scholarly journals Meteorological Variables and Synoptic Patterns Associated with Air Pollutions in Eastern China during 2013–2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhujun Dai ◽  
Duanyang Liu ◽  
Kun Yu ◽  
Lu Cao ◽  
Youshan Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Meteorological Condition ◽  
Temperature Inversion ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Meteorological Variables ◽  
Synoptic Situation ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Air Pollutions ◽  
Meteorological Elements

Steady meteorological conditions are important external factors affecting air pollution. In order to analyze how adverse meteorological variables affect air pollution, surface synoptic situation patterns and meteorological conditions during heavy pollution episodes are discussed. The results showed that there were 78 RPHPDs (regional PM2.5 pollution days) in Jiangsu, with a decreasing trend year by year. Winter had the most stable meteorological conditions, thus most RPHPDs appeared in winter, followed by autumn and summer, with the least days in spring. RPHPDs were classified into three patterns, respectively, as equalized pressure (EQP), advancing edge of a cold front (ACF) and inverted trough of low pressure (INT) according to the SLP (sea level pressure). RPHPDs under EQP were the most (51%), followed by ACF (37%); INT was the minimum (12%). Using statistical methods and meteorological condition data on RPHPDs from 2013 to 2017 to deduce the thresholds and 2018 as an independent dataset to validate the proposed thresholds, the threshold values of meteorological elements are summarized as follows. The probability of RPHPDs without rain was above 92% with the daily and hourly precipitation of all RPHPDs below 2.1 mm and 0.8 mm. Wind speed, RHs, inversion intensity(ITI), height difference in the temperature inversion(ITK), the lower height of temperature inversion (LHTI) and mixed-layer height (MLH) in terms of 25%–75% high probability range were respectively within 0.5–3.6 m s−1, 55%–92%, 0.7–4.0 °C 100 m −1, 42–576 m, 3–570 m, 200–1200 m. Two conditions should be considered: whether the pattern was EQP, ACF or INT and whether the eight meteorological elements are within the thresholds. If both criteria are met, PM2.5 particles tend to accumulate and air pollution diffusion conditions are poor. Unfavorable meteorological conditions are the necessary, but not sufficient condition for RPHPDs.

scholarly journals Heavy air pollution with the unique “non-stagnant” atmospheric boundary layer in the Yangtze River Middle Basin aggravated by regional transport of PM<sub>2.5</sub> over China

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Yu ◽  
Tianliang Zhao ◽  
Yongqing Bai ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Xingna Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Yangtze River ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Temperature Inversion ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Regional Transport ◽  
Central Eastern

Abstract. Regional transport of air pollutants controlled by both emission sources and meteorological factors results in a complex source-receptor relationship of air pollution change. Wuhan, a metropolis in the Yangtze River Middle Basin (YRMB) of central China experienced heavy air pollution characterized by excessive PM2.5 concentrations reaching 471.1 μg m−3 in January 2016. In order to investigate the regional transport of PM2.5 over China and the meteorological impact on wintertime air pollution in the YRMB area, observational meteorological and other relevant environmental data from January 2016 were analyzed. Our analysis presented the noteworthy cases of heavy PM2.5 pollution in the YRMB area with the unique “non-stagnant” meteorological conditions of strong northerly winds, no temperature inversion and additional unstable structures in the atmospheric boundary layer. This unique set of conditions differed from the stagnant meteorological conditions characterized by near-surface weak winds, air temperature inversion, and stable structure in the boundary layer observed in heavy air pollution over most regions in China. The regional transport of PM2.5 over central-eastern China aggravated PM2.5 levels present in the YRMB area, thus demonstrating the source-receptor relationship between the originating air pollution regions in central-eastern China and the receiving YRMB regions. Furthermore, a backward trajectory simulation using FLEXPART-WRF to integrate the air pollutant emission inventory over China was used to explore the patterns of regional transport of PM2.5 governed by the strong northerly winds in the cold air activity of the East Asian winter monsoon over central-eastern China, which contributes markedly to the heavy PM2.5 pollution in the YRMB area. It was estimated that the regional transport of PM2.5 of non-local air pollutant emissions could contribute more than 65 % of the PM2.5 concentrations to the heavy air pollution in the YRMB region during the study period, revealing the importance of the regional transport of air pollutants over central-eastern China in the formation of heavy air pollution over the YRMB region.

Two mechanisms for accelerated diffusion of COVID-19 outbreaks in regions with high intensity of population and polluting industrialization: the air pollution-to-human and human-to-human transmission dynamics (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Coccia
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Meteorological Condition ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Critical Threshold ◽  
Viral Infectivity ◽  
Low Wind Speed

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is viral infection that generates a severe acute respiratory syndrome with serious pneumonia that may result in progressive respiratory failure and death. OBJECTIVE This study has two goals. The first is to explain the main factors determining the diffusion of COVID-19 that is generating a high level of deaths. The second is to suggest a strategy to cope with future epidemic threats with of accelerated viral infectivity in society. METHODS Correlation and regression analyses on on data of N=55 Italian province capitals, and data of infected individuals at as of April 2020. RESULTS The main results are: o The accelerate and vast diffusion of COVID-19 in North Italy has a high association with air pollution. o Hinterland cities have average days of exceeding the limits set for PM10 (particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter) equal to 80 days, and an average number of infected more than 2,000 individuals as of April 1st, 2020, coastal cities have days of exceeding the limits set for PM10 equal to 60 days and have about 700 infected in average. o Cities that average number of 125 days exceeding the limits set for PM10, last year, they have an average number of infected individual higher than 3,200 units, whereas cities having less than 100 days (average number of 48 days) exceeding the limits set for PM10, they have an average number of about 900 infected individuals. o The results reveal that accelerated transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in specific environments is due to two mechanisms given by: air pollution-to-human transmission and human-to-human transmission; in particular, the mechanisms of air pollution-to-human transmission play a critical role rather than human-to-human transmission. o The finding here suggests that to minimize future epidemic similar to COVID-19, the max number of days per year in which cities can exceed the limits set for PM10 or for ozone, considering their meteorological condition, is less than 50 days. After this critical threshold, the analytical output here suggests that environmental inconsistencies because of the combination between air pollution and meteorological conditions (with high moisture%, low wind speed and fog) trigger a take-off of viral infectivity (accelerated epidemic diffusion) with damages for health of population, economy and society. CONCLUSIONS Considering the complex interaction between air pollution, meteorological conditions and biological characteristics of viral infectivity, lessons learned for COVID-19 have to be applied for a proactive socioeconomic strategy to cope with future epidemics, especially an environmental policy based on reduction of air pollution mainly in hinterland zones of countries, having low wind speed, high percentage of moisture and fog that create an environment that can damage immune system of people and foster a fast transmission of viral infectivity similar to the COVID-19. CLINICALTRIAL not applicable

scholarly journals Evaluation of the impact of meteorological conditions on the amount of air pollution in Krakow

2019 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 02012
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Piaskowska-Silarska ◽  
Krzysztof Pytel ◽  
Stanisław Gumuła ◽  
Wiktor Hudy
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Ecological Monitoring ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Pollution Problem ◽  
Air Quality Improvement ◽  
Meteorological Elements ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. The publication presents an assessment of the impact of meteorological conditions on air quality in a given location. The subject matter of the work is related to problem-review issues in the field of environmental protection and energy management. The publication draws attention to the fact that despite several decades of ecological monitoring of air pollution, only in recent years attention has been paid to the scale of air pollution problem. The study examined the relationship between meteorological elements (wind velocity, relative humidity on the amount of air pollution immissions. Significant impact of precipitation, atmospheric pressure and thermal braking layer was indicated. The possibilities of air quality improvement were presented based on the measurement data concerning the immission of impurities.

scholarly journals Effects of meteorology and emissions on urban air quality: a quantitative statistical approach to long-term records (1999–2016) in Seoul, South Korea

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 16121-16137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihoon Seo ◽  
Doo-Sun R. Park ◽  
Jin Young Kim ◽  
Daeok Youn ◽  
Yong Bin Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Meteorological Variables ◽  
Urban Air ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Local Emissions

Abstract. Together with emissions of air pollutants and precursors, meteorological conditions play important roles in local air quality through accumulation or ventilation, regional transport, and atmospheric chemistry. In this study, we extensively investigated multi-timescale meteorological effects on the urban air pollution using the long-term measurements data of PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 and meteorological variables over the period of 1999–2016 in Seoul, South Korea. The long-term air quality data were decomposed into trend-free short-term components and long-term trends by the Kolmogorov–Zurbenko filter, and the effects of meteorology and emissions were quantitatively isolated using a multiple linear regression with meteorological variables. In terms of short-term variability, intercorrelations among the pollutants and meteorological variables and composite analysis of synoptic meteorological fields exhibited that the warm and stagnant conditions in the migratory high-pressure system are related to the high PM10 and primary pollutant, while the strong irradiance and low NO2 by high winds at the rear of a cyclone are related to the high O3. In terms of long-term trends, decrease in PM10 (−1.75 µg m−3 yr−1) and increase in O3 (+0.88 ppb yr−1) in Seoul were largely contributed by the meteorology-related trends (−0.94 µg m−3 yr−1 for PM10 and +0.47 ppb yr−1 for O3), which were attributable to the subregional-scale wind speed increase. Comparisons with estimated local emissions and socioeconomic indices like gross domestic product (GDP) growth and fuel consumptions indicate probable influences of the 2008 global economic recession as well as the enforced regulations from the mid-2000s on the emission-related trends of PM10 and other primary pollutants. Change rates of local emissions and the transport term of long-term components calculated by the tracer continuity equation revealed a decrease in contributions of local emissions to the primary pollutants including PM10 and an increase in contributions of local secondary productions to O3. The present results not only reveal an important role of synoptic meteorological conditions on the episodic air pollution events but also give insights into the practical effects of environmental policies and regulations on the long-term air pollution trends. As a complementary approach to the chemical transport modeling, this study will provide a scientific background for developing and improving effective air quality management strategy in Seoul and its metropolitan area.

A Novel Approach to Estimate the Air Temperature Through the Air Pollution and Meteorological Conditions in Biskra Under the Parameters Astronomical, and Atmospheric

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Foued Chabane ◽  
Ali Arif ◽  
Abderrazak Guettaf
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Temperature Rate ◽  
The University ◽  
Meteorological Elements ◽  
The Mathematical Model

Abstract Propose of the experimental study a found a sufficient model to predict the ambient temperature over the area of Biskra, Algeria, taking into account new air pollution factors such as CO, CO2, O3, and NO2. We found that the effect of air pollution, astronomical and meteorological elements have obvious in the ambient temperature, and be behavior, according to regional characteristics. Using the fitting of the experimental data for establishing a set of prediction data sets of pollutants, astronomical, and meteorological elements at the University of Biskra, Algeria. We recorded the highest NO2 value in March at an estimated value of 1.6.1015 (mole/cm), where the ambient temperature rate is low. The mathematical model obtained gives a satisfactory results, because they were substantially identical and without almost any error with the experimental data. Finally, the latter can be used by engineers and especially those who work in the environmental field which is very sensitive to temperature variation and it can influence the health of the human being.

scholarly journals Effect of ecological restoration programs on dust pollution in North China Plain: a case study

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Long ◽  
Xuexi Tie ◽  
Guohui Li ◽  
Junji Cao ◽  
Tian Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
Dust Storm ◽  
North China Plain ◽  
North China ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Storm Event ◽  
Air Pollutions ◽  
Dust Storm Event

Abstract. In recent years, Chinese government has taken great efforts in initiating large-scale ecological restoration programs (ERPs) to reduce the dust pollutions in China. Using a satellite measurement product of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), the changes in land cover are quantitatively evaluated in this study. We find that grass and forest are increased in berried lands and deserts in northwestern China, which locate in the upwind regions of the populated areas of the North China Plain (NCP) in eastern China. As a result, the changes in land cover could produce important impacts on the dust pollutions in eastern of China. To assess the effect of ERPs on dust pollutions, a regional transport/dust model (WRF-DUST, Weather Research and Forecast model with dust) is applied to investigate the evolution of dust pollutions during a strong dust episode (from 2 to 8 March 2016). The calculations are intensively evaluated by comparing with the measured data. Despite some model biases, the WRF-DUST model reasonably reproduced the temporal variations and spatial distributions during the dust storm event. The correlation coefficient (R) between the calculated and measured dust concentrations is 0.77. The indices of agreement (IOAs) are 0.96 and 0.83, and the normalized mean bias (NMBs) are 2 % and −15 % in the dust source region (DSR) and the downwind populated area of NCP, respectively, suggesting that the WRF-DUST model well captures the spatial variations and temporal evolutions of the dust storm event. The impacts of EPRs induced land cover changes on the dust pollutions in NCP are quantitatively assessed using the WRF-DUST model. We find that the ERPs significantly reduce the dust pollutions in NCP, especially in the heart area of NCP (BTH, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei). During the episode when the dust storm was transported from the DSR to NCP, the reduction of dust pollutions induced by ERPs ranges from −5 % to −15 % in NCP, with the maximum reduction of −15.3 % (−21.0 μg m−3) in BTH, and −6.2 % (−9.3 μg m−3) in NCP. Because the air pollution is severe in eastern China, especially in NCP, the reduction of dust pollutions has important effects on the severe air pollutions. This study shows that ERPs help to reduce air pollutions in the region, especially in springtime, suggesting the important contributions of ERPs to the air pollution control in China.

Meteorological conditions during a severe, prolonged regional heavy air pollution episode in eastern China from December 2016 to January 2017

2018 ◽  
Vol 135 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 1105-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueliang Deng ◽  
Weihua Cao ◽  
Yanfeng Huo ◽  
Guanying Yang ◽  
Caixia Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Pollution Episode

scholarly journals Two mechanisms for accelerated diffusion of COVID-19 outbreaks in regions with high intensity of population and polluting industrialization: the air pollution-to-human and human-to-human transmission dynamics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Coccia
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Meteorological Condition ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
List Type ◽  
Viral Infectivity ◽  
Low Wind Speed

AbstractWhat is COVID-19?Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is viral infection that generates a severe acute respiratory syndrome with serious pneumonia that may result in progressive respiratory failure and death.What are the goals of this investigation?This study explains the geo-environmental determinants of the accelerated diffusion of COVID-19 in Italy that is generating a high level of deaths and suggests general lessons learned for a strategy to cope with future epidemics similar to COVID-19 to reduce viral infectivity and negative impacts in economic systems and society.What are the results of this study?The main results are: The accelerate and vast diffusion of COVID-19 in North Italy has a high association with air pollution.Hinterland cities have average days of exceeding the limits set for PM10 (particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter) equal to 80 days, and an average number of infected more than 2,000 individuals as of April 1st, 2020, coastal cities have days of exceeding the limits set for PM10 equal to 60 days and have about 700 infected in average.Cities that average number of 125 days exceeding the limits set for PM10, last year, they have an average number of infected individual higher than 3,200 units, whereas cities having less than 100 days (average number of 48 days) exceeding the limits set for PM10, they have an average number of about 900 infected individuals.The results reveal that accelerated transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in specific environments is due to two mechanisms given by: air pollution-to-human transmission and human-to-human transmission; in particular, the mechanisms of air pollution-to-human transmission play a critical role rather than human-to-human transmission.The finding here suggests that to minimize future epidemic similar to COVID-19, the max number of days per year in which cities can exceed the limits set for PM10 or for ozone, considering their meteorological condition, is less than 50 days. After this critical threshold, the analytical output here suggests that environmental inconsistencies because of the combination between air pollution and meteorological conditions (with high moisture%, low wind speed and fog) trigger a take-off of viral infectivity (accelerated epidemic diffusion) with damages for health of population, economy and society.What is a socioeconomic strategy to prevent future epidemics similar to COVID-19?Considering the complex interaction between air pollution, meteorological conditions and biological characteristics of viral infectivity, lessons learned for COVID-19 have to be applied for a proactive socioeconomic strategy to cope with future epidemics, especially an environmental policy based on reduction of air pollution mainly in hinterland zones of countries, having low wind speed, high percentage of moisture and fog that create an environment that can damage immune system of people and foster a fast transmission of viral infectivity similar to the COVID-19.This study must conclude that a strategy to prevent future epidemics similar to COVID 19 has also to be designed in environmental and sustainability science and not only in terms of biology.

scholarly journals Heavy air pollution with a unique “non-stagnant” atmospheric boundary layer in the Yangtze River middle basin aggravated by regional transport of PM<sub>2.5</sub> over China

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 7217-7230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Yu ◽  
Tianliang Zhao ◽  
Yongqing Bai ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Shaofei Kong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Atmospheric Boundary Layer ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Yangtze River ◽  
Temperature Inversion ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
The Yangtze River ◽  
Regional Transport

Abstract. The regional transport of air pollutants, controlled by emission sources and meteorological factors, results in a complex source–receptor relationship of air pollution change. Wuhan, a metropolis in the Yangtze River middle basin (YRMB) of central China, experienced heavy air pollution characterized by hourly PM2.5 concentrations reaching 471.1 µg m−3 in January 2016. To investigate the regional transport of PM2.5 over central eastern China (CEC) and the meteorological impact on wintertime air pollution in the YRMB area, observed meteorological and other relevant environmental data from January 2016 were analyzed. Our analysis presented noteworthy cases of heavy PM2.5 pollution in the YRMB area with unique “non-stagnant” meteorological conditions of strong northerly winds, no temperature inversion, and additional unstable structures in the atmospheric boundary layer. This unique set of conditions differed from the stagnant meteorological conditions characterized by near-surface weak winds, air temperature inversion, and stable structure in the boundary layer that are typically observed in heavy air pollution over most regions in China. The regional transport of PM2.5 over CEC aggravated PM2.5 levels, thus creating heavy air pollution in the YRMB area. This demonstrates a source–receptor relationship between the originating air pollution regions in CEC and the receiving YRMB region. Furthermore, a backward trajectory simulation using a Flexible Particle dispersion (FLEXPART) Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to integrate the air pollutant emission inventory over China was used to explore the patterns of regional transport of PM2.5 governed by the strong northerly winds in the cold air activity of the East Asian winter monsoon season. It was estimated that the regional transport of PM2.5 from non-local air pollutant emissions contributes more than 65 % of the PM2.5 concentrations to the heavy air pollution in the YRMB region during the study period, revealing the importance of the regional transport of air pollutants over China as a causative factor of heavy air pollution over the YRMB area.

scholarly journals Effects of meteorology and emissions on urban air quality: a quantitative statistical approach to long-term records (1999–2016) in Seoul, South Korea

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihoon Seo ◽  
Doo-Sun R. Park ◽  
Jin Young Kim ◽  
Daeok Youn ◽  
Yong Bin Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Meteorological Variables ◽  
Urban Air ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Local Emissions

Abstract. Together with emissions of air pollutants and precursors, meteorological conditions play important roles in local air quality through accumulation or ventilation, regional transport, and atmospheric chemistry. In this study, we extensively investigated multi-timescale meteorological effects on the urban air pollution using the long-term measurements data of PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, and O3 and meteorological variables over the period of 1999–2016 in Seoul, South Korea. The long-term air quality data were decomposed into trend-free short-term components and long-term trends by the Kolmogorov-Zurbenko filter, and the effects of meteorology and emissions were quantitatively isolated using a multiple linear regression with meteorological variables. In terms of short-term variability, intercorrelations among the pollutants and meteorological variables and composite analysis of synoptic meteorological fields exhibited that the warm and stagnant conditions in the migratory high-pressure system are related to the high PM10 and primary pollutant while the strong irradiance and low NO2 by high winds at the rear of cyclone are related to the high O3. In terms of long-term trends, decrease in PM10 (−1.75 µg m−3 yr−1) and increase in O3 (+0.88 ppb yr−1) in Seoul were largely contributed by the meteorology-related trends (−0.94 µg m−3 yr−1 for PM10 and +0.47 ppb yr−1 for O3), which were attributable to the subregional scale wind speeds increase. Comparisons with estimated local emissions and socioeconomic indices like GDP growth and fuel consumptions indicate probable influences of the 2008 global economic recession as well as the enforced regulations from the mid-2000s on the emission-related trends of PM10 and other primary pollutants. Change rates of local emissions and transport term of long-term components calculated by the tracer continuity equation revealed a decrease in contributions of local emissions to the primary pollutants including PM10 and an increase in contributions of local secondary productions to O3. This study shows meteorological conditions related to the episodic air pollution events in short-term and provides insights into the current environmental policies and regulations by isolation of emission-related trends in long-term.

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