Atmosphere

23 pages, 1502 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a New Generalizable, Multivariate, and Physical-Body-Response-Based Extreme Heatwave Index

by Marcio Cataldi, Vitor Luiz Victalino Galves, Leandro Alcoforado Sphaier, Ginés Garnés-Morales, Victoria Gallardo, Laurel Molina Párraga, Juan Pedro Montávez and Pedro Jimenez-Guerrero

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1541; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121541 (registering DOI) - 22 Dec 2024

Abstract

The primary goal of this study is to introduce the initial phase of developing an impact-based forecasting system for extreme heatwaves, utilizing a novel multivariate index which, at this early stage, already employs a combination of a statistical approach and physical principles related [...] Read more.

The primary goal of this study is to introduce the initial phase of developing an impact-based forecasting system for extreme heatwaves, utilizing a novel multivariate index which, at this early stage, already employs a combination of a statistical approach and physical principles related to human body water loss. This system also incorporates a mitigation plan with hydration-focused measures. Since 1990, heatwaves have become increasingly frequent and intense across many regions worldwide, particularly in Europe and Asia. The main health impacts of heatwaves include organ strain and damage, exacerbation of cardiovascular and kidney diseases, and adverse reproductive effects. These consequences are most pronounced in individuals aged 65 and older. Many national meteorological services have established metrics to assess the frequency and severity of heatwaves within their borders. These metrics typically rely on specific threshold values or ranges of near-surface (2 m) air temperature, often derived from historical extreme temperature records. However, to our knowledge, only a few of these metrics consider the persistence of heatwave events, and even fewer account for relative humidity. In response, this study aims to develop a globally applicable normalized index that can be used across various temporal scales and regions. This index incorporates the potential health risks associated with relative humidity, accounts for the duration of extreme heatwave events, and is exponentially sensitive to exposure to extreme heat conditions above critical thresholds of temperature. This novel index could be more suitable/adapted to guide national meteorological services when emitting warnings during extreme heatwave events about the health risks on the population. The index was computed under two scenarios: first, in forecasting heatwave episodes over a specific temporal horizon using the WRF model; second, in evaluating the relationship between the index, mortality data, and maximum temperature anomalies during the 2003 summer heatwave in Spain. Moreover, the study assessed the annual trend of increasing extreme heatwaves in Spain using ERA5 data on a climatic scale. The results show that this index has considerable potential as a decision-support and health risk assessment tool. It demonstrates greater sensitivity to extreme risk episodes compared to linear evaluations of extreme temperatures. Furthermore, its formulation aligns with the physical mechanisms of water loss in the human body, while also factoring in the effects of relative humidity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prediction and Modeling of Extreme Weather Events)

19 pages, 1952 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Large Eddy Simulation of Flow Around Twin Tower Buildings in Tandem Arrangements with Upstream Corner Modification

by Deqian Zheng, Xueyuan Wu, Yuzhe Zhu, Wenyong Ma and Pingzhi Fang

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1540; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121540 (registering DOI) - 22 Dec 2024

Abstract

The aerodynamic performance of twin tall buildings immersed in the atmospheric boundary layer was numerically investigated by adopting the spatial-averaged large eddy simulation (LES) method. This study focused on the effects of corner cutting and chamfering. The buildings were both square and sectional [...] Read more.

The aerodynamic performance of twin tall buildings immersed in the atmospheric boundary layer was numerically investigated by adopting the spatial-averaged large eddy simulation (LES) method. This study focused on the effects of corner cutting and chamfering. The buildings were both square and sectional with a width-to-height ratio of 1:6, and were arranged in a tandem configuration with a spacing ratio of 2.0. The corner-cutting and chamfering measures were only applied to the upstream cylinder, with a corner modification rate of 10%. To generate the turbulent inflow boundary condition (IBC) for LES, steady-state equilibrium IBC expressions were introduced into the vortex method, which were implemented in the commercial code Ansys Fluent. The present simulation method and solution parameters were first verified by comparing the simulated wind field and the wind pressure distribution on a single tall building with those of the wind tunnel test. The influences of the corner-cutting and chamfering measures on the wind load of the tandem buildings were then comparatively studied concerning the statistical values of their aerodynamic force coefficients and wind pressure coefficients. The influence mechanism was analyzed based on the simulated time-averaged flow field and the instantaneous vortex structure around the buildings. The results indicated that upstream corner-cutting and chamfering measures can induce a diffusion angle shift in the separated shear flow from the leading edge of the upstream building, thus affecting the separation and reattachment of the separated upstream flow on the downstream building. Among the measures studied, upstream corner cutting is more effective in reducing wind pressure and aerodynamic force coefficients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Atmospheric Techniques, Instruments, and Modeling)

20 pages, 288 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impacts of Environmental Assessment and Public Appeal on Air Quality: Evidence from the Chinese Provinces

by Zhi Li, Wen Wang and Zuo Zhang

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1539; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121539 (registering DOI) - 22 Dec 2024

Abstract

Local governments excessively pursued an economic growth-oriented incentive system while neglecting air pollution control for a long time in China. The impacts of environmental assessment and public appeal could potentially promote environmental governance, thus reducing air pollution. Based on panel data of 30 [...] Read more.

Local governments excessively pursued an economic growth-oriented incentive system while neglecting air pollution control for a long time in China. The impacts of environmental assessment and public appeal could potentially promote environmental governance, thus reducing air pollution. Based on panel data of 30 Chinese provinces from 2003 to 2021, we obtain results using the OLS and GLS methods indicating that environmental assessment and public appeal significantly impact both local environmental governance investments and environmental legislation, with environmental legislation having a more significant effect. Compared to environmental letters and visits, environmental proposals from NPC (National People’s Congress) deputies and CPPCC (Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference) members, as well as public online environmental concerns, have more significant positive impacts on environmental governance. Environmental governance can indeed reduce air pollution and is also affected by the personal characteristics of the officials. Officials who are in their second term or have transferred from other provinces are more willing to implement environmental governance. Older officials and those with higher education are also inclined towards environmental governance. Compared to provincial governors, the results are more significant for CCP (China’s Communist Party) secretaries. We also further perform a series of robustness tests and find that the effect still exists. The presented results provide valuable insights for the optimization of the roles of environmental assessment and public participation, contributing to reforming the environmental governance system in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)

13 pages, 10017 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agricultural Sources and Characterization of Spatial and Temporal Changes in Anhui Province (China)

by Zhou Ye, Yujuan Sun, Xianglin Zhang and Youzhi Yao

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1538; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121538 (registering DOI) - 22 Dec 2024

Abstract

To evaluate the estimation and spatiotemporal variation characteristics of nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural sources in Anhui Province, the nitrous oxide emissions generated during crop cultivation and manure management were assessed based on the recommended methods in the “Guidelines for Provincial Greenhouse Gas [...] Read more.

To evaluate the estimation and spatiotemporal variation characteristics of nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural sources in Anhui Province, the nitrous oxide emissions generated during crop cultivation and manure management were assessed based on the recommended methods in the “Guidelines for Provincial Greenhouse Gas Inventories” and official statistical data. The results showed that the overall emission of nitrous oxide from agricultural land showed a downward trend, reaching a valley value in 2019 with an emission of 2.83 × 10⁴ tons. The annual average emissions of nitrous oxide from agricultural land and manure management account for 80.98% and 19.02% of the total annual average emissions of nitrous oxide from agricultural activities in Anhui Province, respectively. Both agricultural land emissions and livestock manure management show a trend of nitrous oxide emissions decreasing from the northern region of Anhui > central region of Anhui > southern region of Anhui. In this paper, we explored and discussed the intrinsic driving factors behind the spatiotemporal changes in nitrous oxide emissions, and analyzed the potential for future emission reductions. It is suggested that the emissions of nitrous oxide from agricultural sources can be reduced through measures such as reasonable nitrogen application, adjustment of aquaculture structures, and the improvement of manure treatment methods, providing a theoretical reference for the estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural sources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)

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22 pages, 40924 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of the Synoptic Causes of Torrential Rainfall Events in the Canary Islands (1950–2020)

by Pablo Máyer Suárez and Ángel Luque Söllheim

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1537; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121537 (registering DOI) - 22 Dec 2024

Abstract

This work identifies and analyses, from a synoptic point of view, episodes of torrential rainfall (equal to or greater than 200 mm in a single day) that occurred in the Canary Islands between 1950 and 2020. For this purpose, all daily rainfall series [...] Read more.

This work identifies and analyses, from a synoptic point of view, episodes of torrential rainfall (equal to or greater than 200 mm in a single day) that occurred in the Canary Islands between 1950 and 2020. For this purpose, all daily rainfall series available in different databases were used, with a final selection, after applying various filters for the detection of errors, of 88 days on which 200 mm was exceeded. Subsequently, the isobaric configurations at the surface and at 500 hPa were analysed by applying the following two classification methods: the automatic one of Jenkinson and Collinson (1977) and the subjective one of Jorge Olcina (1994). Most of the selected days (63.4%) corresponded to high-altitude isolated depressions (known by their initials in Spanish as DANAs), as well as troughs showing the advection of polar air of different origins (36.5%). According to the Jenkinson and Collinson classification, half of the days were classified as cyclonic or hybrid cyclonic and 37.5% as pure advective or directional (37.5%), with five days classified as undetermined. On only one day, 23 November 1954, was a tropical disturbance observed, with cloud fronts moving from the south of the Canary Islands along the west coast of Africa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The 15th Anniversary of Atmosphere)

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16 pages, 3457 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial and Temporal Variations in Rainwater Chemistry in a Rapid Urbanization Area of Shenzhen, China

by Yilong Huang, Jingwei Yang, Chang Liu, Ruiying Jing and Qiaohui Lu

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121536 (registering DOI) - 21 Dec 2024

Abstract

Studying chemical constituents in rainwater can provide insights into the origin, characteristics, concentration, and processes involved in clearing atmospheric pollutants. This study investigated the spatial–temporal variations in rainwater chemistry characteristics in a rapidly urbanizing area of Shenzhen from 2007 to 2022. The mean [...] Read more.

Studying chemical constituents in rainwater can provide insights into the origin, characteristics, concentration, and processes involved in clearing atmospheric pollutants. This study investigated the spatial–temporal variations in rainwater chemistry characteristics in a rapidly urbanizing area of Shenzhen from 2007 to 2022. The mean pH during 2007–2022 was 5.12 ± 0.45, significantly higher than the 4.51 recorded in 2006. The electrical conductivity (EC) of rainfall in Shenzhen was 15.79 ± 2.63 μS/cm and showed a progressive decrease over the years. Human activities influenced the trends of SO₄²⁻, which decreased, while NO₃⁻ and Cl⁻ increased over time. The cations Ca²⁺ and NH₄⁺ decreased, and Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ increased. In recent years, Na⁺ and Cl⁻, typical sea-salt ions, became dominant with a continually rising contribution. The study also revealed that Shenzhen has been affected by both sulfuric and nitric acid rain, formally ushering in the nitric acid-type era. Spatial variations in rainfall chemicals were observed, especially for pH and conductivity, attributed to urban growth, distance from the coast, and industrial development. Moreover, the total ion concentration of rainwater demonstrated high values in the spring and low values in the summer due to the significant effect of precipitation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Atmospheric Chemistry, Aging, and Dynamics)

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21 pages, 4626 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Bayesian-Optimized Surrogate Model Integrating Deep Learning Algorithms for Correcting PurpleAir Sensor Measurements

by Masrur Ahmed, Jing Kong, Ningbo Jiang, Hiep Nguyen Duc, Praveen Puppala, Merched Azzi, Matthew Riley and Xavier Barthelemy

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1535; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121535 (registering DOI) - 21 Dec 2024

Abstract

Lowcost sensors are widely used for air quality monitoring due to their affordability, portability and easy maintenance. However, the performance of such sensors, such as PurpleAir Sensors (PAS), is often affected by changes in environmental (e.g., temperature and humidity) or emission conditions, and [...] Read more.

Lowcost sensors are widely used for air quality monitoring due to their affordability, portability and easy maintenance. However, the performance of such sensors, such as PurpleAir Sensors (PAS), is often affected by changes in environmental (e.g., temperature and humidity) or emission conditions, and hence the resulting measurements require corrections to ensure accuracy and validity. Traditional correction methods, like those developed by the USEPA, have limitations, particularly for applications to geographically diverse settings and sensors with no collocated referenced monitoring stations available. This study introduces BaySurcls, a Bayesianoptimised surrogate model integrating deep learning (DL) algorithms to improve the PurpleAir sensor PM2.5 (PAS2.5) measurement accuracy. The framework incorporates environmental variables such as humidity and temperature alongside aerosol characteristics, to refine sensor readings. The BaySurcls model corrects the PAS2.5 data for both collocated and noncollocated monitoring scenarios. In a case study across multiple locations in New South Wales, Australia, BaySurcls demonstrated significant improvements over traditional correction methods, including the USEPA model. BaySurcls reduced root mean square error (RMSE) by an average of 20% in collocated scenarios, with reductions of up to 25% in highvariation sites. Additionally, BaySurcls achieved Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) scores as high as 0.88 in collocated cases, compared to scores below 0.4 for the USEPA method. In noncollocated scenarios, BaySurcls maintained NSE values between 0.60 and 0.78, outperforming standalone models. This improvement is evident across multiple locations in New South Wales, Australia, demonstrating the model’s adaptability. The findings confirm BaySurcls as a promising solution for improving the reliability of lowcost sensor data, thus facilitating its valid use in air quality research, impact assessment, and environmental management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)

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13 pages, 1871 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Long-Term Monitoring of Radon Levels in a Low-Ventilated, Semi-Underground Laboratory—Dose Estimation and Exploration of Potential Earthquake Precursors

by Ljiljana Gulan

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1534; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121534 (registering DOI) - 21 Dec 2024

Abstract

This study involves continuous radon monitoring during the academic year 2023/24. An Airthings Corentium Home radon detector placed in the basement laboratory of a faculty building in Kosovska Mitrovica (N 42.897°, E 20.867°) was used for continuous measurements. The average radon concentration was [...] Read more.

This study involves continuous radon monitoring during the academic year 2023/24. An Airthings Corentium Home radon detector placed in the basement laboratory of a faculty building in Kosovska Mitrovica (N 42.897°, E 20.867°) was used for continuous measurements. The average radon concentration was 303 Bq/m³, and a seasonal pattern during the measuring period was observed. For the first time, the results were grouped by week, excluding non-working days, to present a real case scenario with the aim of assessing the radon exposure of students, teachers, and employed persons. The inhalation dose from radon (1.54 mSv) was very high considering that exposure occurred in both semesters. Another aspect of continuous radon monitoring was to explore the relationship between indoor radon measurements and the occurrences of earthquakes in the Balkan region. Daily variations in radon (peaks and differences) were analyzed at the monitoring site by using both empirical laws and taking into account the earthquake data set provided by the Seismological Survey of Serbia. The analysis revealed that the events chosen to confirm a clear association between earthquake occurrence and enhanced radon activities in the air(as a precursor of seismic activities) did not meet the required criteria but most likely reflected external meteorological conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Radon Measurement and Radiation Exposure Assessment)

24 pages, 5319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cyclone Classification over the South Atlantic Ocean in Centenary Reanalysis

by Eduardo Traversi de Cai Conrado, Rosmeri Porfírio da Rocha, Michelle Simões Reboita and Andressa Andrade Cardoso

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1533; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121533 (registering DOI) - 21 Dec 2024

Abstract

Since the beginning of the satellite era, only three tropical cyclones have been recorded over the South Atlantic Ocean. To investigate the potential occurrence of such systems since the 1900s, ERA20C, a centennial reanalysis, was utilised. This study first evaluates the performance of [...] Read more.

Since the beginning of the satellite era, only three tropical cyclones have been recorded over the South Atlantic Ocean. To investigate the potential occurrence of such systems since the 1900s, ERA20C, a centennial reanalysis, was utilised. This study first evaluates the performance of ERA20C in reproducing the climatology of all cyclone types over the southwestern South Atlantic Ocean by comparing it with a modern reanalysis (ERA5) for the period 1979–2010. Despite its simpler construction, ERA20C is able to reproduce key climatological features, such as frequency, location, seasonality, intensity, and thermal structure of cyclones similar to ERA5. Then, the Cyclone Phase Space (CPS) methodology was applied to determine the thermal structure at each time step for every cyclone between 1900 and 2010 in ERA20C. The cyclones were then categorised into different types (extratropical, subtropical, and tropical), and systems exhibiting a warm core at their initial time step were classified as tropical cyclogenesis. Between 1900 and 2010, 96 cases of tropical cyclogenesis were identified over the South Atlantic. Additionally, throughout the lifetime of all cyclones, a total of 1838 time steps exhibited a tropical structure, indicating that cyclones can acquire a warm core at different stages of their lifecycle. The coasts of southeastern and southern sectors of northeast Brazil emerged as the most favourable for cyclones with tropical structures during their lifecycle. The findings of this study highlight the occurrence of tropical cyclones in the South Atlantic prior to the satellite era, providing a foundation for future research into the physical mechanisms that enabled these events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cyclones: Types and Phase Transitions)

12 pages, 959 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Nanoparticles as an Air Pollutant on Angulin-1/Lipolysis-Stimulated Lipoprotein Receptor in Asthma

by DaYeon Hwang, Min-Hyeok An, Pureun-Haneul Lee, Jung-Hyun Kim, Yunha Nam, Shinhee Park, Ae-Rin Baek and An-Soo Jang

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1532; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121532 (registering DOI) - 20 Dec 2024

Abstract

Background: The tricellular tight junction protein angulin-1/lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) is linked to numerous signal transduction pathways that govern gene expression, epithelial cell function, and morphogenesis. The effect of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) on LSR and asthma remains unknown. The objective of [...] Read more.

Background: The tricellular tight junction protein angulin-1/lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) is linked to numerous signal transduction pathways that govern gene expression, epithelial cell function, and morphogenesis. The effect of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) on LSR and asthma remains unknown. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of TiO₂ on LSR expression in asthma. Methods: A TiO₂-induced animal model of asthma was established using BALB/c mice and cell lines using normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) lung cells and we examined LSR, RAGE, and TGFβ expression using this model. Additionally, we analyzed plasma-LSR concentrations and their correlation with clinical variables in asthma patients and control subjects. Results: The LSR concentrations in patients with asthma were lower compared to controls, and were correlated with lung function and inflammatory cell ratio. In NHBE cells treated with Derp1, LSR protein expression was reduced and changed by exposure to TiO₂, whereas TGFβ expression was increased and changed. In mouse lungs, LSR expression was significantly reduced in OVA mice and changed in OVA/TiO₂ mice. Conclusion: Circulating LSR levels were decreased and correlated with clinical variables in patients with asthma, and they were influenced by TiO₂ exposure in mice, suggesting the potential involvement of LSR in asthma pathogenesis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Air Pollution and Human Exposures)

16 pages, 456 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Analyzing the Reliability and Cost of the Most Commonly Used Dosimeters for Personal Ultraviolet Radiation Monitoring—A Rapid Review

by Marco Caetano, João Gregório and Marília Silva Paulo

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1531; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121531 (registering DOI) - 20 Dec 2024

Abstract

To identify the most used dosimeters for monitoring ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and analyze their reliability and cost for individual UV exposure monitoring, this study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. An extensive search of the PubMed, Scopus, and [...] Read more.

To identify the most used dosimeters for monitoring ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and analyze their reliability and cost for individual UV exposure monitoring, this study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. An extensive search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, covering 2005–2023, was conducted, including examining reference lists of retrieved studies. Of the 1202 records, 52 were eligible for analysis. Three types of dosimeters were identified: photosensitive, photochromic, and electronic dosimeters. Photosensitive dosimeters were utilized for 1236 samples across the studies, while photochromic dosimeters were employed for 360 samples. Electronic dosimeters, with a sample size of 3632, were the most extensively studied. This study highlights the variety of resources available for UVR assessment and the significance of specific dosimeter types in this field. Although few studies have explored the costs associated with dosimeter use, electronic dosimeters are the most cost-effective for radiation monitoring and provide the highest accuracy for measuring UVR exposure. Electronic dosimeters, known for real-time data and high precision, are reliable but costly, being approximately 16.5 times more expensive than photosensitive dosimeters and 160 times more expensive than photochromic dosimeters. Photosensitive dosimeters suit large-scale personal use, and photochromic sensors such as polysulphone dosimeters are also reliable. Additional costs for data analysis software, laboratory equipment, or external analysis services may be incurred, especially for advanced research-grade sensors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Atmospheric Techniques, Instruments, and Modeling)

15 pages, 3080 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Doppler Wind Lidar Detection Efficiency and Influencing Factors at Plateau Airport: A Case Study of Lhasa Gonggar Airport

by Junjie Wu, Hongyu Du, Chunjiong Xia and Xiaoyuan Huang

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1530; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121530 (registering DOI) - 20 Dec 2024

Abstract

Doppler wind lidar (DWL) demonstrates significant advantages in wind field detection under clear weather conditions and has been widely applied in airports with complex wind environments. However, its detection performance is highly susceptible to weather conditions and meteorological factors. To address this issue, [...] Read more.

Doppler wind lidar (DWL) demonstrates significant advantages in wind field detection under clear weather conditions and has been widely applied in airports with complex wind environments. However, its detection performance is highly susceptible to weather conditions and meteorological factors. To address this issue, this study analyzes the detection efficiency of DWL based on data collected at Lhasa Gonggar Airport from August 2023 to April 2024, along with ground-based meteorological observations. The results indicate that when the detection efficiency dropped to 40%, the average detection range for the plan position indicator (PPI) mode and Doppler beam swinging (DBS) mode were 5.3 km and 2.7 km, respectively. The influence of different underlying surface types on detection efficiency was minimal, with detection efficiency at a 270° azimuth slightly better than at a 90° azimuth. A 4° elevation angle performed better than a 6° elevation angle. During the study period, the detection efficiency generally improved, with the lowest detection efficiency being observed in August, suggesting that precipitation significantly impacts performance. In August, the detection efficiency of the PPI mode dropped below 50% at 4 km, while the highest detection efficiency occurred in April, where performance remained above 50% at 7 km. This is associated with enhanced thermal and dynamic activity in the lower atmosphere. Low-cloud activity also affected the detection performance of the DBS mode. The daily variation in the detection range in April was more pronounced than in January, with the detection range generally being larger. The increase in detection range was related to the more active vertical atmospheric mixing. The PPI mode was more sensitive to changes in meteorological factors, with its median detection range being 0.2–0.6 km shorter than that of the DBS mode when the meteorological optical range (MOR) was less than 4 km. Additionally, the PPI mode showed weaker stability than the DBS mode when relative humidity was below 75%. When relative humidity exceeded 80%, both modes showed a linear decrease in detection efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Atmospheric Techniques, Instruments, and Modeling)

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18 pages, 976 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Forecasting Indoor Air Quality in Mexico City Using Deep Learning Architectures

by Jorge Altamirano-Astorga, J. Octavio Gutierrez-Garcia and Edgar Roman-Rangel

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1529; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121529 (registering DOI) - 20 Dec 2024

Abstract

Air pollution causes millions of premature deaths per year due to its strong association with several diseases and respiratory afflictions. Consequently, air quality monitoring and forecasting systems have been deployed in large urban areas. However, those systems forecast outdoor air quality while people [...] Read more.

Air pollution causes millions of premature deaths per year due to its strong association with several diseases and respiratory afflictions. Consequently, air quality monitoring and forecasting systems have been deployed in large urban areas. However, those systems forecast outdoor air quality while people living in relatively large cities spend most of their time indoors. Hence, this work proposes an indoor air quality forecasting system, which was trained with data from Mexico City, and that is supported by deep learning architectures. The novelty of our work is that we forecast an indoor air quality index, taking into account seasonal data for multiple horizons in terms of minutes; whereas related work mostly focuses on forecasting concentration levels of pollutants for a single and relatively large forecasting horizon, using data from a short period of time. To find the best forecasting model, we conducted extensive experimentation involving 133 deep learning models. The deep learning architectures explored were multilayer perceptrons, long short-term memory neural networks, 1-dimension convolutional neural networks, and hybrid architectures, from which LSTM rose as the best-performing architecture. The models were trained using (i) outdoor air pollution data, (ii) publicly available weather data, and (iii) data collected from an indoor air quality sensor that was installed in a house located in a central neighborhood of Mexico City for 17 months. Our empirical results show that deep learning models can forecast an indoor air quality index based on outdoor concentration levels of pollutants in conjunction with indoor and outdoor meteorological variables. In addition, our findings show that the proposed method performs with a mean squared error of 0.0179 and a mean absolute error of 0.1038. We also noticed that 5 months of historical data are enough for accurate training of the forecast models, and that shallow models with around 50,000 parameters have enough predicting power for this task. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)

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21 pages, 1426 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Transboundary Air Pollution Control and Cooperative Strategies Based on Differential Game

by Chengyue Yu, Guoping Tu and Feilong Yu

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1528; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121528 (registering DOI) - 20 Dec 2024

Abstract

This paper examines control and cooperation mechanisms for trans-regional air pollution using differential game theory. This study focuses on analyzing pollution control pathways in regions characterized by asymmetric economic development. Three models are constructed: the Nash non-cooperative game, the pollution control cost compensation [...] Read more.

This paper examines control and cooperation mechanisms for trans-regional air pollution using differential game theory. This study focuses on analyzing pollution control pathways in regions characterized by asymmetric economic development. Three models are constructed: the Nash non-cooperative game, the pollution control cost compensation mechanism, and the collaborative cooperation mechanism. These models are used to investigate optimal pollution control strategies for various regions. The findings indicate that the collaborative cooperation model substantially reduces pollution emissions and enhances overall benefits. Additionally, the pollution control cost compensation mechanism alleviates the burden of pollution control on less developed regions. Numerical analysis confirms the effectiveness of the proposed models and offers theoretical foundations and policy recommendations for regional cooperation in pollution prevention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)

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23 pages, 8094 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of the Northeast Monsoon on Different Terrain of the Taipei Basin and Lanyang Plain in Taiwan

by Pei-Di Jeng and Jou-Ping Hou

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1527; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121527 - 20 Dec 2024

Abstract

The Taipei Basin (TPB) and the Lanyang Plain (LYP) are geographically similar, both situated in northern Taiwan. However, significant differences in heat transfer processes arise between the two regions due to local terrain influences under the Northeast Monsoon. Precipitation patterns in the TPB [...] Read more.

The Taipei Basin (TPB) and the Lanyang Plain (LYP) are geographically similar, both situated in northern Taiwan. However, significant differences in heat transfer processes arise between the two regions due to local terrain influences under the Northeast Monsoon. Precipitation patterns in the TPB and LYP, especially during the case study of 26 November 2021, differ markedly due to the distinctive dustpan-shaped terrain of the LYP. Our study, based on the WRF model, reveals that while both the TPB and LYP are characterized by downward cold air transfer, the TPB exhibits stronger atmospheric boundary layer mixing and a higher mixing layer height compared to the LYP. Turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) in the TPB is higher during the morning and evening, while vertical heat flux is more pronounced in the LYP. The average sensible heat flux is greater in the TPB, whereas latent heat flux is higher in the LYP. In addition, the amount of water vapor transported into the LYP by the Northeast Monsoon is greater than in the TPB. In the TPB, the wind field, influenced by the terrain, shifts predominantly from northeast to northeasterly and southeasterly. However, upon entering the LYP, the same environmental wind field is affected by the dustpan-shaped terrain, resulting in a counterclockwise near-surface wind pattern. The wind field transitions from northeasterly in the north to westerly, southwesterly, or northwesterly in the south. This difference in wind field causes precipitation in the TPB to be confined mainly to the windward side of the mountainous areas whereas, in the LYP, precipitation occurs both on the windward side and, more abundantly, in the plains. The effect of different types of terrain under the Northeast Monsoon is quite obvious. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Meteorology)

35 pages, 479 KiB

Open AccessReview

Typologizing the Hydro-Environmental Research on Climate Change Adaptation of Water Infrastructure in the Mediterranean Region

by Anastasios I. Stamou, Georgios Mitsopoulos, Athanasios Sfetsos, Athanasia Tatiana Stamou, Konstantinos V. Varotsos, Christos Giannakopoulos and Aristeidis Koutroulis

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1526; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121526 - 20 Dec 2024

Abstract

Water Infrastructure (WI), incorporating water supply, wastewater, and stormwater systems, is vulnerable to climate change impacts that can disrupt their functionality; thus, WI needs to be adapted to climate change. In 2021, the European Commission (EC) released the technical guidelines on “Climate-proofing Infrastructure” [...] Read more.

Water Infrastructure (WI), incorporating water supply, wastewater, and stormwater systems, is vulnerable to climate change impacts that can disrupt their functionality; thus, WI needs to be adapted to climate change. In 2021, the European Commission (EC) released the technical guidelines on “Climate-proofing Infrastructure” that include mitigation and adaptation strategies; these guidelines, and the relevant guides that followed, focus mainly on climate change aspects without examining sufficiently the engineering features of WI that are described mainly in the relevant hydro-environmental research; this research is vast and includes various terminologies and methods for all aspects of climate change adaptation. The adaptation procedure of WI to climate change is improved when this research is known to guidelines’ developers. In the present work, to facilitate this knowledge transfer, we typologize the hydro-environmental research via its classification into five categories that are based on the EC guidelines and then perform a literature review that we present as follows: firstly, we introduce and typologize the climate hazards for WI systems and identify the most common of them in the Mediterranean region that we classify into seven groups; then, we classify the hydro-environmental research into five categories based on the EC guidelines, present the main aspects for each of these categories, discuss the future research; and finally, we summarize the conclusions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Drivers and Impacts of Climate Change Over the Eastern Mediterranean)

17 pages, 7407 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Indoor Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons—Relationship to Ambient Air, Risk Estimation, and Source Apportionment Based on Household Measurements

by Mario Lovrić, Nikolina Račić, Gordana Pehnec, Tajana Horvat, Marija Jelena Lovrić Štefiček and Ivana Jakovljević

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1525; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121525 - 20 Dec 2024

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are key components of particulate matter (PM) in terms of the toxicological risk of polluted air. Although commonly monitored in ambient air, PAHs are also present in indoor air, making the measurement of indoor PAH content essential for understanding [...] Read more.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are key components of particulate matter (PM) in terms of the toxicological risk of polluted air. Although commonly monitored in ambient air, PAHs are also present in indoor air, making the measurement of indoor PAH content essential for understanding the health risks associated with indoor environments. This study presents findings from measurements conducted across 37 households where children resided, using 7-day sampling campaigns to collect PM₁. The health risk assessment methods are detailed herein, along with a source apportionment analysis to explore the associations with potential sources and differences from ambient air concentrations. Additionally, the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) was calculated to assess long-term health risks associated with exposure to indoor PAHs. The results showed consistently higher PAH concentrations in outdoor environments (from 0.079 ng m⁻³ for dibenzo(a,h)anthracene to 1.638 ng m⁻³ for benzo(b)fluoranthene) compared to indoor environments (from 0.029 ng m⁻³ for dibenzo(a,h)anthracene to 0.772 ng m⁻³ for indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene), suggesting significant transfer of PAHs from outdoor to indoor air. The source apportionment analysis indicated that traffic emissions, fossil fuel combustion, and residential heating were the predominant sources of PAHs in both environments, with the concentration of indoor PAHs largely influenced by gasoline and liquid fossil fuel combustion. The diagnostic ratios supported these findings, with coal and biomass as additional sources impacting outdoor PAH levels. The ILCR analysis revealed that the exposure levels for both children (indoors at 1.78 × 10⁻⁵, outdoors at 1.92 × 10⁻⁶) and adults (indoors at 1.15 × 10⁻⁵, outdoors at 1.24 × 10⁻⁶) remained below the U.S. EPA’s risk threshold, suggesting limited carcinogenic risk under typical household conditions in this study. These findings emphasize the complexity of PAH distribution between indoor and outdoor environments, illustrating how urban outdoor pollution sources contribute to indoor air quality and highlighting the relevance of effective air quality management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Technologies for Observation of Air Pollution)

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16 pages, 1973 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Factors Dominate the Spatial Distribution of Soil Nutrients in Desert Grassland

by Chunrong Guo, Ruixu Zhao, Hongtao Jiang and Wenjing Qu

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1524; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121524 - 20 Dec 2024

Abstract

Soil nutrient distribution in desert grasslands is predominantly influenced by climatic factors, particularly precipitation and temperature. Siziwang Banner, situated within the desert grassland belt of Inner Mongolia, represents a typical arid zone where soil nutrient dynamics are shaped by the interplay of precipitation, [...] Read more.

Soil nutrient distribution in desert grasslands is predominantly influenced by climatic factors, particularly precipitation and temperature. Siziwang Banner, situated within the desert grassland belt of Inner Mongolia, represents a typical arid zone where soil nutrient dynamics are shaped by the interplay of precipitation, temperature, and topography. This study aims to investigate the spatial distribution of soil nutrients and assess the dominant role of climatic factors in this region, using geostatistical analyses and GIS techniques. The results reveal that soil nutrients exhibit higher concentrations in surface layers, gradually decreasing with depth. Horizontally, a pronounced gradient can be observed, with nutrient levels being higher in the southern regions and lower in the northern regions. Precipitation and temperature emerge as decisive factors driving these patterns; increased precipitation enhances the accumulation of soil organic matter and nitrogen, whereas elevated temperatures accelerate decomposition of organic matter, leading to nutrient losses. These findings underscore the critical role of climatic factors in governing soil nutrient distribution, offering valuable insights for soil management and ecological restoration efforts in arid ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Response of Vegetation to Climatic and Anthropogenic Drivers in the Plateau)

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24 pages, 4722 KiB

Open AccessReview

Low-Cost Air Quality Sensors: Biases, Corrections and Challenges in Their Comparability

by Idris Hayward, Nicholas A. Martin, Valerio Ferracci, Mohsen Kazemimanesh and Prashant Kumar

Atmosphere 2024, 15(12), 1523; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15121523 - 20 Dec 2024

Abstract

Low-cost air quality sensors are a promising supplement to current reference methods for air quality monitoring but can suffer from issues that affect their measurement quality. Interferences from environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, cross-sensitivities with other gases and a low signal-to-noise ratio [...] Read more.

Low-cost air quality sensors are a promising supplement to current reference methods for air quality monitoring but can suffer from issues that affect their measurement quality. Interferences from environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, cross-sensitivities with other gases and a low signal-to-noise ratio make them difficult to use in air quality monitoring without significant time investment in calibrating and correcting their output. Many studies have approached these problems utilising a variety of techniques to correct for these biases. Some use physical methods, removing the variability in environmental conditions, whereas most adopt software corrections. However, these approaches are often not standardised, varying in study duration, measurement frequency, averaging period, average concentration of the target pollutant and the biases that are corrected. Some go further and include features with no direct connection to the measurement such as the level of traffic nearby, converting the initial measurement into a modelled value. Though overall trends in performance can be derived when aggregating the results from multiple studies, they do not always match observations from individual studies, a phenomenon observed across many different academic fields and known as “Simpson’s Paradox”. The preference of performance metrics which utilise the square of the error, such as root mean squared error (RMSE) and r², over ones which use the absolute error, such as mean absolute error (MAE), makes comparing results between models and studies difficult. Ultimately, comparisons between studies are either difficult or unwise depending on the metrics used, and this literature review recommends that efforts are made to standardise the reporting of calibration and correction studies. By utilising metrics which do not use the square of the error (e.g., MAE), models can be more easily compared within and between studies. By not only reporting the raw error but also the error normalised by multiple factors (including the reference mean and reference absolute deviation), the variabilities induced by environmental factors such as proximity to pollution sources can be minimised. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)

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