scholarly journals Summer ammonia measurements in a densely populated Mediterranean city

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 7557-7575 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pandolfi ◽  
F. Amato ◽  
C. Reche ◽  
A. Alastuey ◽  
R. P. Otjes ◽  
...  

Abstract. Real-time measurements of ambient concentrations of gas-phase ammonia (NH3) were performed in Barcelona (NE Spain) in summer between May and September 2011. Two measurement sites were selected: one in an urban background traffic-influenced area (UB) and the other in the historical city centre (CC). Levels of NH3 were higher at CC (5.6 ± 2.1 μg m−3 or 7.5 ± 2.8 ppbv) compared with UB (2.2 ± 1.0 μg m−3 or 2.9 ± 1.3 ppbv). This difference is attributed to the contribution from non-traffic sources such as waste containers, sewage systems, humans and open markets more dense in the densely populated historical city centre. Under high temperatures in summer these sources had the potential to increase the ambient levels of NH3 well above the urban-background-traffic-influenced UB measurement station. Measurements were used to assess major local emissions, sinks and diurnal evolution of NH3. The measured levels of NH3, especially high in the old city, may contribute to the high mean annual concentrations of secondary sulfate and nitrate measured in Barcelona compared with other cities in Spain affected by high traffic intensity. Ancillary measurements, including PM10, PM2.5, PM1 levels (Particulate Matter with aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 μm, 2.5 μm, and 1 μm), gases and black carbon concentrations and meteorological data, were performed during the measurement campaign. The analysis of specific periods (3 special cases) during the campaign revealed that road traffic was a significant source of NH3. However, its effect was more evident at UB compared with CC where it was masked given the high levels of NH3 from non-traffic sources measured in the old city. The relationship between SO42− daily concentrations and gas-fraction ammonia (NH3/(NH3 + NH4+)) revealed that the gas-to-particle phase partitioning (volatilization or ammonium salts formation) also played an important role in the evolution of NH3 concentration in summer in Barcelona.

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 10381-10424 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pandolfi ◽  
F. Amato ◽  
C. Reche ◽  
A. Alastuey ◽  
R. P. Otjes ◽  
...  

Abstract. Real-time measurements of ambient concentrations of gas-phase ammonia were performed in Barcelona (NE Spain) in summer between May and September 2011. Two measurement sites were selected: one in an urban background traffic-influenced area (UB) and the other in the historical city centre (CC). Levels of ammonia were higher at CC (5.6 ± 2.1 μg m−3 or 7.5 ± 2.8 ppbv) compared with UB (2.2 ± 1.0 μg m−3 or 2.9 ± 1.3 ppbv). This difference is attributed to the contribution from non-traffic sources such as waste containers, sewage systems, humans and open markets more dense in the densely populated historical city centre. Under high temperatures in summer these sources had the potential to increase the ambient levels of ammonia well above the urban-background-traffic-influenced UB measurement station. Measurements were used to assess major local emissions, sinks and diurnal evolution of NH3. The measured levels of NH3, especially high in the old city, may contribute to the high mean annual concentrations of secondary sulfate and nitrate measured in Barcelona compared with other cities in Spain affected by high traffic intensity. Ancillary measurements, including PM10, PM2.5, PM1 levels (Particulate Matter with aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 μm, 2.5 μm, and 1 μm), gases and black carbon concentrations and meteorological data, were performed during the measurement campaign. The analysis of specific periods (3 special cases) during the campaign revealed that road traffic was a significant source of NH3. However, its effect was more evident at UB compared with CC where it was masked given the high levels of NH3 from non-traffic sources measured in the old city. The relationship between SO42− daily concentrations and gas-fraction ammonia (NH3/(NH3+NH4+)) revealed that the gas-to-phase partitioning (volatilization or ammonium salts formation) also played an important role in the evolution of NH3 concentration in summer in Barcelona.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 10219-10236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athina-Cerise Kalogridis ◽  
Stergios Vratolis ◽  
Eleni Liakakou ◽  
Evangelos Gerasopoulos ◽  
Nikolaos Mihalopoulos ◽  
...  

Abstract. The scope of this study was to estimate the contribution of fossil fuel and wood burning combustion to black carbon (BC) and carbon monoxide (CO) during wintertime, in Athens. For that purpose, in situ measurements of equivalent black carbon (eBC) and CO were simultaneously conducted in a suburban and an urban background monitoring site in Athens during the 3 months of winter 2014–2015. For the deconvolution of eBC into eBC emitted from fossil fuel (BCff) and wood burning (BCwb), a method based on the spectral dependency of the absorption of pure black carbon and brown carbon was used. Thereafter, BCwb and BCff estimated fractions were used along with measured CO concentrations in a multiple regression analysis, in order to quantify the contribution of each one of the combustion sources to the ambient CO levels. For a comparative analysis of the results, we additionally estimated the wood burning and fossil fuel contribution to CO, calculated on the basis of their CO ∕ NOx emission ratios. The results indicate that during wintertime BC and CO are mainly emitted by local sources within the Athens Metropolitan Area (AMA). Fossil fuel combustion, mainly from road traffic, is found to be the major contributor to both eBC in PM2.5 and CO ambient concentrations in AMA. However, wintertime wood burning makes a significant contribution to the observed eBC (of about 30 %) and CO concentrations (on average, 11 and 16 % of total CO in the suburban and urban background sites respectively). Both BC and CO from biomass burning (BCwb and COwb, respectively) present a clear diurnal pattern, with the highest concentrations during night-time, supporting the theory of local domestic heating being their main source.


Author(s):  
Wioletta Rogula-Kozłowska ◽  
Patrycja Rogula-Kupiec ◽  
Barbara Mathews ◽  
Krzysztof Klejnowski

Abstract Effects of road traffic on the ambient concentrations of three PM fractions and their main components in a large Upper Silesian city. The study concerns the assessment of the traffic influence on the concentrations of three particulate matter (PM) fractions and their basic components. The PM samples were collected simultaneously at two receptors in Katowice. The measurement sites represented the so-called urban background and traffic points. The contents of the organic and elementary carbon as well as water- -soluble ions were determined in the samples. It has been observed that the traffic (car engines) pollution emissions enrich the submicron and fine PM particles with the elementary carbon at a typical urban background in southern Poland. On the other hand, the influence of the re-suspension of the road and soil dust, caused by traffic, on the concentrations and chemical composition is observed for the coarse PM fraction.


2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 2313-2332 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. A. Lanz ◽  
C. Hueglin ◽  
B. Buchmann ◽  
M. Hill ◽  
R. Locher ◽  
...  

Abstract. Hourly measurements of 13 volatile hydrocarbons (C2–C7) were performed at an urban background site in Zurich (Switzerland) in the years 1993–1994 and again in 2005–2006. For the separation of the volatile organic compounds by gas-chromatography (GC), an identical chromatographic column was used in both campaigns. Changes in hydrocarbon profiles and source strengths were recovered by positive matrix factorization (PMF). Eight and six factors could be related to hydrocarbon sources in 1993–1994 and in 2005–2006, respectively. The modeled source profiles were verified by hydrocarbon profiles reported in the literature. The source strengths were validated by independent measurements, such as inorganic trace gases (NOx, CO, SO2), methane (CH4), oxidized hydrocarbons (OVOCs) and meteorological data (temperature, wind speed etc.). Our analysis suggests that the contribution of most hydrocarbon sources (i.e. road traffic, solvents use and wood burning) decreased by a factor of about two to three between the early 1990s and 2005–2006. On the other hand, hydrocarbon losses from natural gas leakage remained at relatively constant levels (−20%). The estimated emission trends are in line with the results from different receptor-based approaches reported for other European cities. Their differences to national emission inventories are discussed.


2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 907-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. A. Lanz ◽  
B. Buchmann ◽  
C. Hueglin ◽  
R. Locher ◽  
S. Reimann ◽  
...  

Abstract. Hourly measurements of 13 volatile hydrocarbons (C2–C7) were performed at an urban background site in Zurich (Switzerland) in the years 1993–1994 and again in 2005–2006. Changes in hydrocarbon profiles and source strengths were recovered by positive matrix factorization (PMF). Eight and six factors could be related to hydrocarbon sources in 1993–1994 and in 2005–2006, respectively. The modeled source profiles were verified by hydrocarbon profiles reported in the literature. The source strengths were validated by independent measurements, such as inorganic trace gases (NOx, CO, SO2), methane (CH4), oxidized hydrocarbons (OVOCs) and meteorological data (temperature, wind speed etc.). Our analysis suggests that the contribution of most hydrocarbon sources (i.e. road traffic, solvents use, and wood burning) decreased by a factor of about two to three between the early 1990s and 2005–2006. On the other hand, hydrocarbon losses from natural gas leakage remained at relatively constant (−20%) concentration levels. The estimated emission trends are in line with the results from different top-down approaches reported for other European cities. Their discrepancies to national emission inventories are discussed.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Said Munir ◽  
Martin Mayfield ◽  
Daniel Coca

Small-scale spatial variability in NO2 concentrations is analysed with the help of pollution maps. Maps of NO2 estimated by the Airviro dispersion model and land use regression (LUR) model are fused with measured NO2 concentrations from low-cost sensors (LCS), reference sensors and diffusion tubes. In this study, geostatistical universal kriging was employed for fusing (integrating) model estimations with measured NO2 concentrations. The results showed that the data fusion approach was capable of estimating realistic NO2 concentration maps that inherited spatial patterns of the pollutant from the model estimations and adjusted the modelled values using the measured concentrations. Maps produced by the fusion of NO2-LCS with NO2-LUR produced better results, with r-value 0.96 and RMSE 9.09. Data fusion adds value to both measured and estimated concentrations: the measured data are improved by predicting spatiotemporal gaps, whereas the modelled data are improved by constraining them with observed data. Hotspots of NO2 were shown in the city centre, eastern parts of the city towards the motorway (M1) and on some major roads. Air quality standards were exceeded at several locations in Sheffield, where annual mean NO2 levels were higher than 40 µg/m3. Road traffic was considered to be the dominant emission source of NO2 in Sheffield.


2020 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 05006
Author(s):  
Umberto Previti ◽  
Sebastian Brusca ◽  
Antonio Galvagno

Nowadays the automotive market is oriented to the production of hybrid or electric propulsion vehicle equipped with Energy Management System that aims to minimize the consumption of fossil fuel. The EMS, generally, performs a local and not global optimization of energy management due to the impossibility of predicting the user’s energy demand and driving conditions. The aim of this research is to define a driving cycle (speed time) knowing only the starting and the arrival point defined by the driver, considering satellite data and previous experiences. To achieve this goal, the data relating to the energy expenditure of a car (e.g. speed, acceleration, road inclination) will be acquired, using on-board acquisition system, during road sections in the city of Messina. At the same time, the traffic level counterplot and others information provided, for these specific sections, from GPS acquisition software will be collected. On-board and GPS data will be compared and, after considering an adequate number of acquisitions, each value of the traffic level will be associated with a driving cycle obtained by processing the acquired data. After that, the numerical model of a car will be created which will be used to compare the energy demand of two driving cycles. The first one acquired on a section with a random starting and destination point inside the historic city centre of Messina. The second is the one assigned, for that same section, considering only the value of the traffic level counterplot.


Author(s):  
Roger L. Wayson ◽  
Kenneth Kaliski ◽  
John M. MacDonald ◽  
Erik M. Salomons ◽  
Darlene D. Reiter

The estimation of absolute road traffic noise levels without including the effects of meteorology is thought to be a major source of error in the estimation process commonly used in the United States. In response, the Transportation Research Board-sponsored NCHRP 25-52, Meteorological Effects on Roadway Noise, to collect highway noise data under different meteorological conditions, document the meteorological effects on roadway noise propagation under different atmospheric conditions, develop best practices, and provide guidance on how to (a) quantify meteorological effects on roadway noise propagation and (b) explain those effects to the public. The completed project involved collecting and analyzing 35,000 min of sound and meteorological data at 16 barrier and no-barrier measurement positions adjacent to Interstate 17 in Phoenix, Arizona. This report provides information on the data collection and the modeling recommendations. The database assembled is thought to be among the best available in the United States to permit analysis of meteorological effects on roadway noise. The study recommendations will advance the methodology for estimating the meteorological effects on roadway noise in the United States.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 837
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Nocoń ◽  
Wioletta Rogula-Kozłowska ◽  
Grzegorz Majewski ◽  
Patrycja Rogula-Kopiec

This paper presents results of the research on soluble inorganic As(III) and As(V) bound to submicron atmospheric particles (PM1) in two Polish urban background sites (Zabrze and Warsaw). The purpose of the research was to give some insight on the susceptibility to leaching of PM1-bound arsenic species from easily water-soluble compounds, i.e., considered potentially bioavailable based on its daily and seasonal changes. Quantitative analysis for 120 PM1 samples (collected from 24 June 2014 to 8 March 2015) was performed by using a high-performance liquid chromatography in combination with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The mean seasonal concentrations of dominant soluble As specie—As(V)—ranged from 0.27 ng/m3 in the summer season in Warsaw to 2.41 ng/m3 in the winter season in Zabrze. Its mean mass shares in total As were 44% in Warsaw and 75% in Zabrze in the winter and 18% and 48%, respectively, in the summer. Obtained results indicated fossil fuel combustion as the main source of PM1-bound As(V) and road traffic emission as its minor sources. In opposite to As(V), soluble As(III) was not clearly seasonally variable. In both seasons, its mean concentrations were higher in Zabrze than in Warsaw. As(III) concentrations were not preferentially shaped by an exact emission from road traffic in both cities.


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