scholarly journals The Influence of Meteorological Parameters and Traffic Flows on the Concentration of Ozone (O3) in Urban Areas in Brcko

Author(s):  
Radoslav Kojić ◽  
Matija Antić

Meteorological parameters and traffic flows have a direct impact on air quality in large urban areas, and hence on the quality of life in them. A large number of done surveys confirmed the great dependence of the concentration of ground-level ozone (O3) upon meteorological parameters and the size, structure and imbalances of traffic flows. As part of the research conducted in the period from November 5th to December 8th 2014 in Brcko in Muderis Ibrahimbegic St concentrations of ground-level ozone (O3) were measured, meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity, wind speed and intensity of solar radiation) and characteristics of traffic flow of road motor vehicles. The maximum concentrations of ground-level ozone (O3) in the measurement period was 106.54μg/m³, while the minimum concentration was 4.794μg/m³. By analyzing the results of measurements the high coefficient of correlation between wind speed, air temperature and humidity was established. The correlation coefficient between the traffic flows on the one hand and the concentration of ground-level ozone (O3), on the other hand is very low and does not exceed the value of 0.301. A negative correlation coefficient between traffic flows and concentrations of ground-level ozone (O3) is also observed in the certain time of the day.

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 824-829
Author(s):  
Cornel Ianache ◽  
Laurentiu Predescu ◽  
Mirela Predescu ◽  
Dumitru Dumitru

The serious air pollution problem has determined public concerns, worldwide. One of the main challenges for countries all over the world is caused by the elevated levels of ground-level ozone (O3) concentrations and its anthropogenic precursors. Ploiesti city, as one of the major urban area of Romania, is facing the same situation. This research aims to investigate spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of O3 in relationship with nitrogen oxides (NOx) using statistical analysis methods. Hourly O3 and NOx measurements were collected during 2014 year in Ploiesti. The results obtained showed that the ozone spatial distribution was non-normal for each month in 2014. The diurnal cycle of ground-level ozone concentrations showed a mid-day peak, while NOx diurnal variations presented 2 daily peaks, one in the morning (7:00 a.m.) and one in the afternoon (between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.). In addition, it was observed a distinct pattern of weekly variations for O3 and NOx. Like in many other urban areas, the results indicated the presence of the �ozone weekend effect� in Ploiesti during the 2014 year, ozone concentrations being slightly higher on weekends compared to weekdays. For the same monitoring site, the nitrogen oxides were less prevalent on Saturdays and Sundays, probably due to reducing of road traffic and other pollution-generating activities on weekends than during the week.


Author(s):  
Oskar Wiśniewski ◽  
Wiesław Kozak ◽  
Maciej Wiśniewski

AbstractCOVID-19, which is a consequence of infection with the novel viral agent SARS-CoV-2, first identified in China (Hubei Province), has been declared a pandemic by the WHO. As of September 10, 2020, over 70,000 cases and over 2000 deaths have been recorded in Poland. Of the many factors contributing to the level of transmission of the virus, the weather appears to be significant. In this work, we analyze the impact of weather factors such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and ground-level ozone concentration on the number of COVID-19 cases in Warsaw, Poland. The obtained results show an inverse correlation between ground-level ozone concentration and the daily number of COVID-19 cases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 223 ◽  
pp. 117255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoru Chatani ◽  
Kazuyo Yamaji ◽  
Syuichi Itahashi ◽  
Masahiko Saito ◽  
Masayuki Takigawa ◽  
...  

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Sun ◽  
Zhihong Liu ◽  
Yang Zhang ◽  
Weixin Xu ◽  
Xiaotong Lv ◽  
...  

The expansion of urban areas and the increase in the number of buildings and urbanization characteristics, such as roads, affect the meteorological environment in urban areas, resulting in weakened pollutant dispersion. First, this paper uses GIS (geographic information system) spatial analysis technology and landscape ecology analysis methods to analyze the dynamic changes in land cover and landscape patterns in Chengdu as a result of urban development. Second, the most appropriate WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model parameterization scheme is selected and screened. Land-use data from different development stages in the city are included in the model, and the wind speed and temperature results simulated using new and old land-use data (1980 and 2015) are evaluated and compared. Finally, the results of the numerical simulations by the WRF-Chem air quality model using new and old land-use data are coupled with 0.25° × 0.25°-resolution MEIC (Multi-resolution Emission Inventory for China) emission source data from Tsinghua University. The results of the sensitivity experiments using the WRF-Chem model for the city under different development conditions and during different periods are discussed. The meteorological conditions and pollution sources remained unchanged as the land-use data changed, which revealed the impact of urban land-use changes on the simulation results of PM2.5 atmospheric pollutants. The results show the following. (1) From 1980 to 2015, the land-use changes in Chengdu were obvious, and cultivated land exhibited the greatest changes, followed by forestland. Under the influence of urban land-use dynamics and human activities, both the richness and evenness of the landscape in Chengdu increased. (2) The microphysical scheme WSM3 (WRF Single–Moment 3 class) and land-surface scheme SLAB (5-layer diffusion scheme) were the most suitable for simulating temperatures and wind speeds in the WRF model. The wind speed and temperature simulation results using the 2015 land-use data were better than those using the 1980 land-use data when assessed according to the coincidence index and correlation coefficient. (3) The WRF-Chem simulation results obtained for PM2.5 using the 2015 land-use data were better than those obtained using the 1980 land-use data in terms of the correlation coefficient and standard deviation. The concentration of PM2.5 in urban areas was higher than that in the suburbs, and the concentration of PM2.5 was lower on Longquan Mountain in Chengdu than in the surrounding areas.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wannan Wang ◽  
Ronald van der A ◽  
Jieying Ding ◽  
Michiel van Weele ◽  
Tianhai Cheng

Abstract. Ground-level ozone (O3) pollution has been steadily getting worse in most part of eastern China during the past five years. The non-linearity of O3 formation with its precursors like nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are complicating effective O3 abatement plans. The diagnosis from space-based observations, the ratio of formaldehyde (HCHO) columns to tropospheric NO2 columns (HCHO / NO2), has previously been proved to be highly consistent with our current understanding of surface O3 chemistry. HCHO / NO2 ratio thresholds distinguishing O3 formation sensitivity depend on regions and O3 chemistry interactions with aerosol. To shed more light on current the O3 formation sensitivity over China, we have derived HCHO / NO2 ratio thresholds by directly connecting satellite-based HCHO / NO2 observations and ground-based O3 measurements over the major Chinese cities in this study. We find that a VOC-limited regime occurs for HCHO / NO2  4.2. The HCHO / NO2 between 2.3 and 4.2 reflects the transition between the two regimes. Our method shows that the O3 formation sensitivity tends to be VOC-limited over urban areas and NOx-limited over rural and remote areas in China. We find that there is a shift in some cities from the VOC-limited to the transitional regime that is associated with a rapid drop of anthropogenic NOx emissions owing to the widely-applied rigorous emission control strategies between 2016 and 2019. This detected spatial expansion of the transitional regime is supported by rising surface O3 concentrations. The enhanced O3 concentrations in urban areas during the COVID-19 lockdown in China indicate that a protocol with simultaneous anthropogenic NOx emissions and VOC emissions controls is essential for O3 abatement plans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teri Knight ◽  
Sian Price ◽  
Diana Bowler ◽  
Amy Hookway ◽  
Sian King ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This review updates a systematic review published in 2010 (http://www.environmentalevidence.org/completed-reviews/how-effective-is-greening-of-urban-areas-in-reducing-human-exposure-to-ground-level-ozone-concentrations-uv-exposure-and-the-urban-heat-island-effect) which addressed the question: How effective is ‘greening’ of urban areas in reducing human exposure to ground-level ozone concentrations, UV exposure and the ‘urban heat island effect’? Methods Searches of multiple databases and journals for relevant published articles and grey literature were conducted. Organisational websites were searched for unpublished articles. Eligibility criteria were applied at title, abstract and full text and included studies were critically appraised. Consistency checks of these processes were undertaken. Pre-defined data items were extracted from included studies. Quantitative synthesis was performed through meta-analysis and narrative synthesis was undertaken. Review findings 308 studies were included in this review. Studies were spread across all continents and climate zones except polar but were mainly concentrated in Europe and temperate regions. Most studies reported on the impact of urban greening on temperature with fewer studies reporting data on ground-level UV radiation, ozone concentrations (or precursors) or public health indicators. The findings of the original review were confirmed; urban green areas tended to be cooler than urban non-green areas. Air temperature under trees was on average 0.8 °C cooler but treed areas could be warmer at night. Cooling effect showed tree species variation. Tree canopy shading was a significant effect modifier associated with attenuation of solar radiation during the day. Urban forests were on average 1.6 °C cooler than comparator areas. Treed areas and parks and gardens were associated with improved human thermal comfort. Park or garden cooling effect was on average 0.8 °C and trees were a significant influence on this during the day. Park or garden cooling effect extended up to 1.25 kms beyond their boundaries. Grassy areas were cooler than non-green comparators, both during daytime and at night, by on average 0.6 °C. Green roofs and walls showed surface temperature cooling effect (2 and 1.8 °C on average respectively) which was influenced by substrate water content, plant density and cover. Ground-level concentrations of nitrogen oxides were on average lower by 1.0 standard deviation units in green areas, with tree species variation in removal of these pollutants and emission of biogenic volatile organic compounds (precursors of ozone). No clear impact of green areas on ground level ozone concentrations was identified. Conclusions Design of urban green areas may need to strike a balance between maximising tree canopy shading for day-time thermal comfort and enabling night-time cooling from open grassy areas. Choice of tree species needs to be guided by evapotranspiration potential, removal of nitrogen oxides and emission of biogenic volatile organic compounds. Choice of plant species and substrate composition for green roofs and walls needs to be tailored to local thermal comfort needs for optimal effect. Future research should, using robust study design, address identified evidence gaps and evaluate optimal design of urban green areas for specific circumstances, such as mitigating day or night-time urban heat island effect, availability of sustainable irrigation or optimal density and distribution of green areas. Future evidence synthesis should focus on optimal design of urban green areas for public health benefit.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oskar Wisniewski ◽  
Wieslaw Kozak ◽  
Maciej Wisniewski

COVID-19, which is a consequence of infection with the novel viral agent SARS-CoV-2, first identified in China (Hubei Province), has been declared a pandemic by the WHO. As of September 10, 2020, over 70,000 cases and over 2,000 deaths have been recorded in Poland. Of the many factors contributing to the level of transmission of the virus, the weather appears to be significant. In this work we analyse the impact of weather factors such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and ground level ozone concentration on the number of COVID-19 cases in Warsaw, Poland. The obtained results show an inverse correlation between ground level ozone concentration and the daily number of COVID-19 cases.


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