scholarly journals Quantifying the Impact of the Covid-19 Lockdown Measures on Nitrogen Dioxide Levels throughout Europe

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Sverre Solberg ◽  
Sam-Erik Walker ◽  
Philipp Schneider ◽  
Cristina Guerreiro

In this paper, the effect of the lockdown measures on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Europe is analysed by a statistical model approach based on a generalised additive model (GAM). The GAM is designed to find relationships between various meteorological parameters and temporal metrics (day of week, season, etc.) on the one hand and the level of pollutants on the other. The model is first trained on measurement data from almost 2000 monitoring stations during 2015–2019 and then applied to the same stations in 2020, providing predictions of expected concentrations in the absence of a lockdown. The difference between the modelled levels and the actual measurements from 2020 is used to calculate the impact of the lockdown measures adjusted for confounding effects, such as meteorology and temporal trends. The study is focused on April 2020, the month with the strongest reductions in NO2, as well as on the gradual recovery until the end of July. Significant differences between the countries are identified, with the largest NO2 reductions in Spain, France, Italy, Great Britain and Portugal and the smallest in eastern countries (Poland and Hungary). The model is found to perform best for urban and suburban sites. A comparison between the found relative changes in urban surface NO2 data during the lockdown and the corresponding changes in tropospheric vertical NO2 column density as observed by the TROPOMI instrument on Sentinel-5P revealed good agreement despite substantial differences in the observing method.

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 4729-4774
Author(s):  
M. Inoue ◽  
I. Morino ◽  
O. Uchino ◽  
Y. Miyamoto ◽  
T. Saeki ◽  
...  

Abstract. Column-averaged dry-air mole fractions of methane (XCH4), retrieved from Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) Short-Wavelength InfraRed (SWIR) spectra, were validated by using aircraft measurement data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US Department of Energy (DOE), the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), the HIAPER Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) program, and the GOSAT validation aircraft observation campaign over Japan. In the calculation of XCH4 from aircraft measurements (aircraft-based XCH4), other satellite data were used for the CH4 profiles above the tropopause. We proposed a data-screening scheme for aircraft-based XCH4 for reliable validation of GOSAT XCH4. Further, we examined the impact of GOSAT SWIR column averaging kernels (CAK) on the aircraft-based XCH4 calculation and found that the difference between aircraft-based XCH4 with and without the application of the GOSAT CAK was less than ±9 ppb at maximum, with an average difference of −0.5 ppb. We compared GOSAT XCH4 Ver. 02.00 data retrieved within ±2° or ±5° latitude/longitude boxes centered at each aircraft measurement site with aircraft-based XCH4 measured on a GOSAT overpass day. In general, GOSAT XCH4 was in good agreement with aircraft-based XCH4. However, over land, the GOSAT data showed a positive bias of 1.5 ppb (2.0 ppb) with a standard deviation of 14.9 ppb (16.0 ppb) within the ±2° (±5°) boxes, and over ocean, the average bias was 4.1 ppb (6.5 ppb) with a standard deviation of 9.4 ppb (8.8 ppb) within the ±2° (±5°) boxes. In addition, we obtained similar results when we used an aircraft-based XCH4 time series obtained by curve fitting with temporal interpolation for comparison with GOSAT data.


2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (01) ◽  
pp. 46-81
Author(s):  
Melita Ulbl ◽  
Miroslav Verbič ◽  
Anka Lisec ◽  
Marko Pahor

The present paper discusses the heterogeneity of the apartment market. For this purpose, we have developed the model for the mass valuation of apartments in the Republic of Slovenia. The construction of the mass valuation model is based on the generalised additive model approach. In this paper, the development of the model is presented. In the experimental part, the analysis of the results of the two models is performed. The dependent variable (the price of an apartment) is distributed according to the Gaussian and the gamma distributions. Particular attention has been paid to the impact of the transaction time on the apartments’ transaction value. The results of the model are also compared with the results of the mass valuation model in the Republic of Slovenia, which is carried out cyclically and iteratively, the results of which depend on the results (and mass valuation models) of previous cycles.


2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 2987-3005 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Inoue ◽  
I. Morino ◽  
O. Uchino ◽  
Y. Miyamoto ◽  
T. Saeki ◽  
...  

Abstract. Column-averaged dry-air mole fractions of methane (XCH4), retrieved from Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) spectra, were validated by using aircraft measurement data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US Department of Energy (DOE), the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), the HIAPER Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) program, and the GOSAT validation aircraft observation campaign over Japan. In the calculation of XCH4 from aircraft measurements (aircraft-based XCH4), other satellite data were used for the CH4 profiles above the tropopause. We proposed a data-screening scheme for aircraft-based XCH4 for reliable validation of GOSAT XCH4. Further, we examined the impact of GOSAT SWIR column averaging kernels (CAK) on the aircraft-based XCH4 calculation and found that the difference between aircraft-based XCH4 with and without the application of the GOSAT CAK was less than ±9 ppb at maximum, with an average difference of −0.5 ppb. We compared GOSAT XCH4 Ver. 02.00 data retrieved within ±2° or ±5° latitude–longitude boxes centered at each aircraft measurement site with aircraft-based XCH4 measured on a GOSAT overpass day. In general, GOSAT XCH4 was in good agreement with aircraft-based XCH4. However, over land, the GOSAT data showed a positive bias of 1.5 ppb (2.0 ppb) with a standard deviation of 14.9 ppb (16.0 ppb) within the ±2° (±5°) boxes, and over ocean, the average bias was 4.1 ppb (6.5 ppb) with a standard deviation of 9.4 ppb (8.8 ppb) within the ±2° (±5°) boxes. In addition, we obtained similar results when we used an aircraft-based XCH4 time series obtained by curve fitting with temporal interpolation for comparison with GOSAT data.


2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 483-492
Author(s):  
Seonghyeon Baek ◽  
Iljae Lee

The effects of leakage and blockage on the acoustic performance of particle filters have been examined by using one-dimensional acoustic analysis and experimental methods. First, the transfer matrix of a filter system connected to inlet and outlet pipes with conical sections is measured using a two-load method. Then, the transfer matrix of a particle filter only is extracted from the experiments by applying inverse matrices of the conical sections. In the analytical approaches, the one-dimensional acoustic model for the leakage between the filter and the housing is developed. The predicted transmission loss shows a good agreement with the experimental results. Compared to the baseline, the leakage between the filter and housing increases transmission loss at a certain frequency and its harmonics. In addition, the transmission loss for the system with a partially blocked filter is measured. The blockage of the filter also increases the transmission loss at higher frequencies. For the simplicity of experiments to identify the leakage and blockage, the reflection coefficients at the inlet of the filter system have been measured using two different downstream conditions: open pipe and highly absorptive terminations. The experiments show that with highly absorptive terminations, it is easier to see the difference between the baseline and the defects.


2018 ◽  
Vol 141 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeshaswini Emmi ◽  
Andreas Fiolitakis ◽  
Manfred Aigner ◽  
Franklin Genin ◽  
Khawar Syed

A new model approach is presented in this work for including convective wall heat losses in the direct quadrature method of moments (DQMoM) approach, which is used here to solve the transport equation of the one-point, one-time joint thermochemical probability density function (PDF). This is of particular interest in the context of designing industrial combustors, where wall heat losses play a crucial role. In the present work, the novel method is derived for the first time and validated against experimental data for the thermal entrance region of a pipe. The impact of varying model-specific boundary conditions is analyzed. It is then used to simulate the turbulent reacting flow of a confined methane jet flame. The simulations are carried out using the DLR in-house computational fluid dynamics code THETA. It is found that the DQMoM approach presented here agrees well with the experimental data and ratifies the use of the new convective wall heat losses model.


2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuti Haryati Jasimin ◽  
Hishamuddin Mohd Ali

The development of sustainable buildings continues to gain momentum in Malaysia due to its many benefits. The Kuala Lumpur City Hall stipulated that the construction of every commercial building must meet the requirements of green features with at least ‘GBI Gold’ level or equivalent. With the growing interest in green development, questions were raised on whether there is enhancement to the market value of green-rated properties and vice-versa. As most of the commercial office buildings are used for functions and office spaces by most organisations, they are considered a service oriented entity and can significantly benefit from having sustainability attributes. Hence, green properties are considered to be more marketable and attractive for investment purpose. However, at present, the differences in rental rates in Malaysia between green and non-green commercial office buildings are rather small. The difference is more to supply and demand factors within the specific location rather than green features factor. Therefore, this paper hopes to highlight the possible impact of economics, the environment and social attributes on the value of commercial office building incorporating with the Russian-Doll model. The highlighted sustainable attributes will provide guidance and justification in valuing real estate incorporating sustainability.


Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Englefield ◽  
Candy ◽  
Starling ◽  
McGreevy

Adjustment for spatial and temporal trends using a Generalised Additive Model with Poisson error also failed to detect a significant VF effect. A simulation study used to estimate the power to detect a statistically significant reduction in roadkill rate gave, for median estimates of reduction of 21%, 48%, and 57%, estimates of power of 0.24, 0.78, and 0.91, respectively. Therefore, this study failed to confirm previously reported estimates of reduction in roadkill rates claimed for this VF of 50%–90%, despite having adequate power to do so. However, point estimates obtained for these three species of reductions ranging from 13% to 32% leave open the question of there being a real but modest effect that was below statistical detection limits.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 4437-4437
Author(s):  
German Stemmelin ◽  
Carlos Doti ◽  
Claudia Shanley ◽  
Jose Ceresetto ◽  
Oscar Rabinovich ◽  
...  

Abstract The FLIPI prognosis score for follicular lymphoma (FL) was developed based on cases diagnosed between 1985 and 1992, and treated with different schemes that did not include rituximab (R). In the present study, we report the evolution of all FL treated in a single institution through the last decade and analize whether FLIPI mantains its effectiveness to identify different risk groups within patients treated with the new therapeutic alternatives available. Material and Methods: We identified sixty two patients with diagnosis of grade I-II-IIIa FL. Patients characteristics: median age 57.5 yr (r, 30–80); 36 males; 63% stages III–IV, and 37% with bone marrow infiltration at the time of diagnosis. Thirty eight percent had a low risk by FLIPI, 34% had an intermediate risk and 27.4% had a high risk. In 19 pts (30.6%) the initial decision was “watch and wait” but 82% received a form of treatment at some point. R was used in 36 pts (58%) with some of the following regimes: chemotherapy (chemo) + R and/or R as consolidation therapy and/or R as monotherapy and/or R as maintenance therapy. Of all prescribed treatments (excluding R as monotherapy and/or maintenance treatment), 52.8% were chemo alone, 20.2% chemo + R, 21.3% radiotherapy and 5.6% received a bone marrow transplant. Results: we considered the analysis of overall survival (OS) the most appropiate approach, since most treatments were seeking the control of the FL, and not the complete remission or cure. The follow up median time was 53.2 months ± 34.8 1SD. The 5-yr OS for the 62 pts was 81.8% ± 11.3 CI 95%. The 5-yr OS for those with a low, intermediate and high risk FLIPI was 100% −5, 84.2% ± 21 and 52% ±26.2, respectively. The difference in 5-yr OS was statistically significant between low and high risk, intermediate and high risk, but failed to prove a significant difference between low and intermediate risk. Among the different risk factors tested in a univariate analysis only age ≥ < 60 yr old demonstrated a significant difference, 60.7% vs 90%, respectively. Conclusions: The 5-yr OS in our series is higher than the one described in the original FLIPI study (Blood2004; 104:1258–65) which was 81.8% vs 71% for the whole group; 90% vs 78.1% for pts <60 yr old; 60.7% vs 57.7% for ≥ 60 yr old; 100% vs 90.6% for low FLIPI and 84.2% vs 77.6% for intermediate FLIPI. The only group that failed to prove an improvement was the high risk FLIPI with 52% vs 52.5%. The impact of novel therapies was more evident in patients with a low or intermediate FLIPI and was even more evident in patients younger than 60 yr old. According to our results, FLIPI maintains its effectiveness in differentiating two risk groups, i.e., low-intermediate vs high. We believe that the OS curves will probably continue to improve as the treatments that are considered today as the most effective ones, were just included in our series in the last three years.


2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 307-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Montagnat ◽  
N. Azuma ◽  
D. Dahl-Jensen ◽  
J. Eichler ◽  
S. Fujita ◽  
...  

Abstract. Fabric (distribution of crystallographic orientations) profile along the full NEEM ice core, Greenland, is presented in this work. Data were measured in the field by an Automatic Ice Texture Analyzer every 10 m, from 33 m down to 2461 m depth. The fabric evolves from a slightly anisotropic fabric at the top, toward a strong single maximum at about 2300 m, which is typical of a deformation pattern mostly driven by uniaxial compression and simple shearing. A sharp increase in the fabric strengthening is observed at the Holocene to Wisconsin climatic transition. A similar strengthening, toward an anisotropic single maximum-type fabric, has been observed in several ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica, and can be attributed to a positive feedback between changes in ice viscosity at the climatic transition, and the impact of a shear component of stress. Centimeter scale abrupt texture (fabric and microstructure) variations are observed in the bottom part of the core. Their positions are in good agreement with the folding hypothesis used for a climatic reconstruction by Dahl-Jensen et al. (2013). Comparison is made to two others ice cores drilled along the same ridge; the GRIP ice core drilled at the summit of the ice sheet, and the NorthGRIP ice core, drilled 325 km to the NNW of the summit along the ridge, and 365 km upstream from NEEM. The fabric profile clearly reflects the increase in shear deformation when moving NW along the ridge from GRIP to NorthGRIP and NEEM. The difference in fabric profiles between NEEM and NorthGRIP also evidences a stronger lateral extension associated with a sharper ridge at NorthGRIP.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Leslie Payne ◽  
Cameron Thomas Langfield

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent introduction of strict government orders to `stay-at-home' has led to a significant decline in most crime types--except, notably, illicit drug detections. However, the impact of these restrictions on open-air, or street-level, drug markets has been neglected in the study of COVID-19. In this paper, we use data from the state of Queensland, Australia, to explore how COVID-19 restrictions may have impacted the open-air drug market of Fortitude Valley in Brisbane. Using a spatiotemporal generalised additive model (GAM), we find that drug detections did not change in the Fortitude Valley region (despite significant increases across the whole state) but that this finding masked considerable reductions in and around the Fortitude Valley train station as well as in the vicinity Brunswick Street mall. It seems that any COVID-19-related decrease appears to have been offset by increases elsewhere, particularly to the streets north and south west of the main street market. These results highlight the limitations of city-wide aggregate analyses of crime during the pandemic and highlights the need for future research, including with qualitative and ethnographic methods to better understand the lived experiences of drug sellers/users and the law enforcement officers who policed these areas.


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