scholarly journals Long-term trends in air quality in major cities in the UK and India: A view from space

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karn Vohra ◽  
Eloise A. Marais ◽  
Shannen Suckra ◽  
Louisa Kramer ◽  
William J. Bloss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Temporal Consistency ◽  
Ozone Monitoring Instrument ◽  
Beverage Industry ◽  
Household Products ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
The Uk

Abstract. Air quality networks in cities are costly, inconsistent, and only monitor a few pollutants. Space-based instruments provide global coverage spanning more than a decade to determine trends in air quality and address deficiencies in surface networks. Here we target cities in the UK (London and Birmingham) and India (Delhi and Kanpur) and use observations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), ammonia (NH3) from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI), formaldehyde (HCHO) from OMI as a proxy for non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), and aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) for PM2.5. We assess the skill of these products at reproducing monthly variability in surface concentrations of air pollutants where available. We find temporal consistency between column and surface NO2 in cities in the UK and India (R = 0.5–0.7) and NH3 at two of three UK supersites (R = 0.5–0.7), but not between AOD and surface PM2.5 (R  = 0.8) and reproduces significant decline in surface PM2.5 in London (2.7 % a−1) and Birmingham (3.7 % a−1) since 2009. We derive long-term trends in the four cities for 2005–2018 from OMI and MODIS and for 2008–2018 from IASI. Concentrations of all pollutants increase in Delhi, suggesting no air quality improvements there, despite rollout of controls on industrial and transport sectors. Kanpur experiences a significant and substantial (3.1 % a−1) increase in PM2.5. Concentrations of NO2, NH3 and PM2.5 decline in London and Birmingham likely due in large part to emissions controls on vehicles. Trends are significant only for NO2 and PM2.5. Reactive NMVOCs decline in Birmingham, but the trend is not significant, and there is a recent (2012–2018) steep (> 9 % a−1) increase in reactive NMVOCs in London. This may reflect increased contribution of oxygenated VOCs from household products, the food and beverage industry, and domestic wood burning, with implications for formation of ozone in a VOC-limited city.

scholarly journals Long-term trends in air quality in major cities in the UK and India: a view from space

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 6275-6296
Author(s):  
Karn Vohra ◽  
Eloise A. Marais ◽  
Shannen Suckra ◽  
Louisa Kramer ◽  
William J. Bloss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Temporal Consistency ◽  
Ozone Monitoring Instrument ◽  
Modis Aod ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
The Uk

Abstract. Air quality networks in cities can be costly and inconsistent and typically monitor a few pollutants. Space-based instruments provide global coverage spanning more than a decade to determine trends in air quality, augmenting surface networks. Here we target cities in the UK (London and Birmingham) and India (Delhi and Kanpur) and use observations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), ammonia (NH3) from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI), formaldehyde (HCHO) from OMI as a proxy for non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), and aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) for PM2.5. We assess the skill of these products at reproducing monthly variability in surface concentrations of air pollutants where available. We find temporal consistency between column and surface NO2 in cities in the UK and India (R = 0.5–0.7) and NH3 at two of three rural sites in the UK (R = 0.5–0.7) but not between AOD and surface PM2.5 (R < 0.4). MODIS AOD is consistent with AERONET at sites in the UK and India (R ≥ 0.8) and reproduces a significant decline in surface PM2.5 in London (2.7 % a−1) and Birmingham (3.7 % a−1) since 2009. We derive long-term trends in the four cities for 2005–2018 from OMI and MODIS and for 2008–2018 from IASI. Trends of all pollutants are positive in Delhi, suggesting no air quality improvements there, despite the roll-out of controls on industrial and transport sectors. Kanpur, identified by the WHO as the most polluted city in the world in 2018, experiences a significant and substantial (3.1 % a−1) increase in PM2.5. The decline of NO2, NH3, and PM2.5 in London and Birmingham is likely due in large part to emissions controls on vehicles. Trends are significant only for NO2 and PM2.5. Reactive NMVOCs decline in Birmingham, but the trend is not significant. There is a recent (2012–2018) steep (> 9 % a−1) increase in reactive NMVOCs in London. The cause for this rapid increase is uncertain but may reflect the increased contribution of oxygenated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from household products, the food and beverage industry, and domestic wood burning, with implications for the formation of ozone in a VOC-limited city.

11. The United Kingdom: Towards a Parting of the Ways

2020 ◽  
pp. 257-279
Author(s):  
Anand Menon ◽  
Luigi Scazzieri
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Public Opinion ◽  
Institutional Development ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Integration Process ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
History Of ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
The Uk

This chapter examines the history of the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European integration process. The chapter dissects the long-term trends in public opinion and the more contingent, short-term factors that led to the referendum vote to leave the European Union. The UK was a late joiner and therefore unable to shape the early institutional development of the EEC. British political parties and public opinion were always ambiguous about membership and increasingly Eurosceptic from the early 1990s. Yet the UK had a significant impact on the EU’s development, in the development of the single market programme and eastward enlargement. If Brexit goes through, Britain will nevertheless maintain relations with the EU in all policy areas from agriculture to energy and foreign policy. Europeanization will remain a useful theoretical tool to analyse EU–UK relations even if the UK leaves the Union.

Assessment of Nonresearch Industry Payments to Otolaryngologists in 2014 and 2015

2018 ◽  
Vol 158 (6) ◽  
pp. 1028-1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Pathak ◽  
Rance J. T. Fujiwara ◽  
Saral Mehra
Keyword(s):  
Annual Variation ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Large Change ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Open Payments ◽  
Made In

Objective To characterize, describe, and compare nonresearch industry payments made to otolaryngologists in 2014 and 2015. Additionally, to describe industry payment variation within otolaryngology and among other surgical specialties. Study Design Retrospective cross-sectional database analysis. Setting Open Payments Database. Subjects and Methods Nonresearch payments made to US otolaryngologists were characterized and compared by payment amount, nature of payment, sponsor, and census region between 2014 and 2015. Payments in otolaryngology were compared with those in other surgical specialties. Results From 2014 to 2015, there was an increase in the number of compensated otolaryngologists (7903 vs 7946) and in the mean payment per compensated otolaryngologist ($1096 vs $1242), as well as a decrease in the median payment per compensated otolaryngologist ($169 vs $165, P = .274). Approximately 90% of total payments made in both years were attributed to food and beverage. Northeast census region otolaryngologists received the highest median payment in 2014 and 2015. Compared with other surgical specialists, otolaryngologists received the lowest mean payment in 2014 and 2015 and the second-lowest and lowest median payment in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Conclusion The increase in the mean payment and number of compensated otolaryngologists can be explained by normal annual variation, stronger industry-otolaryngologist relationships, or improved reporting; additional years of data and improved public awareness of the Sunshine Act will facilitate determining long-term trends. The large change in disparity between the mean and median from 2014 to 2015 suggests greater payment variation. Otolaryngologists continue to demonstrate limited industry ties when compared with other surgical specialists.

scholarly journals Long-Term Trends of Air Pollution at National Atmospheric Observatory Košetice (ACTRIS, EMEP, GAW)

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 537
Author(s):  
Milan Váňa ◽  
Adéla Holubová Smejkalová ◽  
Jaroslava Svobodová ◽  
Pavel Machálek
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Kendall Test ◽  
Significant Drop ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
International Projects ◽  
Long Term Trends

The National Atmospheric Observatory Košetice operated by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute was established in 1988 as a station specializing in air quality monitoring at the background scale. The observatory is located in the free area outside of the settlement and represents the Czech Republic in various international projects. The objective of the present study is to detect the long-term trends of air quality at the background scale of the Czech Republic. The statistical method used for trend analysis is based on the nonparametric Mann–Kendall test. Generally, the results show that the fundamental drop in emission of basic air pollutants was reflected in the significant decrease in pollution levels. A most significant drop was detected for sulphur. No trend was found for NO2 in 1990–2012, but a visibly decreasing tendency was registered in the last 7 years. A slightly decreasing trend was registered for O3 in the whole period, but a slightly increasing tendency was found after 2006. More importantly, the number of episodes exceeding the target value for human health dropped significantly. The reduction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions was reflected in a statistically significant decrease of concentrations. Only isoprene, which is of natural origin, displays an inverse trend. Concentrations of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) dropped since 2010, but only for EC is the trend statistically significant.

scholarly journals Effects of meteorology and emissions on urban air quality: a quantitative statistical approach to long-term records (1999–2016) in Seoul, South Korea

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 16121-16137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihoon Seo ◽  
Doo-Sun R. Park ◽  
Jin Young Kim ◽  
Daeok Youn ◽  
Yong Bin Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Meteorological Variables ◽  
Urban Air ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Local Emissions

Abstract. Together with emissions of air pollutants and precursors, meteorological conditions play important roles in local air quality through accumulation or ventilation, regional transport, and atmospheric chemistry. In this study, we extensively investigated multi-timescale meteorological effects on the urban air pollution using the long-term measurements data of PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 and meteorological variables over the period of 1999–2016 in Seoul, South Korea. The long-term air quality data were decomposed into trend-free short-term components and long-term trends by the Kolmogorov–Zurbenko filter, and the effects of meteorology and emissions were quantitatively isolated using a multiple linear regression with meteorological variables. In terms of short-term variability, intercorrelations among the pollutants and meteorological variables and composite analysis of synoptic meteorological fields exhibited that the warm and stagnant conditions in the migratory high-pressure system are related to the high PM10 and primary pollutant, while the strong irradiance and low NO2 by high winds at the rear of a cyclone are related to the high O3. In terms of long-term trends, decrease in PM10 (−1.75 µg m−3 yr−1) and increase in O3 (+0.88 ppb yr−1) in Seoul were largely contributed by the meteorology-related trends (−0.94 µg m−3 yr−1 for PM10 and +0.47 ppb yr−1 for O3), which were attributable to the subregional-scale wind speed increase. Comparisons with estimated local emissions and socioeconomic indices like gross domestic product (GDP) growth and fuel consumptions indicate probable influences of the 2008 global economic recession as well as the enforced regulations from the mid-2000s on the emission-related trends of PM10 and other primary pollutants. Change rates of local emissions and the transport term of long-term components calculated by the tracer continuity equation revealed a decrease in contributions of local emissions to the primary pollutants including PM10 and an increase in contributions of local secondary productions to O3. The present results not only reveal an important role of synoptic meteorological conditions on the episodic air pollution events but also give insights into the practical effects of environmental policies and regulations on the long-term air pollution trends. As a complementary approach to the chemical transport modeling, this study will provide a scientific background for developing and improving effective air quality management strategy in Seoul and its metropolitan area.

Human capital challenges in the food and beverage service industry of Canada

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 411-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris Miculan Bradley ◽  
Tony Elenis ◽  
Gary Hoyer ◽  
David Martin ◽  
James Waller
Keyword(s):  
Service Industry ◽  
Food Service ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Beverage Industry ◽  
Industry Collaboration ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Taking Action

Purpose Challenged by a clear shortfall of available employees to be long-term members of the food service industry, this paper aims to establish reasons for the shortage of available employees and curate a number of strategies to improve the situation. Design/methodology/approach This paper draws on the perspectives of many industry stakeholders. These professionals collaborated to identify a number of contributing factors to the shortage of employees in the Canadian food and beverage industry. Corresponding solutions were assessed, prioritized and categorized by groups responsible for taking action. Findings There are many strategies that can be implemented in both the short and long term that can increase the draw for potential employees to join this industry. Practical implications Industry members, educators and government policymakers can all play a role in improving the worker shortage in the food service industry. The recommendations range from industry collaboration to redefinition of jobs and to redistribution of wages. Originality/value The co-authors of this paper include the President and CEO of Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association and educators with strong industry experiences gained in the positions of food and beverage director, restaurant manager and executive chef. Given the diverse experiences of the author team, this paper creates a more holistic view of the recommendations to consider for this industry to see positive change.

Monitoring volcanic SO2 emissions with the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Taylor ◽  
Elisa Carboni ◽  
Tamsin A. Mather ◽  
Roy G. Grainger
Keyword(s):  
Satellite Remote Sensing ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Ozone Monitoring Instrument ◽  
So2 Emissions ◽  
Thermal Anomalies ◽  
Atmospheric Sounding ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Annual Time

&lt;p&gt;Satellite remote sensing has been widely used to make measurements of sulphur dioxide (SO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;) emissions from volcanoes. The Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) is one such instrument that has been used to examine the emissions from large explosive eruptions.&amp;#160; Much less work has been done using IASI to study the emissions from smaller eruptions, non-eruptive degassing or anthropogenic sources, and similarly it is rarely used for examining long term trends in activity.&amp;#160; Now, when there are three IASI instruments in orbit and with over ten years of data, is the perfect opportunity to explore these topics. This study applied a &amp;#8216;fast&amp;#8217; linear retrieval developed for IASI in Oxford, across the globe for a ten-year period. Global annual averages were dominated by the emissions from large eruptions (e.g. Nabro in 2011) but elevated signals could also be identified from smaller volcanic sources and industrial centres, suggesting the technique has promise for detecting lower level emissions. A systematic approach was then taken, rotating the linear retrieval output for each orbit at over 100 volcanoes worldwide, with the wind direction at the volcano&amp;#8217;s vent, or in cases where the plume was emitted at a greater height, using the observed plume direction. This isolates the elevated signal downwind of the volcano. The rotated outputs were then averaged over monthly, annual and multi-annual time periods. Analysis of the upwind and downwind values establishes whether there is an elevated signal and its intensity. An inventory was then constructed from these observations which show how these emissions varied over a ten-year period. Trends in SO&lt;sub&gt;2 &lt;/sub&gt;emission were compared against fluxes generated for the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and the number of thermal anomalies detected by the MODVOLC algorithm developed for MODIS.&amp;#160; It was identified for example, that long term trends are more easily identified at high altitude volcanoes such as Popocatepetl, Sabancaya and Nevado del Ruiz. This is consistent with the idea that the instrument performs better in regions with lower levels of water vapour (e.g. above the boundary layer).&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Ice extent in sub-arctic fjords and coastal areas from 2001 to 2019 analyzed from MODIS imagery

2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (82) ◽  
pp. 210-226
Author(s):  
Megan O'Sadnick ◽  
Chris Petrich ◽  
Camilla Brekke ◽  
Jofrid Skarðhamar
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Degree Days ◽  
Weather Variables ◽  
Modis Imagery ◽  
Moderate Resolution ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Resolution Imaging ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
Arctic Fjords

AbstractResults examining variations in the ice extent along the Norwegian coastline based on the analysis of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images from 2001 to 2019, February through May, are presented. A total of 386 fjords and coastal areas were outlined and grouped into ten regions to assess seasonal and long-term trends in ice extent. In addition, three fjords were examined to investigate how ice extent may vary over short distances (<100 km). Of the 386 outlined, 47 fjords/coastal areas held >5 km2 of ice at least once between 2001 and 2019. Over this span of time, no statistically significant trend in ice extent is found for all ten regions; however, variations between regions and years are evident. Ice extent is assessed through comparison to three weather variables – freezing degree days (FDD), daily new snowfall and daily freshwater supply from rainfall plus snowmelt. Six out of ten regions are significantly positively correlated (p < 0.05) to FDD. In addition, ice in two regions is significantly positively correlated to daily new snowfall, and in one region negatively correlated to rainfall plus snowmelt. The importance of fjord geometry and bathymetry as well as other weather variables including wind is discussed.

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