scholarly journals An important fingerprint of wildfires on the European aerosol load

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 2317-2354 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Barnaba ◽  
F. Angelini ◽  
G. Curci ◽  
G. P. Gobbi
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Fine Fraction ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Radiation Budget ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Wildland Fires ◽  
Accumulation Mode ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Wildland fires represent the major source of accumulation mode aerosol (i.e., atmospheric particles with diameters <1 μm). The largest part of these fires occurs in Africa, Asia and South America, but a not negligible fraction also occurs in Eastern Europe and former USSR countries, particularly in the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Apart for exceptional cases as the Russian fires of summer 2010, routine agricultural fires in Eastern Europe and Russia have been recently shown to play a crucial role in the composition of the Arctic atmosphere. However, an evaluation of the impact of these fires over Europe is currently not available. The assessment of the relative contribution of fires to the European aerosol burden is hampered by the complex mixing of natural and anthropogenic particle types over the continent. In this study we use long term (2002–2007) satellite-based fires and aerosol data coupled to atmospheric transport modelling to attempt unravelling the wildfires contribution to the European aerosol optical thickness (AOT). Based on this dataset, we provide evidence that fires-related aerosol emissions play a major role in shaping the AOT yearly cycle at the continental scale. In general, the regions most impacted by wildfires emissions and/or transport are Eastern and Central Europe as well as Scandinavia. Conversely, a minor impact is found in Western Europe and Western Mediterranean. We estimate that in spring 5 to 35% of the European fine fraction AOT (FFAOT, i.e., the AOT due to accumulation mode particles) is attributable to wildland fires. The calculated impact maximizes in April (20–35%) in Eastern and Central Europe as well as in Scandinavia and in the Central Mediterranean. An important contribution of wildfires to FFAOT is also found in summer over most of the continent, particularly in August over Eastern Europe (28%) and the Mediterranean regions, from Turkey (34%) to the Western Mediterranean (25%). This unveiled, fires-related, continent-wide haze is expected to play a not negligible role on the European radiation budget, and possibly, on the European air quality, therefore representing a clear target for mitigation.

scholarly journals An important fingerprint of wildfires on the European aerosol load

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 10487-10501 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Barnaba ◽  
F. Angelini ◽  
G. Curci ◽  
G. P. Gobbi
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Fine Fraction ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Radiation Budget ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Wildland Fires ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Wildland fires represent the major source of fine aerosols, i.e., atmospheric particles with diameters <1 μm. The largest numbers of these fires occur in Africa, Asia and South America, but a not negligible fraction also occurs in Eastern Europe and former USSR countries, particularly in the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Besides the impact of large forest fires, recent studies also highlighted the crucial role played by routine agricultural fires in Eastern Europe and Russia on the Arctic atmosphere. An evaluation of the impact of these fires over Europe is currently not available. The assessment of the relative contribution of fires to the European aerosol burden is hampered by the complex mixing of natural and anthropogenic particle types across the continent. In this study we use long term (2002–2007) satellite-based fires and aerosol data coupled to atmospheric trajectory modelling in the attempt to estimate the wildfires contribution to the European aerosol optical thickness (AOT). Based on this dataset, we provide evidence that fires-related aerosols play a major role in shaping the AOT yearly cycle at the continental scale. In general, the regions most impacted by wildfires emissions and/or transport are Eastern and Central Europe as well as Scandinavia. Conversely, a minor impact is found in Western Europe and in the Western Mediterranean. We estimate that in spring 5 to 35% of the European fine fraction AOT (FFAOT) is attributable to wildland fires. The estimated impact maximizes in April (20–35%) in Eastern and Central Europe as well as in Scandinavia and in the Central Mediterranean. An important contribution of wildfires to the FFAOT is also found in summer over most of the continent, particularly in August over Eastern Europe (28%) and the Mediterranean regions, from Turkey (34%) to the Western Mediterranean (25%). Although preliminary, our results suggest that this fires-related, continent-wide haze plays a not negligible role on the European radiation budget, and possibly, on the European air quality, therefore representing a clear target for mitigation.

scholarly journals Prospects of Croatian initiative “The Baltic – Adriatic – Black Sea”

2017 ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. Samoylovskaya
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Cultural Development ◽  
Southeast Europe ◽  
Geographical Position ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

In January 2015 K. Grabar-Kitarovic was elected as President of Croatia. She identified the integration of Southeast Europe countries into European and Euro-Atlantic institutions and strengthening the cooperation between the countries of Central Europe as a national strategic interest. In her opinion the 12 European member countries of the EU located between the Adriatic, Black and Baltic seas have great potential for regional cooperation in the framework of the EU and the transatlantic community. This potential depends on the geographical position and features of common economic and cultural development. In the presented work is described the evolution of the concept of “the Baltic-Adriatic-Black Sea” and the prospects of its promotion in the countries of Eastern Europe. Special attention is paid to the impact of the initiative on the economic and strategic interests of Russia in Eastern Europe.

scholarly journals Clouds damp the radiative impacts of polar sea ice loss

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2673-2686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramdane Alkama ◽  
Patrick C. Taylor ◽  
Lorea Garcia-San Martin ◽  
Herve Douville ◽  
Gregory Duveiller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Ice ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Surface Radiation ◽  
Radiation Budget ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Surface Radiation Budget ◽  
Cloud Radiative Effect ◽  
Radiative Impact ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Clouds play an important role in the climate system: (1) cooling Earth by reflecting incoming sunlight to space and (2) warming Earth by reducing thermal energy loss to space. Cloud radiative effects are especially important in polar regions and have the potential to significantly alter the impact of sea ice decline on the surface radiation budget. Using CERES (Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System) data and 32 CMIP5 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project) climate models, we quantify the influence of polar clouds on the radiative impact of polar sea ice variability. Our results show that the cloud short-wave cooling effect strongly influences the impact of sea ice variability on the surface radiation budget and does so in a counter-intuitive manner over the polar seas: years with less sea ice and a larger net surface radiative flux show a more negative cloud radiative effect. Our results indicate that 66±2% of this change in the net cloud radiative effect is due to the reduction in surface albedo and that the remaining 34±1 % is due to an increase in cloud cover and optical thickness. The overall cloud radiative damping effect is 56±2 % over the Antarctic and 47±3 % over the Arctic. Thus, present-day cloud properties significantly reduce the net radiative impact of sea ice loss on the Arctic and Antarctic surface radiation budgets. As a result, climate models must accurately represent present-day polar cloud properties in order to capture the surface radiation budget impact of polar sea ice loss and thus the surface albedo feedback.

scholarly journals Overview of the synoptic and pollution situation over Europe during the EUCAARI-LONGREX field campaign

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 19129-19174 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Hamburger ◽  
G. McMeeking ◽  
A. Minikin ◽  
W. Birmili ◽  
M. Dall'Osto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
High Pressure ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Number Concentration ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Free Troposphere ◽  
Field Campaign ◽  
Accumulation Mode ◽  
Continental Scale

Abstract. The European integrated project on Aerosol Cloud Climate and Air Quality Interactions (EUCAARI) focuses on understanding the interactions of climate and air pollution. As part of the EUCAARI intensive observational period, an aircraft field campaign (EUCAARI-LONGREX) was conducted in May 2008. The campaign aimed at studying the distribution and evolution of air mass properties on a continental scale. Airborne aerosol and trace gas measurements were performed aboard the German DLR Falcon 20 and the British FAAM BAe-146 aircraft. This paper outlines the meteorological situation over Europe during May 2008 and the temporal and spatial evolution of predominantly anthropogenic particulate pollution inside the boundary layer and the free troposphere. Time series data of six selected ground stations are used to discuss continuous measurements besides the single flights. The observations encompass total and accumulation mode particle number concentration (0.1–0.8 μm) and black carbon mass concentration as well as several meteorological parameters. Vertical profiles of total aerosol number concentration up to 10 km are compared to vertical profiles probed during previous studies. During the first half of May 2008 an anticyclonic blocking event dominated the weather over Central Europe. It led to increased pollutant concentrations within the centre of the high pressure inside the boundary layer. Due to long-range transport the accumulated pollution was partly advected towards Western and Northern Europe. The measured aerosol number concentrations over Central Europe showed in the boundary layer high values up to 14 000 cm−3 for particles in diameter larger 10 nm and 2300 cm−3 for accumulation mode particles during the high pressure period, whereas the middle free troposphere showed rather low concentrations of particulates. Thus a strong negative gradient of aerosol concentrations between the well mixed boundary layer and the clean middle troposphere occurred.

Neuropsychiatry services in Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe

2020 ◽  
pp. 551-556
Author(s):  
Martín L. Vargas ◽  
Alla Guekht ◽  
Josef Priller
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Historical Perspectives ◽  
Cultural Perspectives ◽  
Standards Of Practice ◽  
French School ◽  
American Tradition ◽  
Anglo American ◽  
Post War ◽  
The Impact

In order to promote international homogeneity of neuropsychiatric services and standards of practice, one must consider local historical perspectives. This chapter focuses on the variety of historical perspectives on neuropsychiatry between countries in Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe, focusing first on Central Europe, from its initial understanding with Hippocrates, through the inter- to post-war disciplinary fracture of neurology and psychiatry, to the eventual influence of the Anglo-American tradition in the latter half of the twentieth century that saw the fracture mended. Further connections between different cultural perspectives on neuropsychiatry are explored, such as the German tradition’s influence on neuropsychiatry in Franco’s Spain, and the impact of Pinel and Charcot’s nineteenth-century advances in the French school on Europe as a whole. Given the advance of globalization, an international paradigm is now needed for neuropsychiatry, which could help define the discipline and incorporate new integrative perspectives such as neurophenomenology and neuropsychoanalysis.

scholarly journals Overview of the synoptic and pollution situation over Europe during the EUCAARI-LONGREX field campaign

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1065-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Hamburger ◽  
G. McMeeking ◽  
A. Minikin ◽  
W. Birmili ◽  
M. Dall'Osto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
High Pressure ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Number Concentration ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Vertical Profiles ◽  
Free Troposphere ◽  
Field Campaign ◽  
Accumulation Mode ◽  
Continental Scale

Abstract. In May 2008 the EUCAARI-LONGREX aircraft field campaign was conducted within the EUCAARI intensive observational period. The campaign aimed at studying the distribution and evolution of air mass properties on a continental scale. Airborne aerosol and trace gas measurements were performed aboard the German DLR Falcon 20 and the British FAAM BAe-146 aircraft. This paper outlines the meteorological situation over Europe during May 2008 and the temporal and spatial evolution of predominantly anthropogenic particulate pollution inside the boundary layer and the free troposphere. Time series data of six selected ground stations are used to discuss continuous measurements besides the single flights. The observations encompass total and accumulation mode particle number concentration (0.1–0.8 μm) and black carbon mass concentration as well as several meteorological parameters. Vertical profiles of total aerosol number concentration up to 10 km are compared to vertical profiles probed during previous studies. During the first half of May 2008 an anticyclonic blocking event dominated the weather over Central Europe. It led to increased pollutant concentrations within the centre of the high pressure inside the boundary layer. Due to long-range transport the accumulated pollution was partly advected towards Western and Northern Europe. The measured aerosol number concentrations over Central Europe showed in the boundary layer high values up to 14 000 cm−3 for particles in diameter larger 10 nm and 2300 cm−3 for accumulation mode particles during the high pressure period, whereas the middle free troposphere showed rather low concentrations of particulates. Thus a strong negative gradient of aerosol concentrations between the well mixed boundary layer and the clean middle troposphere occurred.

scholarly journals 13-month climatology of the aerosol hygroscopicity at the free tropospheric site Jungfraujoch (3580 m a.s.l.)

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 13573-13608 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Kammermann ◽  
M. Gysel ◽  
E. Weingartner ◽  
U. Baltensperger
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Diameter Growth ◽  
Accumulation Mode ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Early Afternoon ◽  
Synoptic Wind ◽  
Thermally Driven ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Aerosol Hygroscopicity

Abstract. A hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer (HTDMA) was operated at the high-alpine site Jungfraujoch in order to characterize the hygroscopic diameter growth factors of the free tropospheric Aitken and accumulation mode aerosol. More than ~5000 h of valid data were collected for the dry diameters D0=35, 50, 75, 110, 165, and 265 nm during the 13-month measurement period from 1 May 2008 through 31 May 2009. No distinct seasonal variability of the hygroscopic properties was observed. Annual mean hygroscopic diameter growth factors (D/D0) at 90% relative humidity were found to be 1.34, 1.43, and 1.46 for D0=50, 110, and 265 nm, respectively. This size dependence can largely be attributed to the Kelvin effect because corresponding κ~values are virtually independent of size. The mean hygroscopicity of the Aitken and accumulation mode aerosol at the free tropospheric site Jungfraujoch was found to be κ≈0.24 with little variability throughout the year. The impact of Saharan dust events, a frequent phenomenon at the Jungfraujoch, on aerosol hygroscopicity was shown to be negligible for D0<265 nm. Thermally driven injections of planetary boundary layer (PBL) air, particularly observed in the early afternoon of summer days with convective anticyclonic weather conditions, lead to a decrease of aerosol hygroscopicity. However, the effect of PBL influence is not seen in the annual mean hygroscopicity data because the effect is small and those conditions (weather class, season and time of day) with PBL influence are relatively rare. Aerosol hygroscopicity was found to be virtually independent of synoptic wind direction during advective weather situations, i.e. when horizontal motion of the atmosphere dominates over thermally driven convection. This indicates that the hygroscopic behavior of the aerosol observed at the Jungfraujoch can be considered to be representative of the lower free troposphere on at least a regional if not continental scale.

scholarly journals 13-month climatology of the aerosol hygroscopicity at the free tropospheric site Jungfraujoch (3580 m a.s.l.)

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (22) ◽  
pp. 10717-10732 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Kammermann ◽  
M. Gysel ◽  
E. Weingartner ◽  
U. Baltensperger
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Diameter Growth ◽  
Accumulation Mode ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Early Afternoon ◽  
Synoptic Wind ◽  
Thermally Driven ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Aerosol Hygroscopicity

Abstract. A hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer (HTDMA) was operated at the high-alpine site Jungfraujoch in order to characterize the hygroscopic diameter growth factors of the free tropospheric Aitken and accumulation mode aerosol. More than ~5000 h of valid data were collected for the dry diameters D0 = 35, 50, 75, 110, 165, and 265 nm during the 13-month measurement period from 1 May 2008 through 31 May 2009. No distinct seasonal variability of the hygroscopic properties was observed. Annual mean hygroscopic diameter growth factors (D/D0) at 90% relative humidity were found to be 1.34, 1.43, and 1.46 for D0 = 50, 110, and 265 nm, respectively. This size dependence can largely be attributed to the Kelvin effect because corresponding values of the hygroscopicity parameter κ are nearly independent of size. The mean hygroscopicity of the Aitken and accumulation mode aerosol at the free tropospheric site Jungfraujoch was found to be κ≈0.24 with little variability throughout the year. The impact of Saharan dust events, a frequent phenomenon at the Jungfraujoch, on aerosol hygroscopicity was shown to be negligible for D0<265 nm. Thermally driven injections of planetary boundary layer (PBL) air, particularly observed in the early afternoon of summer days with convective anticyclonic weather conditions, lead to a decrease of aerosol hygroscopicity. However, the effect of PBL influence is not seen in the annual mean hygroscopicity data because the effect is small and those conditions (weather class, season and time of day) with PBL influence are relatively rare. Aerosol hygroscopicity was found to be virtually independent of synoptic wind direction during advective weather situations, i.e. when horizontal motion of the atmosphere dominates over thermally driven convection. This indicates that the hygroscopic behavior of the aerosol observed at the Jungfraujoch can be considered representative of the lower free troposphere on at least a regional if not continental scale.

scholarly journals Impact of a Strong Biomass Burning Event on the Radiative Forcing in the Arctic

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Lisok ◽  
Anna Rozwadowska ◽  
Jesper G. Pedersen ◽  
Krzysztof M. Markowicz ◽  
Christoph Ritter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Radiation Budget ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Plane Parallel ◽  
Direct Radiative Forcing ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The aim of the presented study was to investigate the impact on the radiation budget of biomass burning smoke plume transported from Alaska to high Arctic region (Ny-Alesund, Svalbard) in early July 2015. This high aerosol load event is considered exceptional in the last 25 years with mean aerosol optical depth increased by the factor of 10 in comparison to the average summer background values. We utilised in-situ data with hygroscopic growth equations as well as remote sensing measurements as inputs to radiative transfer models with an objective to estimate biases associated with (i) hygroscopicity, (ii) variability of ω profiles and (iii) plane-parallel closure of the modelled atmosphere. A chemical weather model with satellite-derived biomass burning emissions was used to interpret the transport and transformations pathways. Provided MODTRAN simulations resulted in the mean aerosol direct radiative forcing on the level of −78.9 W m−2 and −47.0 W m−2 at the surface and the top of the atmosphere respectively for the mean value of aerosol optical depth equal to 0.64 at 550 nm. It corresponded to the average clear-sky direct radiative forcing of −43.3 W m−2 estimated by radiometers and model simulations. Furthermore, model-derived aerosol direct radiative forcing efficiency reached on average −126 W m−2 / τ550 and −71 W m−2 / τ550 at the surface and at the top of the atmosphere. Estimated heating rate up to 1.8 K day−1 inside the BB plume implied vertical mixing with the turbulent kinetic energy of 0.3 m2 s−2. Ultimately, uncertainty connected with the plane-parallel atmosphere approximation altered results by about 2 W m−2.

scholarly journals Impact of Shrubs on Winter Surface Albedo and Snow Specific Surface Area at a Low Arctic Site: In Situ Measurements and Simulations

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 597-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Belke-Brea ◽  
F. Domine ◽  
M. Barrere ◽  
G. Picard ◽  
L. Arnaud
Keyword(s):  
Specific Surface ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Specific Surface Area ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Surface Albedo ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Radiation Budget ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Low Arctic ◽  
The Impact

AbstractErect shrubs in the Arctic reduce surface albedo when branches protrude above the snow and modify snow properties, in particular specific surface area (SSA). Important consequences are changes in the land surface–atmosphere energy exchange and the increase of snow melting in autumn, possibly inducing reduced soil thermal insulation and in turn permafrost cooling. Near Umiujaq (56.5°N, 76.5°W) in the Canadian low Arctic where dwarf birches (Betula glandulosa) are expanding, spectral albedo (400–1080 nm) under diffuse light and vertical profiles of SSA were measured in November and December 2015 at four sites: three with protruding branches and one with only snow. At the beginning of the snow season (8 November), shrub-induced albedo reductions were found to be wavelength dependent and as high as 55% at 500 nm and 18% at 1000 nm, which, integrated over the measurement range (400–1080 nm), corresponds to 70 W m−2 of additional absorbed energy. The impact of shrubs is not just snow darkening. They also affect snow SSA in multiple ways, by accumulating snow with high SSA during cold windy precipitation and favoring SSA decrease by inducing melting during warm spells. However, the impact on the radiation budget of direct darkening from shrubs likely dominates over the indirect change in SSA. Spectral albedo was simulated with a linear mixing equation (LME), which fitted well with observed spectra. The average root-mean-square error was 0.009. We conclude that LMEs are a suitable tool to parameterize mixed surface albedo in snow and climate models.

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