy ◽  
I. N. Odintsova ◽  
A. A. Zhukovskaya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Wheat Roots ◽  
Winter Cereals ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
The Republic ◽  
First Time ◽  
Fusarium Fungi

Fusarium fungi are the main causal agents of root rot of winter cereals in Belarus. As many as 12 different species were identified, with occurrence being dependent on the cereal host species and weather conditions during the growing season. Lack of precipitation from April to July led to decreasing fungal biodiversity. Fusarium pathogen complex on wheat roots was formed by F. culmorum, F. avenaceum, F. equiseti, F. oxysporum, whereas F. equiseti and F. oxysporum prevailed on triticale and rye, and F. solani, F. avenaceum and F. equiseti dominated on barley root systems. The infestation of root with F. oxysporum increased under dry conditions. In contrast, F. culmorum was isolated from root system of wheat and triticale more frequently when rainfall was sufficient. For the first time, F. cerealis and F. tricinctum were isolated from triticale, and F. cerealis from rye only, in the Republic of Belarus.

Assessment of reproductive capacity of representatives of ancestral complexes and especially their selection of seed in dry conditions

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
А.В. Семенютина ◽  
С.Е. Лазарев ◽  
К.А. Мельник
Keyword(s):  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Reproductive Capacity ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Scientific Center ◽  
Gleditsia Triacanthos ◽  
Biological Potential ◽  
Forest Reclamation ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Generative Phase ◽  
Selection Of

Представители родовых комплексов Robinia (Робиния), Gleditsia (Гледичия) относятся к экономически важным и перспективным, для деградированных ландшафтов засушливого региона, видам растений. Несмотря на это до последнего времени отсутствуют сведения по многим видам этих родовых комплексов, связанные с вопросами экологических основ семеноведения и их репродуктивной способности в условиях светлокаштановых почв Волгоградской области. Все это направлено на выявление и расширение перспективных ареалов культивирования для лесомелиорации и озеленения населенных пунктов. Цель исследований изучение репродуктивной способности представителей родовых комплексов Robinia (Робиния), Gleditsia (Гледичия) в коллекциях ФНЦ агроэкологии РАН и выявление особенностей их селекционного семеноведения для лесомелиорации и озеленения населенных пунктов в сухостепных условиях. Объектами исследований являлись виды и формы рода Robinia: R. viscosa Vent. R. neomexicana Gray. R. pseudoacacia L. R. neomexicana х pseudoacacia, и Gleditsia (G. triacanthos L., G. triacanthos L. f. inermis, G. caspica Desf, G. texana Sarg., G. aquatica, G. japonica, G. caspica, G. sinensis), произрастающие в кластерных участках коллекций ФНЦ агроэкологии РАН, кадастр 34:34:000000:122, 34:34:060061:10. Разработка основ селекционного семеноведения базируется на изучении репродуктивных особенностей выделенных для целевого использования собственных биоресурсов с учетом возможностей всестороннего изучения генеративных качеств и оценки биологического потенциала. Выявлено, что стабильность плодоношения фиксируется через несколько лет после вступления в генеративную фазу: у Robinia и Gleditsia 67 лет. Первое цветение у Gleditsia triacanthos и G. texana, G. aquatica наблюдалось в возрасте 5 лет, G. japonica 6, G. caspica и G. sinensis 8 лет. Завязываемость плодов зависит не только от возраста растения, но и от погодных условий во время цветения. На семенную продуктивность влияет количество выпавших осадков и сумма активных температур в период созревания плодов. Формирование более крупных плодов и семян наблюдается в возрасте до 15 лет. В результате исследований (20172019 гг.) выявлено влияние лимитирующих факторов на биологический потенциал цветения, плодоношения и семенную продуктивность для определения ареалов их культивирования. Representatives of generic systems Robinia, Gleditsia are economically important and promising for degraded arid landscapes of the region, types of plants. Despite this, until recently, there is no information on many types of these generic complexes related to the environmental foundations of seed and their reproductive capacity in light chestnut soils of the Volgograd region. All this is aimed at identifying and expanding promising areas of cultivation for forest reclamation and greening of settlements. The aim of the research is to study the reproductive capacity of representatives of ancestral complexes Robinia, Gleditsia in the collections of the Federal scientific center for Agroecology Russian Academy of Sciences and the identifying features of their selection of seed for forest reclamation and landscaping of settlements in the dry steppe conditions. The objects of research were species and forms of the genus Robinia: R. viscosa Vent. R. neomexicana Gray. R. pseudoacacia L. R. neomexicana x pseudoacacia and Gleditsia (G. triacanthos L., G. triacanthos L. f. inermis, G. caspica Desf, G. texana Sarg., G. aquatica, G. japonica, G. caspica, G. sinensis), growing in the cluster areas of collections of FSC Agroecology RAS, cadastre 34:34:000000:122, 34:34:060061:10. The development of the principles of seed breeding is based on the study of reproductive characteristics of the allocated for the targeted use of their own bioresources, taking into account the possibilities of a comprehensive study of generative qualities and assessment of biological potential. It was found that the stability of fruiting is fixed a few years after entering the generative phase: Robinia and Gleditsia 67 years. The first flowering in Gleditsia triacanthos and G. texana, G. aquatica was observed at the age of 5 years, G. japonica 6, G. caspica and G. sinensis 8 years. Fruit setability depends not only on the age of the plant, but also on weather conditions during flowering. Seed productivity is affected by the amount of precipitation and the amount of active temperatures during the ripening period. The formation of larger fruits and seeds is observed in the age of 15 years. As a result of studies (20172019), the influence of limiting factors on the biological potential of flowering, fruiting and seed production to determine the areas of their cultivation was revealed.

Impact of dust and sand storms on the aviation operation and assessment of conditions for their occurrence at aerodromes in European Russia

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 78-95
Author(s):  
A.R. Ivanova ◽  
◽  
E.N. Skriptunova ◽  
N.I. Komasko ◽  
A.A. Zavialova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
European Russia ◽  
Air Transport ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Dust Transport ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sand Storm ◽  
The Impact

A review of literature on the impact of dust and sand storms on the air transport operation is presented. Observational data on dust storms at the aerodromes of European Russia for the period of 2001-2019 are analyzed. The seasonal variations in dust transport episodes at aerodromes and its relationship with visibility changes are discussed. The characteristics of dusty air masses and advection are given. It is concluded that the frequency of dust transfer episodes for the aerodromes under study has decreased over the past five years, except for Gumrak aerodrome (Volgograd). Keywords: dust storm, sand storm, aviation, visibility, seasonal variations, aerodrome оf European Russia

scholarly journals AnANN Model Trained on Regional Data in the Prediction of Particular Weather Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 4757
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Bączkiewicz ◽  
Jarosław Wątróbski ◽  
Wojciech Sałabun ◽  
Joanna Kołodziejczyk
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Pressure ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Weather Forecasts ◽  
Life Problems ◽  
The World ◽  
The City

Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have proven to be a powerful tool for solving a wide variety of real-life problems. The possibility of using them for forecasting phenomena occurring in nature, especially weather indicators, has been widely discussed. However, the various areas of the world differ in terms of their difficulty and ability in preparing accurate weather forecasts. Poland lies in a zone with a moderate transition climate, which is characterized by seasonality and the inflow of many types of air masses from different directions, which, combined with the compound terrain, causes climate variability and makes it difficult to accurately predict the weather. For this reason, it is necessary to adapt the model to the prediction of weather conditions and verify its effectiveness on real data. The principal aim of this study is to present the use of a regressive model based on a unidirectional multilayer neural network, also called a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), to predict selected weather indicators for the city of Szczecin in Poland. The forecast of the model we implemented was effective in determining the daily parameters at 96% compliance with the actual measurements for the prediction of the minimum and maximum temperature for the next day and 83.27% for the prediction of atmospheric pressure.

scholarly journals Cloud icing by mineral dust and impacts to aviation safety

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Slobodan Nickovic ◽  
Bojan Cvetkovic ◽  
Slavko Petković ◽  
Vassilis Amiridis ◽  
Goran Pejanović ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Dust ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Ice Nucleation ◽  
Aircraft Accidents ◽  
Ice Nuclei ◽  
Loss And Damage ◽  
Cloud Ice ◽  
Convective Weather ◽  
First Time ◽  
Engine Power

AbstractIce particles in high-altitude cold clouds can obstruct aircraft functioning. Over the last 20 years, there have been more than 150 recorded cases with engine power-loss and damage caused by tiny cloud ice crystals, which are difficult to detect with aircraft radars. Herein, we examine two aircraft accidents for which icing linked to convective weather conditions has been officially reported as the most likely reason for catastrophic consequences. We analyze whether desert mineral dust, known to be very efficient ice nuclei and present along both aircraft routes, could further augment the icing process. Using numerical simulations performed by a coupled atmosphere-dust model with an included parameterization for ice nucleation triggered by dust aerosols, we show that the predicted ice particle number sharply increases at approximate locations and times of accidents where desert dust was brought by convective circulation to the upper troposphere. We propose a new icing parameter which, unlike existing icing indices, for the first time includes in its calculation the predicted dust concentration. This study opens up the opportunity to use integrated atmospheric-dust forecasts as warnings for ice formation enhanced by mineral dust presence.

To bee or not to beet with neonicotinoids

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-109
Author(s):  
Lynda M. Warren
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Beet ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Environmental Standards ◽  
Economic Interests ◽  
Precautionary Approach ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Commercial Sugar ◽  
The Uk ◽  
First Time

In January 2021 the UK government granted an application for authorisation to use thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid pesticide, to protect commercial sugar beet crops from attack by viruses transmitted by aphids. This was the first time such an authorisation had been granted in the United Kingdom (UK) and there were concerns that it signalled a weakening of environmental standards now that the UK was no longer part of the European Union. In fact, similar authorisations had been granted by several European Member States in the last 2 years, despite the ban on the use of neonicotinoids introduced in 2018. Nevertheless, the reasons for granting the authorisation do suggest that the balance between adopting a precautionary approach to environmental protection and taking emergency action to protect economic interests may have shifted. It was acknowledged that the proposed mitigation to safeguard bees and other wildlife was not entirely satisfactory. In the end, due to unforeseen weather conditions it meant that the pesticide is not necessary, which in itself demonstrates that short-term emergency measures are unsuitable for dealing with the problem. If the sugar beet industry is to continue to prosper in the UK, it will need to be managed in a way that provides resistance to virus infection without the use of controversial chemicals.

scholarly journals Size distribution, mixing state and source apportionment of black carbon aerosol in London during wintertime

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 10061-10084 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Liu ◽  
J. D. Allan ◽  
D. E. Young ◽  
H. Coe ◽  
D. Beddows ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Coating Thickness ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Core Size ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Aerosol Mass ◽  
Mass Median

Abstract. Black carbon aerosols (BC) at a London urban site were characterised in both winter- and summertime 2012 during the Clean Air for London (ClearfLo) project. Positive matrix factorisation (PMF) factors of organic aerosol mass spectra measured by a high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-AMS) showed traffic-dominant sources in summer but in winter the influence of additional non-traffic sources became more important, mainly from solid fuel sources (SF). Measurements using a single particle soot photometer (SP2, DMT), showed the traffic-dominant BC exhibited an almost uniform BC core size (Dc) distribution with very thin coating thickness throughout the detectable range of Dc. However, the size distribution of Dc (project average mass median Dc = 149 ± 22 nm in winter, and 120 ± 6 nm in summer) and BC coating thickness varied significantly in winter. A novel methodology was developed to attribute the BC number concentrations and mass abundances from traffic (BCtr) and from SF (BCsf), by using a 2-D histogram of the particle optical properties as a function of BC core size, as measured by the SP2. The BCtr and BCsf showed distinctly different Dc distributions and coating thicknesses, with BCsf displaying larger Dc and larger coating thickness compared to BCtr. BC particles from different sources were also apportioned by applying a multiple linear regression between the total BC mass and each AMS-PMF factor (BC–AMS–PMF method), and also attributed by applying the absorption spectral dependence of carbonaceous aerosols to 7-wavelength Aethalometer measurements (Aethalometer method). Air masses that originated from westerly (W), southeasterly (SE), and easterly (E) sectors showed BCsf fractions that ranged from low to high, and whose mass median Dc values were 137 ± 10 nm, 143 ± 11 nm and 169 ± 29 nm, respectively. The corresponding bulk relative coating thickness of BC (coated particle size/BC core – Dp/Dc) for these same sectors was 1.28 ± 0.07, 1.45 ± 0.16 and 1.65 ± 0.19. For W, SE and E air masses, the number fraction of BCsf ranged from 6 ± 2% to 11 ± 5% to 18 ± 10%, respectively, but importantly the larger BC core sizes lead to an increased fraction of BCsf in terms of mass than number (for W, SE and E air masses, the BCsf mass fractions ranged from 16 ± 6%, 24 ± 10% and 39 ± 14%, respectively). An increased fraction of non-BC particles (particles that did not contain a BC core) was also observed when SF sources were more significant. The BC mass attribution by the SP2 method agreed well with the BC–AMS–PMF multiple linear regression method (BC–AMS–PMF : SP2 ratio = 1.05, r2 = 0.80) over the entire experimental period. Good agreement was found between BCsf attributed with the Aethalometer model and the SP2. However, the assumed absorption Ångström exponent (αwb) had to be changed according to the different air mass sectors to yield the best comparison with the SP2. This could be due to influences of fuel type or burn phase.

scholarly journals Increasing surface ozone concentrations in the background atmosphere of Southern China, 1994–2007

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (16) ◽  
pp. 6217-6227 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Wang ◽  
X. L. Wei ◽  
A. J. Ding ◽  
C. N. Poon ◽  
K. S. Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
South China ◽  
Surface Ozone ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Coastal Regions ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Background Ozone ◽  
Rate Of Increase

Abstract. Tropospheric ozone is of great importance with regard to air quality, atmospheric chemistry, and climate change. In this paper we report the first continuous record of surface ozone in the background atmosphere of South China. The data were obtained from 1994 to 2007 at a coastal site in Hong Kong, which is strongly influenced by the outflow of Asian continental air during the winter and the inflow of maritime air from the subtropics in the summer. Three methods are used to derive the rate of change in ozone. A linear fit to the 14-year record shows that the ozone concentration increased by 0.58 ppbv/yr, whereas comparing means in years 1994–2000 and 2001–2007 gives an increase of 0.87 ppbv/yr for a 7-year period. The ozone changes in air masses from various source regions are also examined. Using local wind and carbon monoxide (CO) data to filter out local influence, we find that ozone increased by 0.94 ppbv/yr from 1994–2000 to 2001–2007 in air masses from Eastern China, with similar changes in the other two continent-influenced air-mass groups, but no statistically significant change in the marine air. An examination of the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) column obtained from GOME and SCIAMACHY reveals an increase in atmospheric NO2 in China's three fastest developing coastal regions, whereas NO2 in other parts of Asia decreased during the same period, and no obvious trend over the main shipping routes in the South China Sea was indicated. Thus the observed increase in background ozone in Hong Kong is most likely due to the increased emissions of NO2 (and possibly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well) in the upwind coastal regions of mainland China. The CO data at Hok Tsui showed less definitive changes compared to the satellite NO2 column. The increase in background ozone likely made a strong contribution (81%) to the rate of increase in "total ozone" at an urban site in Hong Kong, suggesting the need to consider distant sources when developing long-term strategies to mitigate local ozone pollution.

scholarly journals Dynamics of the abundance of cuckoo wasps (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae) in the conditions of the altitudinal-belt heterogeneity of the North Caucasus

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 00023
Author(s):  
Nikolay Vinokurov
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
New Species ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Nature Management ◽  
North Caucasus ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Altitudinal Belt ◽  
The North ◽  
Short Period ◽  
First Time

The work provides data on the dynamics of the abundance of 205 taxa from 19 genera: Cleptes, Colpopyga, Elampus, Omalus, Philoctetes, Pseudomalus, Hedychridium, Hedychrum, Holopyga, Chrysidea, Chrysis, Euchroeus, Chrysura, Pseudochrysis, Spinolia, Spinolia, including species rare and new for the fauna of the North Caucasus and Russia. By the nature of the population dynamics, five groups of cuckoo wasps were identified: spring – represented by 7 species from 4 genera; spring-summer – 76 species from 10 genera; summer – 113 species from 16 genera; summer-autumn – 4 species from 2 genera and spring-summer-autumn – 5 species from 3 genus. According to the duration of flight, eurychronous species of cuckoo wasps were identified, which are found throughout the season from spring to autumn; mesochronous – the years of which affect the end of May and summer months and stenochronous – confined to a short period of time. Eurychronic accounted for 2.4%, mesochronous 24.9%, stenochronic 72.7%. The number of generations of cuckoo wasps is related to the dynamics of the number of the host. In the mountains, the peaks of activity shift towards the middle of summer, most species have one peak of activity; due to the frequent changes in weather conditions in the mountains, the phenological characteristics of the cuckoo wasps and their hosts do not coincide in terms with the lowland populations and the periods of activity can be extended in time. Phenological characteristics of rare and new species for the fauna of the North Caucasus and Russia are presented for the first time. The data obtained expand the understanding of the biodiversity and dynamics of the abundance of cuckoo wasps in the North Caucasus and can be used for environmental protection measures and rational nature management in the south of Russia.

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