Fog formation, smog situations and air quality in high school physics education

&#160;It has become a requirement worldwide that physics syllabus should contain everyday knowledge as well. One important field that can make the curriculum more colourful and exciting is the field of meteorology. In our presentation a three-lesson-long curriculum for grammar schools will be introduced on how to teach the connection between fog formation and air quality. Mist (visibility between 1 and 5 km) and fog (visibility below 1 km) are frequent weather events in the Carpathian Basin in the winter half year and during mostly anticyclonic weather situations with durations of 500-1000 and 150-300 hours respectively. In these cases often occurs the temperature inversions, the cold air pool events thus the high concentration of pollutants. The international educational experience of this particular topic will be surveyed, mainly in the countries of the Carpathian Basin; moreover the measurement processes and education methods used in the GLOBE programme will also be presented. The curriculum was tried within the framework of physics among 14 to 16-year-old Slovakian secondary school students partially in long-distance education on the Internet. Students&#8217; knowledge on the given subject was tested both before and after the experiment.The experimental curriculum consists of three parts. In the first part air humidity and the notion of absolute and relative humidity are discussed. Through a few specific exercises the students learn to specify relative humidity and become acquainted with fog formation. It is shown via an experiment that air cooling at a constant humidity is not enough to form fog because condensational cores are needed for the formation of tiny water drops. In the 2nd lesson the concept of temperature inversion and its connection to fog and air pollution are discussed. With the use of Internet websites the students collect information about the formation of smog, its types, occurrence and the conditions announcing smog alert. In the 3rd lesson the methods of analysing air pollution and different air polluting materials are discussed. Websites, where the students can follow the air pollution data of their area, are used. On the grounds of this tasks about interpretation of the data are solved. Pieces of information which are available on the website of the European Environment Agency are also touched on. It was a new realization for them that the inhabitants of poverty-stricken valleys were more vulnerable to the formation of smog.Other than helping the students better understand the concept of humidity, the experiment helped them better understand changes in consistency. Based on our experience, the experimental curriculum motivated the students to understand processes which take place in their environment regarding environmental protection and to make suggestions about solving these problems.&#160;

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Relationships between Vertical Temperature Gradients and PM10 Concentrations during Selected Weather Conditions in Upper Silesia (Southern Poland)

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos13010125 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 125

Author(s):

Ewa Bożena Łupikasza ◽

Tadeusz Niedźwiedź

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Wind Speed ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Surface Air Temperature ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Temperature Inversion ◽

Temperature Gradients ◽

Upper Silesia ◽

Southern Poland

This paper studies surface air temperature inversions and their impact on air pollution under the background of meteorological conditions in southern Poland. The relationship of temperature gradients and air quality classes with weather conditions in the most urbanized and polluted part of Poland as represented by the Upper Silesia region (USR) within the administrative boundaries of the Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolis (GZM) is presented. Based on probability analysis this study hierarchized the role of the selected weather elements in the development of surface-based temperature inversion (SBI) and air quality (AQ). The thresholds of weather elements for a rapid increase in the probability of oppressive air pollution episodes were distinguished. Although most SBI occurred in summer winter SBIs were of great importance. In that season a bad air quality occurred during >70% of strong inversions and >50% of moderate inversions. Air temperature more strongly triggered AQ than SBI development. Wind speed was critical for SBI and significant for AQ development. A low cloudiness favored SBI occurrence altered air quality in winter and spring during SBI and favored very bad AQ5 (>180 µg/m3) occurrence. The probability of high air pollution enhanced by SBI rapidly increased in winter when the air temperature dropped below −6 °C the wind speed decreased below 1.5 m/s and the sky was cloudless. Changes in the relative humidity did not induce rapid changes in the occurrence of bad AQ events during SBI

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Analysis of Air Quality Impacts on Human Health Using the Geoinformatics Application: Chiang Rai Province

Applied Environmental Research ◽

10.35762/aer.2017.39.3.3 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 25-32

Author(s):

Anuttara Hongthong ◽

Yanasinee Suma ◽

Nittaya Pasukphun ◽

Vivat Keawdounglek

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Temporal Analysis ◽

City Centre ◽

Pollution Dispersion ◽

Public Health Office ◽

Lower Temperature

This research aims to study air pollution dispersion in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. The relationship between air pollutants, meteorology and population health were considered. The levels of air pollutants were used to establish a spatial and temporal analysis by Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation from Geographic Information Systems (GIS), involved with occurrences of disease cases in the study area. The average monthly air pollution data were collected from Thailand’s Pollution Control Department and data on respiratory disease were collected from Chiang Rai Provincial Public Health Office during 2011 to 2014. The results indicated that monthly average PM10 concentrations started to rise from December to April. PM10 concentrations peaked during the hot season of every year, when open burning is prac-ticed. During this period, PM10 levels exceeded Thailand’s national ambient air quality standardsof 120 μg m-3. Accumulative influenza and pneumonia cases in Chiang Rai Province were very high in Chiang Rai city centre. The spatial temperature distribution map showed higher incidence of cases of influenza and pneumonia throughout the lower temperature area of Chiang Rai city centre. Influenza was affected by PM10, rainfall, relative humidity, and temperature, according to the following correlation ratios: 0.8217, 0.8842, 0.9375 and 0.8775, respectively. The incidence of pneumonia was affected by rainfall, relative humidity and temperature following the correlation ratios 0.7746, 0.7621 and 0.9684, respectively. Whereas PM10 was low associated with pneumonia as a significant ratio was 0.6079. Pneumonia incidence decreased when rainfall and temperature decreased, and increased when relative humidity increased.

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Synergy Between Air Quality, Various Urban Forms, and Land Surface Temperature

Handbook of Research on Resource Management for Pollution and Waste Treatment - Advances in Environmental Engineering and Green Technologies ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-0369-0.ch024 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 576-609

Author(s):

Abira Dutta Roy ◽

Munni Debnath Parial ◽

Kasturi Mukherjee

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Surface Temperature ◽

Land Surface Temperature ◽

Land Surface ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

High Concentration ◽

Urban Forms ◽

Spatio Temporal ◽

Health Organization

This chapter studies spatio temporal trends of air quality, its relation with urban forms, and Land Surface Temperature (LST) in Kolkata Metropolitan Area, the world's 55th most polluted city according to the World Health Organization. Air quality data were procured from 34 monitoring stations operated by West Bengal Pollution Control Board for 2005-18. Trend analysis showed declining NO2, SO2 values but a rise in PM10 concentration. Interpolation analysis showed high concentration of pollutants along the Hugli industrial belt, Dhulagarh, and Kolkata Municipal Corporation Area. Urban forms such as built-up density, distances from water bodies, parks, and bus stops demonstrated their reasonable influence on air pollution condition. LST generated from Landsat Thermal Infrared bands showed increase in temperature conditions from 2005-2018. Positive Correlation was identified between Land surface temperature and air pollution. Their relationship was assessed to have become stronger over the decades.

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Using a mobile laboratory to characterize the distribution and transport of sulfur dioxide in and around Beijing

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions ◽

10.5194/acpd-11-16465-2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 16465-16497 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. Wang ◽

T. Zhu ◽

J. P. Zhang ◽

Q. H. Zhang ◽

W. W. Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Sulfur Dioxide ◽

Control Period ◽

Air Pollution Control ◽

Mobile Laboratory ◽

High Concentration ◽

Regional Transport ◽

Wide Range ◽

So2 Concentration

Abstract. Megacities are places with intensive human activity and energy consumption. To reduce air pollution, many megacities have relocated energy supplies and polluted industries to their outer regions. However, regional transport then becomes an important source of air pollution in megacities. To improve air quality before and during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a wide range of control strategies were implemented, including the relocation of polluting industries. High sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentrations were occasionally observed during this period. Potential sources from southern regions of Beijing were indicated by backward trajectories and urban/rural stationary measurements, but direct evidence was lacking. Here we used a mobile laboratory to characterize the spatial distribution and regional transport of SO2 to Beijing during the Campaign for Air Quality Research in Beijing and the Surrounding Region (CAREBEIJING)-2008. Among the five days chosen for the case studies during the Olympic air pollution control period, four had high SO2 concentrations (6, 20 August and 3, 4 September 2008) while one had low SO2 concentration (11 September 2008). The average values of SO2 during the low SO2 concentration day were 3.9 ppb, much lower than during the high concentration days (7.8 ppb). This result implied an impact by regional transport from outside Beijing. During these days, we captured transport events of SO2 from areas south of Beijing, with a clear decrease in SO2 concentrations southeast of the 6th to 4th Ring Roads around Beijing and along the 140 km highway from Tianjin to Beijing. The influx of SO2 through the 4th to 6th Ring Roads ranged from 2.07 to 4.64 kg s−1 on 4 September and 0.21 to 1.56 kg s−1 on 20 August 2008. Locally emitted SO2 from a source located along Jingshi Highway outside the southwest section of the 5th Ring Road of Beijing was identified using wind field data generated by the Weather Research and Forecasting model and the measured particle size distribution, with an estimated flux of 0.11 kg s−1 to Beijing.

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Air pollutants associated with surface meteorological conditions in São Paulo’s ABC region

Revista Brasileira de Ciências Ambientais (Online) ◽

10.5327/z21769478917 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 56 (3) ◽

pp. 459-469

Author(s):

Mariana Devincentis Silva ◽

Maria Carla Queiroz Diniz Oliveira ◽

Anita Drumond ◽

Luciana Varanda Rizz

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Meteorological Conditions ◽

Summer Drought ◽

Emission Sources ◽

Potential Health ◽

Diurnal Variability ◽

Local Emission

Air pollution is one the main environmental problems in urban areas like the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP) in Brazil, where millions of inhabitants are exposed to pollution concentrations above the standards, with potential health impacts. Exposure is unequal throughout MASP, relying on the dynamics of local emission sources interplaying with weather and climate in a regional scale. The ABC region — ABC standing for Santo André, São Bernardo do Campo and São Caetano do Sul, the cities the area originally comprised of — is MASP’s largest industrial center, sitting in its southeast border, and encloses environmental protection areas. That leads to a unique emission profile that differ from the metropolis center. This study aims to characterize the variability of atmospheric pollutants in the ABC region in 2015, investigating possible sources and associations with surface meteorological conditions. Multivariate statistical analyses were applied to data from seven air quality monitoring stations and surface meteorological variables. Results show that São Bernardo do Campo stood out, with O3 concentrations 20% higher (43±19 µg.m-3) than the other sites, while São Caetano do Sul had the highest annual mean PM10 concentrations (39±19 µg.m-3), mostly related to vehicular emissions. Relative humidity was negatively correlated with primary pollutants, while temperature and radiation correlated with O3. Unusually high O3 concentrations were observed in January of 2015, concomitant with negative anomalies of precipitation and relative humidity, likely associated with the 2014/2015 summer drought event in Southeast Brazil. Overall, results show that local emission sources significantly impact air pollution loading and its diurnal variability, particularly in the case of primary pollutants. Climate modulates the seasonal concentration variability, and regional scale weather phenomena may impact air quality conditions. To reach concentration standards everywhere, policy makers must be aware of processes occurring in different spatial scales that determine air quality.

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Spatiotemporal Relationships between Air Quality and Multiple Meteorological Parameters in 221 Chinese Cities

Complexity ◽

10.1155/2020/6829142 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mengyi Ji ◽

Yuying Jiang ◽

Xiping Han ◽

Luo Liu ◽

Xinliang Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Meteorological Factors ◽

Southern China ◽

Great Influence ◽

Pollution Prevention ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Temporal Differences

Air quality in China is characterized by significant spatial and temporal differences, which are directly related to local meteorological conditions. This study used air quality monitoring data, namely, the air pollution index (API) and air quality index (AQI) between 2005 and 2018, together with meteorological data and identified key meteorological factors that affected the spatial and temporal variation of air quality using a random forest algorithm. The spatial and temporal differences in the threshold values of different meteorological factors affecting the concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, NO2, and O3 were identified. The AQI has the advantages of facilitating higher index values than the API. The air quality showed an improvement from 2005 to 2018. Wind direction and precipitation were the most important meteorological factors affecting the air quality in northern and southern China, respectively, which to some extent reflected the causes and degradation mechanisms of air pollution in the two regions. There were significant spatial and temporal differences in the effects of meteorological factors on the concentrations of different pollutants. The influence of atmospheric pressure on pollutant concentration differed between the east and west. Precipitation and relative humidity in most cities had significant impacts on PM2.5 and PM10. The influence of relative humidity was most significant for SO2 and it also had a great influence on O3, while wind speed had a great influence on NO2. The results of the study confirm the meteorological sensitivity of air quality and provide support for the implementation of regional air pollution prevention and control initiatives.

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Thermal Inversion and Particulate Matter Concentration in Wrocław in Winter Season

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos11121351 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1351

Author(s):

Jadwiga Nidzgorska-Lencewicz ◽

Małgorzata Czarnecka

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Air Quality ◽

Winter Season ◽

Temperature Inversion ◽

High Concentration ◽

Thermal Inversion ◽

Daily Concentration ◽

Matter Concentration ◽

Cross Test

Studies on air quality frequently adopt clustering, in particular the k-means technique, owing to its simplicity, ease of implementation and efficiency. The aim of the present paper was the assessment of air quality in a winter season (December–February) in the conditions of temperature inversion using the k-means method, representing a non-hierarchical algorithm of cluster analysis. The air quality was assessed on the basis of the concentrations of particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5). The studies were conducted in four winter seasons (2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2019/20) in Wrocław (Poland). As a result of the application of the v-fold cross test, six clusters for each fraction of PM were identified. Even though the analysis covers only four winter seasons, the applied method has unequivocally revealed that the characteristics of surface-based (SBI) and elevated inversions (ELI) affect the concentration level of both fractions of particulate matter. In the case of PM10, the average lowest daily concentration (15.5 µg·m−3) was recorded in the conditions of approx. 205 m in thickness, 0.5 °C intensity of the SBI and at the height of the base of the ELI at approx. 1700 m a.g.l., a thickness of 148 m and an intensity of 1.2 °C. In turn, the average highest concentration (136 µg·m−3) was recorded at a thickness of SBI of approx. 400 m and an intensity of 1.4 °C. Such high concentration occurred when the lowest location of ELI formed at 764 m a.g.l. with a thickness of 308 m and an intensity of 0.96 °C. A marked role of the thickness of the SBI and ELI as well as the height of the base of the lowest location of ELI was also manifested with respect to PM2.5 concentrations.

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A Comparative Study on Air Pollution Characteristics in Four Key Cities during 2013 in Guangxi Province, China

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13041612 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1612

Author(s):

Jing-Ying Mao ◽

Zhi-Ming Chen ◽

Zong-Kai Jiang ◽

Zhao-Yu Mo ◽

Hong-Jiao Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Ambient Air ◽

The Other ◽

Emission Sources ◽

Ambient Air Quality ◽

Long Distance ◽

Local Emission ◽

Pollution Episodes

Based on ambient air quality data of the four key cities (Nanning, Liuzhou, Guilin, and Beihai) in Guangxi, China, along with an analysis of the main emission sources, topographic features, weather conditions, and backward trajectories, the variation of main air pollutants and pollution episodes in the four cities were studied. Results showed that air pollution was most serious in Liuzhou and Guilin, followed by Nanning and Beihai. PM2.5 was the dominant pollutant in each city, followed by O3, PM10, and NO2. Concentrations of SO2 and CO did not exceed their National Ambient Air Quality Standard Grade II limit values. In the cities, the concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and SO2 were high during fall and winter and low during spring and summer, while the concentrations of O3 were high during fall and low during the other seasons. Concentrations of CO were low during summer and high during the other seasons in Nanning and Liuzhou, while they were high during spring and winter and low during summer and fall in Guilin and Beihai. In these cities, pollution episodes resulted mainly from stagnant accumulation and showed characteristics of regional pollution. However, pollution levels and durations for each city were different due to differences in main pollution sources, local geography, and weather conditions. The influences of air masses on the four cities were similar. They were mainly influenced by local emission sources in the spring, while during autumn, long-distance transportation from Hunan and Hubei was significant. In winter, air pollution in Nanning and Beihai was mostly affected by local emission sources, and that in Liuzhou and Guilin was mainly affected by long-distance transportation from the south and northeast of Guangxi.

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CONCENTRAÇÃO DE MATERIAL PARTICULADO E COMPOSIÇÃO ELEMENTAR NO AEROSSOL ATMOSFÉRICO DE UMA REGIÃO DE PRODUÇÃO DO AÇO NO ESTADO DE MINAS GERAIS-BRASIL

Eclética Química Journal ◽

10.26850/1678-4618eqj.v38.1.2013.p166-175 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 166

Author(s):

Viviane Macedo Reis Araújo ◽

Gabriela Von Rückert ◽

Maria Ângela De B. C. Menezes ◽

Humberto Lopes Santos ◽

Adriana Rocha de Souza Drumond

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Trace Elements ◽

Air Quality ◽

Pulp Mill ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

World Health ◽

Steel Mill ◽

High Concentration ◽

Vehicle Traffic ◽

Metals And Trace Elements

Ipatinga (IPA) and Coronel Fabriciano (FAB) cities are located in Vale do Aço, a metropolitan area and the largest industrial area in Minas Gerais state, where there are two steel mills and one pulp mill, as well as other micro and small factories. Due to industrialization, population growth, technological development and intense vehicle traffic in the region, the air pollution has been increasing. Air pollution can result in public health problems, thus it is necessary to quantify the particulate matter concentration and the toxic metals and trace elements associated in this region. This study evaluated the concentration of the total suspended particles (TSP), inhalable particles with aerodynamic size up to 10 μm (PM10) by HI-VOL manual samplers in IPA and FAB, from May to November 2010. Metals and trace elements were determined in the PM10 and TSP samples. Neutron Activation Analysis, k0-method,was applied and determined the elements As, Br, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Hf, La, Sb, Sc, Sr, Th, K, Zn, Zr; Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, Al, Ca, Cu, Cd, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Ti, Zn, and Flame Emission Photometry, Na. The air quality was assessed based on the concentrations of TSP and PM10 according to CONAMA Resolution 03/1990 and elements by the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO). It was observed that in the FAB concentration of TSP and PM10 mainly performed with greater variation and reached the upper limit established by CONAMA figures most often compared to the point in IPA. Air quality is generally presented GOOD for TSP and MP10 in both sampling sites. The Sn, Ca, Fe, Pb, elements Na, K, Zn and Al in TSP and PM10 in both counties were the most abundant. Fe and Sn were above the limit set by the WHO standard, as well as Cr, Pb and As The highest concentrations of TSP, PM10 and elements were observed during the dry and cold months.The high concentration results of Fe and Sn suggested that the sources of emissions were hematite transport and steel mill. It was found a strong correlation between elements concentrations and the steel factory activities and the vehicle traffic in this region.

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KUALITAS UDARA BEBERAPA RUANG PERPUSTAKAAN DI UNIVERSITAS SAM RATULANGI MANADO BERDASARKAN UJI KUALITAS FISIKA

Jurnal e-Biomedik ◽

10.35790/ebm.2.1.2014.3651 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Josefine D. Sahilatua

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Light Intensity ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Skin Irritation ◽

General Level ◽

Observational Methods ◽

Library Users

Abstract: Air pollution not only comes from the outdoors but also indoors. Library is indoors that could potentially by polluted. Level of air quality that not complies the standard will cause symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, skin irritation, shortness of breathing, eye irritation and headache on library users. This research conducted on the five libraries at the Sam Ratulangi University using observational methods. Data collected was content of physical air quality. The variables were air temperature, relative humidity and light intensity. Five libraries complied the standard of air temperature, but didn’t comply the standard of relative humidity. Only one library that complied the levels of light intensity. In general, level of air quality in five libraries didn’t comply applicable standard.Keywords: indoor air quality, physical air quality, library Abstrak: Polusi udara tak hanya bersumber dari luar ruangan tapi juga dalam ruangan.Perpustakan adalah salah satu ruangan yang berpotensi mengalami polusi udara dalam ruangan. Kadar kualitas udara yang tak memenuhi standar akan menimbulkan gejala seperti bersin, batuk, iritasi kulit, sesak nafas, iritasi mata, sakit kepala dan sebagainya pada pengguna perpustakaan. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada pada lima perpustakaan di Universitas Sam Ratulangi dengan menggunakan metode observasi. Data yang dikumpulkan ialah kadar kualitas fisik udara dengan variabel suhu, kelembaban relatif dan intensitas cahaya. Lima perpustakaan memiliki kadar suhu yang memenuhi standar dan kadar kelembaban yang tidak memenuhi standar. Hanya satu perpustakaan yang memenuhi kadar intensitas cahaya. Secara umum, kadar kualitas udara pada lima perpustakaan belum memenuhi standar yang berlaku.Kata kunci: kualitas udara dalam ruangan, kualitas fisik udara, perpustakaan

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