scholarly journals SAMIRA-SAtellite Based Monitoring Initiative for Regional Air Quality

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2219
Author(s):  
Kerstin Stebel ◽  
Iwona S. Stachlewska ◽  
Anca Nemuc ◽  
Jan Horálek ◽  
Philipp Schneider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Satellite Data ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Urban Background ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Regional Air Quality ◽  
Pm2.5 And Pm10

The satellite based monitoring initiative for regional air quality (SAMIRA) initiative was set up to demonstrate the exploitation of existing satellite data for monitoring regional and urban scale air quality. The project was carried out between May 2016 and December 2019 and focused on aerosol optical depth (AOD), particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). SAMIRA was built around several research tasks: 1. The spinning enhanced visible and infrared imager (SEVIRI) AOD optimal estimation algorithm was improved and geographically extended from Poland to Romania, the Czech Republic and Southern Norway. A near real-time retrieval was implemented and is currently operational. Correlation coefficients of 0.61 and 0.62 were found between SEVIRI AOD and ground-based sun-photometer for Romania and Poland, respectively. 2. A retrieval for ground-level concentrations of PM2.5 was implemented using the SEVIRI AOD in combination with WRF-Chem output. For representative sites a correlation of 0.56 and 0.49 between satellite-based PM2.5 and in situ PM2.5 was found for Poland and the Czech Republic, respectively. 3. An operational algorithm for data fusion was extended to make use of various satellite-based air quality products (NO2, SO2, AOD, PM2.5 and PM10). For the Czech Republic inclusion of satellite data improved mapping of NO2 in rural areas and on an annual basis in urban background areas. It slightly improved mapping of rural and urban background SO2. The use of satellites based AOD or PM2.5 improved mapping results for PM2.5 and PM10. 4. A geostatistical downscaling algorithm for satellite-based air quality products was developed to bridge the gap towards urban-scale applications. Initial testing using synthetic data was followed by applying the algorithm to OMI NO2 data with a direct comparison against high-resolution TROPOMI NO2 as a reference, thus allowing for a quantitative assessment of the algorithm performance and demonstrating significant accuracy improvements after downscaling. We can conclude that SAMIRA demonstrated the added value of using satellite data for regional- and urban-scale air quality monitoring.

scholarly journals The economic conditions for the utilisation of the land fund in the Czech Republic after its accession to the European Union

2012 ◽  
Vol 51 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 452-454
Author(s):  
M. Hrabánková
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Environment Friendly ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Public Benefit

The important part of the increase of regional potential is the farming of the land fund. The economic conditions for its utilisation have been already prepared. They are based especially on the drawing of funds of the European Union, namely for the period after the accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union and for the years 2007–2013. The measures concerning the land are included in the prepared programme documentation, especially in the Horizontal Rural Development Plan (HRDP) and in the Operational Programme “Agriculture”. The farmers will obtain the direct payment per area (SAPS) in addition to supports on foregoing measures. The requirements for environment-friendly farming of land will be increased in the future. The economic conditions for next period will concentrate on these priorities. It will concern the securing of public benefit contributing to the sustainable development of rural areas. The project assurance of these trends and their regional monitoring and evaluation will be important.

scholarly journals Summertime impacts of Eastern Mediterranean megacity emissions on air quality

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 26657-26690 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Im ◽  
M. Kanakidou
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Anthropogenic Emissions ◽  
Urban Agglomerations ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Urban Core ◽  
Local Contribution ◽  
Regional Air Quality ◽  
Inorganic Aerosol

Abstract. Megacities are large urban agglomerations with intensive anthropogenic emissions that have significant impacts on local and regional air quality. In the present mesoscale modeling study, the impacts of anthropogenic emissions from Istanbul and Athens on local and regional air quality in the Eastern Mediterranean are quantified and the responses to hypothetical decentralization scenarios applied to the extended areas of these densely populated regions are evaluated. This study focuses on summertime impacts on air quality. The results show that Athens emissions have larger regional (0.8%) and downwind (2.7% at Finokalia) impacts on O3 than Istanbul emissions that contribute to surface O3 by 0.6% to the domain-mean and 2.1% to the levels at Finokalia. On the opposite, regarding fine particle (PM2.5) levels, Istanbul emissions have larger contribution both inside the megacity itself (75%) and regionally (2.4%) compared to Athens emissions, which have a local contribution of 65% and domain-wide contribution of 0.4%. Biogenic emissions are found to limit the production of secondary inorganic aerosol species due to their impact on oxidant levels. Hypothetical decentralization plans for these urban agglomerations, maintaining the total amount of their anthropogenic emissions constant but homogeneously distributing it over larger "new" extended areas, would result in higher O3 mixing ratios inside the urban core (215% and 26% in Istanbul and Athens, respectively). On the opposite, PM2.5 concentrations would decrease by 67% and 60% in Istanbul and Athens, respectively, whereas they would increase by 10% and 11% in the rural areas of Istanbul and Athens, respectively. Concerning the "new" extended areas, Athens would experience a reduction in O3 mixing ratios by ~2% whereas Istanbul would experience an increase by ~15%. Overall decreases of PM2.5 levels by 32% and 9% are calculated over the Istanbul and Athens "new" extended areas.

scholarly journals Position of seniors in rural areas in relation to the Czech Republic

Kontakt ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 416-423
Author(s):  
Renata Korcová ◽  
Jana Borská
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
The Czech Republic

Evaluating Satellite Capability in Supporting Traditional Air Quality Monitoring for the Finnish Ministry of the Environment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Virta ◽  
Anu-Maija Sundström ◽  
Iolanda Ialongo ◽  
Johanna Tamminen
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Ozone Monitoring Instrument ◽  
Random Measurement Error ◽  
Mining Sites ◽  
Monitoring Instrument

<p>We present the results of two projects completed for the Finnish Ministry of the Environment that assessed the capability of satellites in supporting traditional in situ air quality (AQ) measurements. These projects analysed the correlation of co-located NO<sub>2</sub> measurements from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI, measuring in molec./cm<sup>2</sup>) and traditional air quality stations (measuring in µg/m<sup>3</sup>) in Finland and Europe in 2018 and 2019, and used the results to estimate annual mean ground-level NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in Finland’s 14 different AQ monitoring regions.</p><p>We find that the correlation is dependent on the location of the AQ station, with city stations having a higher correlation than rural background stations. This is expected, as the variability of NO<sub>2</sub> levels in Finnish rural areas is usually within TROPOMI’s random measurement error. We also find that the estimated annual mean regional ground level NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations compare well to the in situ measurements, as the associated uncertainties provide reliable upper estimates for ground level concentrations. These estimates were used to establish that annual NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations were below the EU limit in two AQ monitoring regions with no active ground stations.</p><p>We also analyse TROPOMI’s and the Ozone Monitoring Instrument’s (OMI) ability to study the spatial distribution of NO<sub>2</sub> over Finland using gridded maps. Oversampled TROPOMI measurements are able to distinguish relatively small sources such as roads, airports and refineries, and the difference in concentrations between weekdays and weekends. TROPOMI is also able to detect emissions from different sources of NO<sub>2</sub> such as cities, mining sites and industrial areas. Long time series measurements from OMI show decreasing NO<sub>2</sub> levels over Finland between 2005 and 2018.</p><p>The studies were conducted on behalf of the Finnish Ministry of the Environment, and showcase how satellite measurements can be used to supplement traditional air quality measurements in areas with poor ground station coverage. Launched in 2017, TROPOMI is currently the highest-resolution air quality sensing satellite, and its societal uses are only beginning to be realised. Future Sentinel missions, especially the geosynchronous Sentinel-4, will further extend satellite air quality monitoring capabilities and enable continuous daytime observations in cloud-free conditions.</p>

scholarly journals Human resources development in rural areas of the Czech Republic

2008 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 71-76
Author(s):  
L. Svatošová
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Regional Development ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Human Resources Development ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Demographic Situation ◽  
Regional Development Strategy ◽  
Resources Development

Regional development strategy has to be designed with knowledge of human resources’ development trends. Monitoring of this factor is of concern namely in rural areas where disfavourable demographic situation may occur. Leaving this problem unsolved would constitute depopulation of certain endangered regions. The paper is focused on analysis of human resources’ condition and development granding groups of settlements by size.

scholarly journals Cascade Use of Wood in the Czech Republic

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 681
Author(s):  
Róbert Babuka ◽  
Andrea Sujová ◽  
Václav Kupčák
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Input Data ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Specific Situation ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Wood Volume ◽  
Primary Processing ◽  
Wood Processing ◽  
Input Method

Research Highlights: One of the priorities of the European Commission is to build up an effective circular economy based on recycling and multiple use of materials. Wood biomass is a renewable raw material and can be used several times in a cascading sequence. Each country has a unique situation regarding the availability and utilization of wood sources. Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze wood flow in the Czech Republic using the cascading principle of biomass use. The specific situation in the Czech Republic lies in a lack of valid and reliable input data from official statistics. Therefore, the reverse input method was applied. Materials and Methods: Input data analyses of roundwood sources and foreign trade were based on official statistical data. The calculation of raw wood volume consumption in primary processing was performed based on the data after our own correction and recalculation. It was then possible to build up a basic model of multi-stage cascade wood use. The input volume of roundwood was divided among all types of primary processing production using conversion factors. Results: Cascading use of wood (CUW) showed the level of efficiency of the resource. Official statistical input data and the reversed input data regarding raw wood volume entering wood processing revealed differences at a level of 27%. The overall CUW in the Czech Republic indicates a high rate of wood use in primary processing with low added value and in generating energy. Conclusions: The reverse input method reveals the real situation of wood consumption irrespective of the level of official statistical data. It is suitable to apply in an environment of incomplete or incorrect input data. CUW in Czechia showed an opportunity for increasing the efficiency of wood utilization. The structure of wood use needs to be optimized towards creating greater added value.

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