High-frequency observation during sand and dust storms at the Qingtu Lake Observatory

Partially due to global climate change, sand and dust storms (SDSs) have occurred more and more frequently, yet a detailed measurement of SDS events at different heights is still lacking. Here we provide a high-frequency observation from the Qingtu Lake Observation Array (QLOA), China. The wind and dust information were measured simultaneously at different wall-normal heights during the SDS process. The datasets span the period from 17 March to 9 June 2016. The wind speed and direction are recorded by a sonic anemometer with a sampling frequency of 50 Hz, while particulate matter with a diameter of 10 µm or less (PM10) is sampled simultaneously by a dust monitor with a sampling frequency of 1 Hz. The wall-normal array had 11 sonic anemometers and monitors spaced logarithmically from z=0.9 to 30 m, where the spacing is about 2 m between the sonic anemometer and dust monitor at the same height. Based on its nonstationary feature, an SDS event can be divided into three stages, i.e., ascending, stabilizing and descending stages, in which the dynamic mechanism of the wind and dust fields might be different. This is preliminarily characterized by the classical Fourier power analysis. Temporal evolution of the scaling exponent from Fourier power analysis suggests a value slightly below the classical Kolmogorov value of -5/3 for the three-dimensional homogeneous and isotropic turbulence. During the stabilizing stage, the collected PM10 shows a very intermittent pattern, which can be further linked with the burst events in the turbulent atmospheric boundary layer. This dataset is valuable for a better understanding of SDS dynamics and is publicly available in a Zenodo repository at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5034196 (Li et al., 2021a).

High frequency observation during the sand and dust storms in the Qingtu Lake Observatory

Partially due to the global climate change, the sand and dust storms (SDS) occurred more and more frequently, yet a detailed measurement of the SDS event at different heights is still lacking. Here we provide a high frequency observation in the Qingtu Lake Observation Array (QLOA), China. The wind and dust information were measured simultaneously at different wall-normal heights during the SDS process. The datasets span the period from 17 March to 9 June 2016. The wind speed and direction are recorded by a sonic anemometer with a sampling frequency 50 Hz, while the particulate matter 10 (PM10) is sampled simultaneously by a dust monitor with a sampling frequency 1 Hz. The wall-normal array had 11 sonics and monitors spaced logarithmically from z = 0.9 to 30 m, where the spacing is about 2-meter between the sonic anemometer and dust monitor at the same height. Based on its non-stationary feature, the SDS event can be divided into three stages, i.e., ascending, stabilizing and descending stages, in which the dynamic mechanism of the wind and dust fields might be different. This is preliminarily characterized via the classical Fourier power analysis. Temporal evolution of the scaling exponent from Fourier power analysis suggests slightly below the classical Kolmogorov value of −5/3 for the three-dimensional homogeneous and isotropic turbulence. During the stabilizing stage, the collected PM10 shows a very intermittent pattern, which can be further linked with the burst events in the turbulent atmospheric boundary layer. This dataset is valuable for a better understanding the SDS dynamics, which has being publicly available at Zenodo through the DOI 10.5281/zenodo.5034196 (Li et al., 2021a).

Mobile- and Hot Spot Measurement with OPC based Dust Monitor EDM264

<p>With the EDM264, GRIMM offers a [A1] solution for mobile short- and long-term measurements in outdoor areas and at production sites. For research as well as permanent areal observations on a near reference quality base.</p><p>The model EDM264 features a powerful and robust measuring cell based on optical particle counting (OPC) principle with all the advantages that users of GRIMM‘s portable aerosol spectrometers  are used to. The system is embedded in a compact weather-protection housing with all-weather sampling, heated inlet system, data logger and meteorological sensor.</p><p>With TSP, PM10, PM4, PM2.5, PM1 and PMcoarse, the EDM264  provides all fine dust fractions real-time, valid for outdoor applications and calculated with the proven GRIMM enviro-algorithm, as well as six additional dust mass fractions pm10, pm2.5, pm1, inhalable, thoracic and respirable for IAQ and workplace measurements.</p><p>This highly versatile instrument performs real-time monitoring of particle number, particle size and provides information on particle surface distribution as well as dust mass distribution. GRIMM‘s EDM264 has 31 equidistant size channels, which are PSL traceable.</p><p>A high-end data logger enables data acquisition and wireless communication via LTE, WLAN or wired via Ethernet. Backup copies of the measurement data are stored in the device directly.</p><p>The rinsing air function, which protects the laser and detector in the optical cell, further increases the reliability and long term stability of the EDM264 under different environmental and climatic conditions.</p><p>The entire sample volume flow of 1.2 L/min is analyzed by 100% in the optical cell, which assures excellent counting efficiency at low and high concentrations and complies to the ISO 21501-1standard for OPCs.</p><p>With  all  these  features,  the  EDM264 is a world-leading dust monitor for precise monitoring of particulate matter and particle number concentration. This highly reliable instrument is an indispensable tool for many users, who need to measure aerosol levels and air quality outdoors, on construction sites, or at production facilities.</p><p>Keywords — aerosol research, aerial observation, fence line monitoring, wild fire detection   </p>

Development of Test Equipment for the Performance Evaluation of a Dust Monitor Used in Soot and Smoke Generating Facilities

A dust monitor is a device that measures dust concentration continuously in a flue gas. In Europe, a certification system has been established by TÜV and MCERT, and if formal certification is obtained by those system, it will be legally recognized as a continuous monitoring system of dust concentration from the facilities. In Japan, emission regulations have been introduced under the Air Pollution Control Act to monitor the emission of dust from facilities. Although the Act does not currently permit the use of dust monitors for dust concentration measurements, the related JIS standards have promoted above method’s introduction. In this work, flue test equipment aiming at the construction of a performance evaluation system of various dust monitors was developed to secure accurate dust concentration measurements for dust monitor management. As a result, increase in the diameter of the flue, optimization of rectification and dust generation, and improvement of the evaluation component made it possible to respond to the evaluation of dust monitors. The device was equipped to generate gas containing dust with any concentration in a constant velocity flow. It could evaluate the correlation between the analysis values of JIS Z 8808: 2013 and those of various dust monitors.

Exploring planetary space weather and inner heliosphere by BepiColombo/Mio: updates of cruise science

<p>The Mio spacecraft for the BepiColombo mission was successfully launched on 20 October 2018. BepiColombo will arrive at Mercury in the end of 2025, and it has 7-years cruise with the heliocentric distance range of 0.3-1.2 AU. The long cruise phase also includes 9 planetary flybys: once at the Earth, twice at Venus, and 6 times at Mercury. The Mio spacecraft has a complete package of plasma instruments, a spectral imager for the exosphere, and a dust monitor. Even though the Mio spacecraft is surrounded by the Mio’s sunshield and observation capabilities of some instruments are constrained during the cruise phase, it still includes many important opportunities to investigate the inner heliosphere and planetary environments by Mio. Here we present the initial results of the first Earth flyby and cruise observations, and updated operations plans during the cruise phase.</p>

Effects of dust phenomenon on heavy metals in raw milk in western Iran

Introduction. After the Iraq war, the dust phenomenon has increased in western Iran. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of the dust phenomenon on the content of heavy metals in raw milk in Ilam province. Study objects and methods. The dust samples were collected during one year. The concentrations of dust particles were determined with the Enviro Check Laser System, using the Dust Monitor Check. The concentration of heavy metals in dust was determined by using the high volume air samplers and glass fiber filters. Results and discussion. Heavy metals (lead, arsenic, zinc, copper, and iron) were measured at four sampling sites in raw milk by the atomic absorption method. The mean and standard deviations of dust particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) were 105.6 ± 90.5 and 25.9 ± 15.4 μg/m3, respectively. The amounts of arsenic, zinc, lead, and copper were higher in the spring and summer. Lead levels in western and southern regions were higher than those in the east, center, and north. Conclusion. We found similar trends for arsenic, zinc, copper, and iron in raw milk. Our results showed the potential effect of the dust phenomenon on the presence of heavy metals in raw milk.

Current status, initial results, and updated plans of BepiColombo/Mio: interplanetary cruise and planetary flybys

<p>The ESA-JAXA joint mission BepiColombo is now on the track to Mercury. Two spacecraft for BepiColombo, "Mio" (Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter: MMO) and "Bepi" (Mercury Planetary Orbiter: MPO), were successfully launched by Ariane-5 launch vehicle from Kourou in French Guiana on 20 October 2018. Mio is fully dedicated to investigating Mercury’s environment with a complete package of plasma instruments (particles, electric fields, and magnetic fields), a spectral imager of sodium exosphere, and a dust monitor. During the cruise to Mercury, in addition to two spacecraft MMO Sunshield and Interface Structure (MOSIF) and Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) are all integrated together. After the commissioning operations of spacecraft, we are focusing on preparing science operations for interplanetary cruise and planetary flybys. Some science instruments can be used even in the composite spacecraft configuration. The first and second flybys will happen at the Earth in April 2019 and at Venus in October 2019, respectively. In addition, during the interplanetary cruise BepiColombo can contribute to inner heliospheric science by measuring the solar wind and solar energetic particles. Thanks to NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and ESA’s Solar Orbiter, multi-spacecraft observations of the inner heliosphere will soon be possible and provide us deeper knowledge of this region. Here we report the updated status of BepiColombo mission, initial results of the commissioning operations, and the future plans for interplanetary cruise and planetary flybys.</p>