Real-time source apportionment of local vs regional dust in a semi-arid urban environment of the Eastern Mediterranean Middle East (EMME) region

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Sciare ◽  
Roland Sarda-Estève ◽  
Konstantina Oikonomou ◽  
Elie Bimenyimana ◽  
Michael Pikridas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Desert Dust ◽  
Tail Pipe ◽  
Semi Arid

<p>Major efforts are currently put to reduce drastically PM emissions at the exhaust of the most recent vehicles, however, little is done to mitigate non-tail-pipe emissions and resuspended road dust, in particular. Such traffic-related resuspension of dust may become a major source of PM10 at a time our cars are becoming cleaner. This may be particularly true in (semi-)arid urban environments which are characterized by high deposition rates of desert dust and low rain wash-out rates of roads.</p><p>Near-real-time (10-min time resolution) on-line measurement of selected cations (Na<sup>+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Ca<sup>2+</sup>) in PM10 were performed using a Particle-into-liquid-sampler (PILS) coupled with an Ion Chromatograph (IC). Such high temporal resolution of these species has been rarely reported in literature and to the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that such dense observations are reported in PM10 for urban environment. These measurements were performed during a 3-month transition period between (from wet winter to dry summer) at an urban background site of Nicosia (Cyprus) a central location of the Eastern Mediterranean Middle East (EMME) region.</p><p>The consistency of these measurements was successfully assessed against 24-h integrated filter-based measurements while hypotheses related to the use of Calcium as a tracer of dust particles further verified against trace metal analysis. A comprehensive suite of co-located ancillary data (Aethalometer, Lidar, ACSM, SMPS, OPC) were used to further support the daily/weekly/monthly variability of Calcium concentration in PM10.</p><p>Diurnal variability of dust concentration in PM10 at our background urban site displayed a strong and intense traffic-related source at rush hours together with a maximum observed in the afternoon in phase with the development of the Planetary Boundary Layer and intrusion of desert dust from aloft. Interestingly, this pattern is amplified when moving from wet to dry months and encompassing the Spring dust season.</p><p>The contribution of the two dust sources in PM10 (traffic-related dust resuspension and intrusion of long-range transported desert dust) is provided here for different temporal scales (day, week, month). Estimate of traffic-related (non-)tail-pipe emissions (ie. combustion carbonaceous vs resuspended dust) is also provided here highlighting the dominant role of dust in PM10 emissions from road transport sector.</p>

scholarly journals Three-year ground based measurements of Aerosol Optical Depth over the Eastern Mediterranean: the urban environment of Athens

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 28273-28309
Author(s):  
E. Gerasopoulos ◽  
V. Amiridis ◽  
S. Kazadzis ◽  
P. Kokkalis ◽  
K. Eleftheratos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
North Coast ◽  
Synoptic Situation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
The Balkans

Abstract. Three years (2006–2008) of ground-based observations of the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) in the urban environment of Athens, in the Eastern Mediterranean, are analysed in this work. Measurements were acquired with a Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer at five wavelengths. The daily average AOD at 500 nm is 0.23, and the mean Ångström coefficient calculated between 415 and 867 nm is 1.41. The annual variability of AOD has a spring maximum dominated by coarse dust particles from the Sahara (AOD 0.34–0.42), while the diurnal pattern is typical for urban sites, with AOD steadily increasing throughout the day. Secondary contributors of high aerosol loadings over Athens are identified, namely the Istanbul metropolitan area, the extended areas of biomass burning around the north coast of the Black Sea, power plants spread throughout the Balkans and the industrial area in the Po valley, with average daily AOD in the range of 0.25–0.35. The geographical distribution of the above sources in conjunction with the prevailing synoptic situation and contribution of local sources, lead to mixed types of aerosols over Athens with highly variable contribution of fine and coarse particles to AOD in the range 10%–90%. This is the first long-term, ground based data set available for Athens, and has also been used for the validation of satellite derived AOD by MODIS, showing good agreement on an annual basis, but with an overestimation of satellite AODs in the warm period.

scholarly journals Three-year ground based measurements of aerosol optical depth over the Eastern Mediterranean: the urban environment of Athens

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 2145-2159 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Gerasopoulos ◽  
V. Amiridis ◽  
S. Kazadzis ◽  
P. Kokkalis ◽  
K. Eleftheratos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
North Coast ◽  
Synoptic Situation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
The Balkans ◽  
Local Sources

Abstract. Three years (2006–2008) of ground-based observations of the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) in the urban environment of Athens, in the Eastern Mediterranean, are analysed in this work. Measurements were acquired with a Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer at five wavelengths. The daily average AOD at 500 nm is 0.23, and the mean Ångström coefficient calculated between 415 and 867 nm is 1.41. The annual variability of AOD has a spring maximum dominated by coarse dust particles from the Sahara (AOD 0.34–0.42), while the diurnal pattern is typical for urban sites, with AOD steadily increasing throughout the day. The greatest contribution to the annually averaged AOD, accounting for almost 40%, comes from regional and local sources (namely the Istanbul metropolitan area, the extended areas of biomass burning around the north coast of the Black Sea, power plants spread throughout the Balkans and the industrial area in the Po valley, with average daily AOD in the range of 0.25–0.35). An additional important contribution (23%) is dust from Africa, whereas the rest of Europe contributes another 22%. The geographical distribution of the above sources in conjunction with the prevailing synoptic situation and contribution of local sources, lead to mixed types of aerosols over Athens, with highly variable contribution of fine and coarse particles to AOD in the range 10%–90%. This is the first long-term, ground based data set available for Athens, and it has also been used for the validation of satellite derived AOD by MODIS, showing good agreement on an annual basis, but with an overestimation of satellite AODs in the warm period.

scholarly journals Towards understanding the characteristics of new particle formation in the Eastern Mediterranean

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 9223-9251
Author(s):  
Rima Baalbaki ◽  
Michael Pikridas ◽  
Tuija Jokinen ◽  
Tiia Laurila ◽  
Lubna Dada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Ultrafine Particle ◽  
Particle Formation ◽  
Meteorological Variables ◽  
Mediterranean Country ◽  
New Particle Formation ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Desert Dust

Abstract. To quantify the contribution of new particle formation (NPF) to ultrafine particle number and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) budgets, one has to understand the mechanisms that govern NPF in different environments and its temporal extent. Here, we study NPF in Cyprus, an Eastern Mediterranean country located at the crossroads of three continents and affected by diverse air masses originating from continental, maritime, and desert-dust source areas. We performed 1-year continuous measurements of aerosol particles down to ∼ 1 nm in diameter for the first time in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region. These measurements were complemented with trace gas data, meteorological variables, and retroplume analysis. We show that NPF is a very frequent phenomenon at this site and has higher frequencies of occurrence during spring and autumn. NPF events were both of local and regional origin, and the local events occurred frequently during the month with the lowest NPF frequency. Some NPF events exhibited multiple onsets, while others exhibited apparent particle shrinkage in size. Additionally, NPF events were observed during the nighttime and during episodes of high desert-dust loadings. Particle formation rates and growth rates were comparable to those in urban environments, although our site is a rural one. Meteorological variables and trace gases played a role in explaining the intra-monthly variability of NPF events, but they did not explain why summer months had the least NPF frequency. Similarly, pre-existing aerosol loading did not explain the observed seasonality. The months with the least NPF frequency were associated with higher H2SO4 concentrations but lower NO2 concentrations, which is an indicator of anthropogenic influence. Air masses arriving from the Middle East were not observed during these months, which could suggest that precursor vapors important for nucleation and growth are transported to our site from the Middle East. Further comprehensive measurements of precursor vapors are required to prove this hypothesis.

scholarly journals Limited production of sulfate and nitrate on front-associated dust storm particles moving from desert to distant populated areas in northwestern China

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 14473-14484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Wu ◽  
Daizhou Zhang ◽  
Junji Cao ◽  
Xiao Guo ◽  
Yao Xia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dust Storm ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Tengger Desert ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Desert Dust ◽  
Mineral Particles ◽  
Nitrate Production ◽  
The Tengger Desert

Abstract. Sulfate and nitrate compounds can greatly increase the hygroscopicity of mineral particles in the atmosphere and consequently alter the particles' physical and chemical properties. Their uptake on long-distance-transported Asian dust particles within mainland China has been reported to be substantial in previous studies, but the production was very inefficient in other studies. We compared these two salts in particles collected from a synoptic-scale, mid-latitude, cyclone-induced dust storm plume at the Tengger Desert (38.79° N, 105.38° E) and in particles collected in a postfrontal dust plume at an urban site in Xi'an (34.22° N, 108.87° E) when a front-associated dust storm from the Tengger Desert arrived there approximately 700 km downwind. The results showed that the sulfate concentration was not considerably different at the two sites, while the nitrate concentration was slightly larger at the urban site than that at the desert site. The estimated nitrate production rate was 4–5 ng µg−1 of mineral dust per day, which was much less than that in polluted urban air. The adiabatic process of the dust-loading air was suggested to be the reason for the absence of sulfate formation, and the uptake of background HNO3 was suggested to be the reason for the small nitrate production. According to our investigation of the published literature, the significant sulfate and nitrate in dust-storm-associated samples within the continental atmosphere reported in previous studies cannot be confirmed as actually produced on desert dust particles; the contribution from locally emitted and urban mineral particles or from soil-derived sulfate was likely substantial because the weather conditions in those studies indicated that the collection of the samples was started before dust arrival, or the air from which the samples were collected was a mixture of desert dust and locally emitted mineral particles. These results suggest that the production of nitrate and sulfate on dust particles following cold fronts is likely limited when the particles move from the desert to populated areas within the continent. For an accurate quantification of sulfate and nitrate formed on long-distance-transported desert dust particles at downwind populated areas in eastern China, dust collection efforts are indispensable to minimize any possible influence by locally emitted particles or at least to ensure that the samples are collected after dust arrival.

scholarly journals Source apportionment vs. emission inventories of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) in an urban area of the Middle East: local and global perspectives

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (19) ◽  
pp. 26795-26837 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Salameh ◽  
S. Sauvage ◽  
C. Afif ◽  
A. Borbon ◽  
N. Locoge
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Emission Inventory ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Emission Inventories ◽  
Mobile Source ◽  
Source Profiles ◽  
Gasoline Evaporation

Abstract. We applied the Positive Matrix Factorization model to two large datasets collected during two intensive measurement campaigns (summer 2011 and winter 2012) at a sub-urban site in Beirut, Lebanon, in order to identify NMHC sources and quantify their contribution to ambient levels. Six factors were identified in winter and five factors in summer. PMF-resolved source profiles were consistent with source profiles established by near-field measurements. The major sources were traffic-related emissions (combustion and gasoline evaporation) in winter and in summer accounting for 51 and 74 wt % respectively in agreement with the national emission inventory. The gasoline evaporation related to traffic source had a significant contribution regardless of the season (22 wt % in winter and 30 wt % in summer). The NMHC emissions from road transport are estimated from observations and PMF results, and compared to local and global emission inventories. The national road transport inventory shows lowest emissions than the ones from PMF but with a reasonable difference lower than 50 %. Global inventories show higher discrepancies with lower emissions up to a factor of 10 for the transportation sector. When combining emission inventory to our results, there is a strong evidence that control measures in Lebanon should be targeted on mitigating the NMHC emissions from the traffic-related sources. From a global perspective, an assessment of VOC anthropogenic emission inventories for the Middle East region as a whole seems necessary as these emissions could be much higher than expected at least from the road transport sector. Highlights: – PMF model was applied to identify major NMHC sources and their seasonal variation. – Gasoline evaporation accounts for more than 40 % both in winter and in summer. – NMHC urban emissions are dominated by traffic related sources in both seasons. – Agreement with the emission inventory regarding the relative contribution of the on-road mobile source but disagreement in terms of emission quantities suggesting an underestimation of the inventories.

scholarly journals Source apportionment vs. emission inventories of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) in an urban area of the Middle East: local and global perspectives

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 3595-3607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thérèse Salameh ◽  
Stéphane Sauvage ◽  
Charbel Afif ◽  
Agnès Borbon ◽  
Nadine Locoge
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Emission Inventory ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Urban Site ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Emission Inventories ◽  
Source Profiles ◽  
Gasoline Evaporation

Abstract. We applied the positive matrix factorization model to two large data sets collected during two intensive measurement campaigns (summer 2011 and winter 2012) at a sub-urban site in Beirut, Lebanon, in order to identify NMHC (non-methane hydrocarbons) sources and quantify their contribution to ambient levels. Six factors were identified in winter and five factors in summer. PMF-resolved source profiles were consistent with source profiles established by near-field measurements. The major sources were traffic-related emissions (combustion and gasoline evaporation) in winter and in summer accounting for 51 and 74 wt %, respectively, in agreement with the national emission inventory. The gasoline evaporation related to traffic source had a significant contribution regardless of the season (22 wt % in winter and 30 wt % in summer). The NMHC emissions from road transport are estimated from observations and PMF results, and compared to local and global emission inventories. The PMF analysis finds reasonable differences on emission rates, of 20–39 % higher than the national road transport inventory. However, global inventories (ACCMIP, EDGAR, MACCity) underestimate the emissions up to a factor of 10 for the transportation sector. When combining emission inventory to our results, there is strong evidence that control measures in Lebanon should be targeted on mitigating the NMHC emissions from the traffic-related sources. From a global perspective, an assessment of VOC (volatile organic compounds) anthropogenic emission inventories for the Middle East region as a whole seems necessary as these emissions could be much higher than expected at least from the road transport sector.

PHYTOMONITORING AS A METOD OF THE ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR POLLUTION BY URBAN ENVIRONMENT BY FINE DUST

2019 ◽  
pp. 42-53
Author(s):  
Irina Glinyanova ◽  
Valery Azarov ◽  
Valery Fomichev
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Prunus Armeniaca ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Fine Dust ◽  
Control Zone ◽  
Atmospheric Air ◽  
Random Functions ◽  
The City

Fine dust: (PM2.5, PM10) is a priority pollutant that contributes to the development of numerous dis-eases in urban areas. The purpose of this scientific work is to study the dispersed composition of dust parti-cles on the leaves of apricot trees (Prúnus armeníaca) in the residential zone of Volgograd. The novelty of the work lies in the study of the dispersed composition of dust particles on the leaves of apricot trees (Prúnus armeníaca) in the residential zone in the city of Volgograd near the construction industry enterprise, me-chanical engineering, leather production and railway transport line in comparison with the conditionally clean (control) zone of the SNT “Orocenets” ”(Sovetsky District, Volgograd) from the standpoint of random functions expressed by integral distribution curves of the mass of particles over their equivalent diameters. As a result of the research, the dispersed composition of dust on the leaves of apricot trees (Prúnus ar-meníaca) in the residential area of Volgograd was revealed. Fine particles were found: PM2.5, PM10 in each of the studied points, which by their values, both in their number and mass fraction, significantly exceed the data on fine dust in a conditionally clean area (control) in the SNT “Oroshanets” (Sovetsky district Volgo-grad), which creates certain environmental risks for local residents. The dispersed analysis of particles from the standpoint of random functions in the future will allow with a sufficiently high degree of accuracy to pre-dict the dust content of urban atmospheric air in the range of monthly and / or seasonal average values compared to the traditional measurement of fine dust concentration in atmospheric air of the urban environ-ment as the maximum single or daily average. At the same time, further studies of dust on the leaves of plants in an urban environment, namely, the study of the density of its sedimentation, will also reveal a group of ur-ban plants that are best suited to retain PM2.5 and PM10 on leaf plates in this region, which can significantly increase the quality of the atmospheric air of the urban environment and be of a recommendatory nature for the state-owned landscaping services of the city of Volgograd when improving the green areas of a megacity.

Historicising the Left in the Middle East: On Agency, Archives and Anti-capitalism

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 230-240
Author(s):  
Sara Salem
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Global Capitalism ◽  
Valuable Contribution ◽  
Nationalist Movements ◽  
Critical Questions ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThis article is a review of Ilham Khuri-Makdisi’s bookThe Eastern Mediterranean and the Making of Global Capitalism, 1860–1914. I argue that this book is a valuable contribution to historiographies of the Left in the Middle East, a field that remains under-represented given the importance of labour to the nationalist movements as well as broader worker-activism in the region throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. I review the main debates of the book, and raise critical questions about aspects that could have been probed further, among them the questions of imperialism and race in contexts such as Egypt and Lebanon, and the relationship(s) between workers and the radical intellectuals discussed throughout the book.

scholarly journals Modeling the radiative effects of desert dust on weather and regional climate

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 5489-5504 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Spyrou ◽  
G. Kallos ◽  
C. Mitsakou ◽  
P. Athanasiadis ◽  
C. Kalogeri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiative Transfer ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Limited Area ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Radiative Effects ◽  
Desert Dust

Abstract. Mineral dust aerosols exert a significant effect on both solar and terrestrial radiation. By absorbing and scattering, the solar radiation aerosols reduce the amount of energy reaching the surface. In addition, aerosols enhance the greenhouse effect by absorbing and emitting outgoing longwave radiation. Desert dust forcing exhibits large regional and temporal variability due to its short lifetime and diverse optical properties, further complicating the quantification of the direct radiative effect (DRE). The complexity of the links and feedbacks of dust on radiative transfer indicate the need for an integrated approach in order to examine these impacts. In order to examine these feedbacks, the SKIRON limited area model has been upgraded to include the RRTMG (Rapid Radiative Transfer Model – GCM) radiative transfer model that takes into consideration the aerosol radiative effects. It was run for a 6 year period. Two sets of simulations were performed, one without the effects of dust and the other including the radiative feedback. The results were first evaluated using aerosol optical depth data to examine the capabilities of the system in describing the desert dust cycle. Then the aerosol feedback on radiative transfer was quantified and the links between dust and radiation were studied. The study has revealed a strong interaction between dust particles and solar and terrestrial radiation, with several implications on the energy budget of the atmosphere. A profound effect is the increased absorption (in the shortwave and longwave) in the lower troposphere and the induced modification of the atmospheric temperature profile. These feedbacks depend strongly on the spatial distribution of dust and have more profound effects where the number of particles is greater, such as near their source.

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