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Rubio Fernández V, Villa Mencía RVDL, Rojas MF, García Giménez R, Moreno-Juez J, Soto García ISD. Construction and demolition waste in cement matrices as sinkholes of atmospheric pollution: Effect of the 2022 airborne dust in the Iberian Peninsula. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 464:132929. [PMID: 37984135 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The coincidence of a study on different ecocements to environmental exposition in Madrid (Spain) with the airborne dust from the Sahara desert in the same location, during the year 2022, facilitated the knowledge of the ecocement permeability to different sources of contamination. In general, mortars with a siliceous composition are more compact and less permeable to environmental particles compared to those with a calcareous composition. Binary mortars with glass have an intermediate response to pollutants and the most favorable for the incidence of contamination are ternary sulfoaluminate cements. The analysis of the ions penetration in the different cements studied has been followed by XRF, XRD-Rietveld and SEM/EDX analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Rubio Fernández
- Departamento de Geografía, Facultad de Filosofía y letras, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Unidad Asociada CSIC- UAM, Spain.
| | - Raquel Vigil de la Villa Mencía
- Departamento de Geología y Geoquímica, Geomateriales Unidad Asociada CSIC-UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Moisés Frías Rojas
- Eduardo Torroja Institute for Construction Sciences (IETcc-CSIC), 28033 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosario García Giménez
- Departamento de Geología y Geoquímica, Geomateriales Unidad Asociada CSIC-UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jaime Moreno-Juez
- Tecnalia, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Isabel Sonsoles de Soto García
- Departamento de Ciencias, Instituto de Innovación y Sostenibilidad en la Cadena Agroalimentaria (IS-FOOD), Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
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2
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Blanco-Alegre C, Calvo AI, Castro A, Oduber F, Alonso-Blanco E, Alves C, Cerqueira M, López R, Lucarelli F, Nava S, Calzolai G, Fraile R. The role of snow in scavenging aerosol particles: A physical-chemical characterization. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167608. [PMID: 37804986 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
The below cloud scavenging of aerosols by snow has been analysed in León (NW Spain). Six snow events were registered over the course of one year of study. Ultrafine and accumulation aerosol particles were measured using a scanning mobility particle sizer spectrometer, while hydrometeors were characterized using a disdrometer. Furthermore, the chemical composition of the melted snow-water samples (soluble and insoluble fractions) was analysed. The scavenging coefficient (λ) showed a great variability among events. An effective washing of particles was observed during the first 30 min of snowfall. The mean change in the scavenging efficiency (%ΔC) of particle number concentration (PNC) and λ coefficient during this time interval were: i) nucleation mode: 36.3 % and 3.02 · 10-4 s-1; ii) Aitken mode: 30.4 % and 2.37 · 10-4 s-1 and iii) accumulation mode: 22.4 % and 1.77 · 10-4 s-1. The range of particle sizes that is less efficiently scavenged by snowfall was observed between 400 and 600 nm. When analyzing the whole snow event, an increase of PNC was observed. Two possible explanations underlie this behaviour: it could be caused by changes in air masses or by the resuspension of aerosol particles scavenged by snowflakes upon reaching the ground. A clear relationship was observed between Ca2+, SO42- and NO3- concentrations of aerosol particles before the snow event and the concentrations registered in the melted snow-water. The largest and smallest changes in aerosol number concentrations were caused by snowflakes of 3 and 6 mm in diameter, respectively. The particle size distributions (PSD) were fitted to log-normal distributions and the parameters were compared before and after snowfall.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Blanco-Alegre
- Department of Physics, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain.
| | - A I Calvo
- Department of Physics, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain
| | - A Castro
- Department of Physics, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain
| | - F Oduber
- Department of Physics, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain
| | - E Alonso-Blanco
- Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology Research (CIEMAT), Environment Department, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Alves
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal
| | - M Cerqueira
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal
| | - R López
- Department of Chemistry, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain
| | - F Lucarelli
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence and INFN-Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - S Nava
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence and INFN-Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - G Calzolai
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence and INFN-Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - R Fraile
- Department of Physics, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain
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Milà C, Ballester J, Basagaña X, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Tonne C. Estimating daily air temperature and pollution in Catalonia: A comprehensive spatiotemporal modelling of multiple exposures. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 337:122501. [PMID: 37690467 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Environmental epidemiology studies require models of multiple exposures to adjust for co-exposure and explore interactions. We estimated spatiotemporal exposure to surface air temperature and pollution (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3) at high spatiotemporal resolution (daily, 250 m) for 2018-2020 in Catalonia. Innovations include the use of TROPOMI products, a data split for remote sensing gap-filling evaluation, estimation of prediction uncertainty, and use of explainable machine learning. We compiled meteorological and air quality station measurements, climate and atmospheric composition reanalyses, remote sensing products, and other spatiotemporal data. We performed gap-filling of remotely-sensed products using Random Forest (RF) models and validated them using Out-Of-Bag (OOB) samples and a structured data split. The exposure modelling workflow consisted of: 1) PM2.5 station imputation with PM10 data; 2) quantile RF (QRF) model fitting; and 3) geostatistical residual spatial interpolation. Prediction uncertainty was estimated using QRF. SHAP values were used to examine variable importance and the fitted relationships. Model performance was assessed via nested CV at the station level. Evaluation of the gap-filling models using the structured split showed error underestimation when using OOB. Temperature models had the best performance (R2 =0.98) followed by the gaseous air pollutants (R2 =0.81 for NO2 and 0.86 for O3), while the performance of the PM2.5 and PM10 models was lower (R2 =0.57 and 0.63 respectively). Predicted exposure patterns captured urban heat island effects, dust advection events, and NO2 hotspots. SHAP values estimated a high importance of TROPOMI tropospheric NO2 columns in PM and NO2 models, and confirmed that the fitted associations conformed to prior knowledge. Our work highlights the importance of correctly validating gap-filling models and the potential of TROPOMI measurements. Moderate performance in PM models can be partly explained by the poor station coverage. Our exposure estimates can be used in epidemiological studies potentially accounting for exposure uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carles Milà
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Xavier Basagaña
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cathryn Tonne
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Barcelona, Spain.
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Alarcón M, Rodríguez-Solà R, Casas-Castillo MC, Molero F, Salvador P, Periago C, Belmonte J. Influence of synoptic meteorology on airborne allergenic pollen and spores in an urban environment in Northeastern Iberian Peninsula. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:165337. [PMID: 37414168 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
The influence of the most frequent patterns of synoptic circulation on the dynamics of airborne pollen/spores recorded at the Barcelona Aerobiological Station (BCN) was analysed. Six pollen types (Platanus, Cupressaceae, Olea, Poaceae, Urticaceae and Amaranthaceae), and one fungal spore (Alternaria) were selected for their high allergenic effect in sensitive people. Six synoptic meteorological patterns were identified through cluster analysis of sea level pressure fields as the main responsible of the weather conditions in the Iberian Peninsula. The local meteorological conditions in Barcelona associated with each one of the synoptic types were also stablished. Different statistical methods were applied to analyse possible relationships between concentrations and timing of the recorded aerobiological particles and specific synoptic types. The study, focused in the 19-year period 2001-2019, shows that one of the scenarios, frequent in winter and linked to high stability and air-mass blockage, registered the highest mean and median values for Platanus and Cupressaceae, but it was not very relevant for the other taxa. It was also this scenario that turned out to be the most influent on the pollination timing showing a significant influence on the start occurrence of Urticaceae flowering and on the peak date of Platanus. On the other hand, the most frequent synoptic type in the period, relevant in spring and summer, was linked to sporadic episodes of levels considered to be of high risk of allergy to Platanus, Poaceae, and Urticaceae pollen, and Alternaria fungal spore. This synoptic pattern, characterized by the presence of the Azores anticyclone and the Atlantic low located in the north of the United Kingdom, was associated with high temperatures, low relative humidity and moderate winds from the NW in Barcelona. The identification of an interaction between synoptic meteorology and pollen/spore dynamics will allow better abatement measures, reducing adverse health effects on sensitive population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Alarcón
- Departament de Física, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, Eduard Maristany 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Raül Rodríguez-Solà
- Departament de Física, ETSEIB, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - M Carmen Casas-Castillo
- Departament de Física, ESEIAAT, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, Colom 1, 08222 Terrassa, Spain.
| | - Francisco Molero
- Departamento de Medio Ambiente, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Avenida Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Pedro Salvador
- Departamento de Medio Ambiente, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Avenida Complutense 22, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Cristina Periago
- Departament de Física, EEBE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya·BarcelonaTech, Eduard Maristany 16, 08019 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jordina Belmonte
- Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Facultat de Biociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA-UAB), Universitat Autònoma de Bellaterra, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
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5
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Yang J, Wang G, Zhang C. Forecast of Fine Particles in Chengdu under Autumn-Winter Synoptic Conditions. TOXICS 2023; 11:777. [PMID: 37755787 PMCID: PMC10535754 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11090777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
We conducted an evaluation of the impact of meteorological factor forecasts on the prediction of fine particles in Chengdu, China, during autumn and winter, utilizing the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST)733 objective weather classification software and the Community Multiscale Air Quality model. This analysis was performed under four prevailing weather patterns. Fine particle pollution tended to occur under high-pressure rear, homogeneous-pressure, and low-pressure conditions; by contrast, fine particle concentrations were lower under high-pressure bottom conditions. The forecasts of fine particle concentrations were more accurate under high-pressure bottom conditions than under high-pressure rear and homogeneous-pressure conditions. Moreover, under all conditions, the 24 h forecast of fine particle concentrations were more accurate than the 48 and 72 h forecasts. Regarding meteorological factors, forecasts of 2 m relative humidity and 10 m wind speed were more accurate under high-pressure bottom conditions than high-pressure rear and homogeneous-pressure conditions. Moreover, 2 m relative humidity and 10 m wind speed were important factors for forecasting fine particles, whereas 2 m air temperature was not. Finally, the 24 h forecasts of meteorological factors were more accurate than the 48 and 72 h forecasts, consistent with the forecasting of fine particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingchao Yang
- Institute of Plateau Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Chengdu 610072, China;
- Heavy Rain and Drought-Flood Disasters in Plateau and Basin Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Ge Wang
- Institute of Plateau Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Chengdu 610072, China;
- Heavy Rain and Drought-Flood Disasters in Plateau and Basin Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610072, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Atmospheric Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
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6
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Kosmopoulos G, Salamalikis V, Wilbert S, Zarzalejo LF, Hanrieder N, Karatzas S, Kazantzidis A. Investigating the Sensitivity of Low-Cost Sensors in Measuring Particle Number Concentrations across Diverse Atmospheric Conditions in Greece and Spain. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:6541. [PMID: 37514835 PMCID: PMC10383866 DOI: 10.3390/s23146541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Low-cost sensors (LCSs) for particulate matter (PM) concentrations have attracted the interest of researchers, supplementing their efforts to quantify PM in higher spatiotemporal resolution. The precision of PM mass concentration measurements from PMS 5003 sensors has been widely documented, though limited information is available regarding their size selectivity and number concentration measurement accuracy. In this work, PMS 5003 sensors, along with a Federal Referral Methods (FRM) sampler (Grimm spectrometer), were deployed across three sites with different atmospheric profiles, an urban (Germanou) and a background (UPat) site in Patras (Greece), and a semi-arid site in Almería (Spain, PSA). The LCSs particle number concentration measurements were investigated for different size bins. Findings for particles with diameter between 0.3 and 10 μm suggest that particle size significantly affected the LCSs' response. The LCSs could accurately detect number concentrations for particles smaller than 1 μm in the urban (R2 = 0.9) and background sites (R2 = 0.92), while a modest correlation was found with the reference instrument in the semi-arid area (R2 = 0.69). However, their performance was rather poor (R2 < 0.31) for coarser aerosol fractions at all sites. Moreover, during periods when coarse particles were dominant, i.e., dust events, PMS 5003 sensors were unable to report accurate number distributions (R2 values < 0.47) and systematically underestimated particle number concentrations. The results indicate that several questions arise concerning the sensors' capabilities to estimate PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, since their size distribution did not agree with the reference instruments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Kosmopoulos
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Department of Physics, University of Patras, GR 26500 Patras, Greece
| | | | - Stefan Wilbert
- Institute of Solar Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Paseo de Almería 73, 04001 Almería, Spain
| | - Luis F Zarzalejo
- Renewable Energy Division, CIEMAT Energy Department, Avenida Complutense, 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalie Hanrieder
- Institute of Solar Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Paseo de Almería 73, 04001 Almería, Spain
| | - Stylianos Karatzas
- Civil Engineering Department, University of Patras, GR 26500 Patras, Greece
| | - Andreas Kazantzidis
- Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Department of Physics, University of Patras, GR 26500 Patras, Greece
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Pardo N, Sainz-Villegas S, Calvo AI, Blanco-Alegre C, Fraile R. Connection between Weather Types and Air Pollution Levels: A 19-Year Study in Nine EMEP Stations in Spain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2977. [PMID: 36833673 PMCID: PMC9964285 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20042977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study focuses on the analysis of the distribution, both spatial and temporal, of the PM10 (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 µm or less) concentrations recorded in nine EMEP (European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme) background stations distributed throughout mainland Spain between 2001 and 2019. A study of hierarchical clusters was used to classify the stations into three main groups with similarities in yearly concentrations: GC (coastal location), GNC (north-central location), and GSE (southeastern location). The highest PM10 concentrations were registered in summer. Annual evolution showed statistically significant decreasing trends in PM10 concentration in all the stations covering a range from -0.21 to -0.50 µg m-3/year for Barcarrota and Víznar, respectively. Through the Lamb classification, the weather types were defined during the study period, and those associated with high levels of pollution were identified. Finally, the values exceeding the limits established by the legislation were analyzed for every station assessed in the study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Pardo
- Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Belén, 7, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Samuel Sainz-Villegas
- Department of Physics, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
- IHCantabria-Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Ana I. Calvo
- Department of Physics, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
| | | | - Roberto Fraile
- Department of Physics, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
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Rodríguez-Arias RM, Rojo J, Fernández-González F, Pérez-Badia R. Desert dust intrusions and their incidence on airborne biological content. Review and case study in the Iberian Peninsula. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 316:120464. [PMID: 36273688 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Desert dust intrusions cause the transport of airborne particulate matter from natural sources, with important consequences for climate regulation, biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and dynamics, human health, and socio-economic activities. Some effects of desert intrusions are reinforced or aggravated by the bioaerosol content of the air during these episodes. The influence of desert intrusions on airborne bioaerosol content has been very little studied from a scientific point of view. In this study, a systematic review of scientific literature during 1970-2021 was carried out following the standard protocol Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). After this literature review, only 6% of the articles on airborne transport from desert areas published in the last 50 years are in some way associated with airborne pollen, and of these, only a small proportion focus on the study of pollen-related parameters. The Iberian Peninsula is affected by Saharan intrusions due to its proximity to the African continent and is seeing an increasing trend the number of intrusion events. There is a close relationship among the conditions favouring the occurrence of intrusion episodes, the transport of particulate matter, and the transport of bioaerosols such as pollen grains, spores, or bacteria. The lack of linearity in this relationship and the different seasonal patterns in the occurrence of intrusion events and the pollen season of most plants hinders the study of the correspondence between both phenomena. It is therefore important to analyse the proportion of pollen that comes from regional sources and the proportion that travels over long distances, and the atmospheric conditions that cause greater pollen emission during dust episodes. Current advances in aerobiological techniques make it possible to identify bioaerosols such as pollen and spores that serve as indicators of long-distance transport from remote areas belonging to other bioclimatic and biogeographical units. A greater incidence of desert intrusion episodes may pose a challenge for both traditional systems and for the calibration and correct validation of automatic aerobiological monitoring methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Rodríguez-Arias
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), Toledo, Spain
| | - J Rojo
- Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Fernández-González
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), Toledo, Spain
| | - R Pérez-Badia
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Institute of Environmental Sciences (Botany), Toledo, Spain.
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Cipoli YA, Targino AC, Krecl P, Furst LC, Alves CDA, Feliciano M. Ambient concentrations and dosimetry of inhaled size-segregated particulate matter during periods of low urban mobility in Bragança, Portugal. ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH 2022; 13:101512. [PMID: 35974996 PMCID: PMC9371474 DOI: 10.1016/j.apr.2022.101512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The restrictive measures in place during the COVID-19 pandemic provided a timely scenario to investigate the effects of human activities on air quality, and the extent to which mobility reduction strategies can impact atmospheric pollutant levels. Real-time concentrations of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 were measured using a mobile platform in a small city of Portugal, during morning and afternoon rush hours, in two distinct phases of the pandemic: emergency phase (cold period, lockdown) and calamity phase (warm period, less restricted). The Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry Model (MPPD) was used to calculate the PM deposition for adults. Large spatio-temporal variabilities and pronounced changes in mean PM concentrations were observed, with lower concentrations in the calamity phase: PM1 = 2.33 ± 1.61 μg m-3; PM2.5 = 5.15 ± 2.77 μg m-3; PM10 = 23.30 ± 21.53 μg m-3 than in the emergency phase: PM1 = 16.85 ± 31.80 μg m-3; PM2.5 = 30.92 ± 31.93 μg m-3; PM10 = 111.27 ± 104.53 μg m-3. These changes are explained by a combination of meteorological factors and local emissions, mainly residential firewood burning. Regarding regional deposition, PM1 was the main contributor to deposition in the tracheobronchial (5%) and pulmonary (12%) regions, and PM10 in the head region (92%). In general, total deposition doses were higher for males than for females. This work quantitatively demonstrated that even with a 38% reduction in urban mobility during the lockdown, the use of firewood for residential heating is the main contributor to the high concentrations of PM and the respective inhaled dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yago Alonso Cipoli
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Admir Créso Targino
- Graduate Program in Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Patricia Krecl
- Graduate Program in Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Campestrini Furst
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Célia Dos Anjos Alves
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Manuel Feliciano
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
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García‐Velázquez L, Gallardo A, Ochoa V, Gozalo B, Lázaro R, Maestre FT. Biocrusts increase the resistance to warming-induced increases in topsoil P pools. THE JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2022; 110:2074-2087. [PMID: 36250131 PMCID: PMC9541718 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.13930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing global warming and alterations in rainfall patterns driven by climate change are known to have large impacts on biogeochemical cycles, particularly on drylands. In addition, the global increase in atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can destabilize primary productivity in terrestrial ecosystems, and phosphorus (P) may become the most limiting nutrient in many terrestrial ecosystems. However, the impacts of climate change on soil P pools in drylands remain poorly understood. Furthermore, it is unknown whether biocrusts, a major biotic component of drylands worldwide, modulate such impacts.Here we used two long-term (8-10 years) experiments conducted in Central (Aranjuez) and SE (Sorbas) Spain to test how a ~2.5°C warming, a ~30% rainfall reduction and biocrust cover affected topsoil (0-1 cm) P pools (non-occluded P, organic P, calcium bound P, occluded P and total P).Warming significantly increased most P pools-except occluded P-in Aranjuez, whereas only augmented non-occluded P in Sorbas. The rainfall reduction treatment had no effect on the soil P pools at any experimental site. Biocrusts increased most soil P pools and conferred resistance to simulated warming for major P pools at both sites, and to rainfall reduction for non-occluded and occluded P in Aranjuez. Synthesis. Our findings provide novel insights on the responses of soil P pools to warming and rainfall reduction, and highlight the importance of biocrusts as modulators of these responses in dryland ecosystems. Our results suggest that the observed negative impacts of warming on dryland biocrust communities will decrease their capacity to buffer changes in topsoil P driven by climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura García‐Velázquez
- Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y NaturalesUniversidad Pablo de OlavideSevillaSpain
- Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio “Ramón Margalef”Universidad de AlicanteAlicanteSpain
| | - Antonio Gallardo
- Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y NaturalesUniversidad Pablo de OlavideSevillaSpain
- Unidad Asociada CSIC‐UPO (BioFun), Universidad Pablo de OlavideSevillaSpain
| | - Victoria Ochoa
- Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio “Ramón Margalef”Universidad de AlicanteAlicanteSpain
| | - Beatriz Gozalo
- Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio “Ramón Margalef”Universidad de AlicanteAlicanteSpain
| | - Roberto Lázaro
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC), Carretera de SacramentoAlmeríaSpain
| | - Fernando T. Maestre
- Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio “Ramón Margalef”Universidad de AlicanteAlicanteSpain
- Departamento de EcologíaUniversidad de AlicanteAlicanteSpain
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11
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Prediction of the Impact of Meteorological Conditions on Air Quality during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14084574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The issue of air pollution has attracted more and more attention. Understanding how to predict air quality based on weather conditions has strong practical significance. For the first time, this paper combines weather circulation with climate prediction models to explore long-term air quality predictions. Using the T-mode (time realizations in columns) objective circulation classification method, we classified the weather circulation affecting Beijing, China, according to nine categories of predominant weather conditions. PM2.5, NO2, SO2, and CO concentration distributions for these nine circulation patterns were also determined. When the Beijing area was controlled by northwestern low pressure, a high-pressure rear, or a weak pressure field, the PM2.5 concentrations were higher, while high-pressure systems and a high-pressure rear were mostly associated with relatively high NO2, SO2, and CO concentrations. The concentrations of these pollutants under high-pressure fronts and northwestern high-pressure settings were low. Using the FLEXPART-WRF model to simulate the 48 h backward trajectory of the highest PM2.5 concentration under the nine circulation patterns from 2015 to 2021, we obtained the trap time of pollutants per unit concentration (imprint analysis) and determined the particle trap area under each circulation pattern. When using the EC-Earth climate prediction model, the daily circulation field during the Beijing Winter Olympics was forecasted, and the nine circulation patterns were compared. The corresponding circulation pattern in Beijing during the 2022 Winter Olympics should be conducive to the diffusion of pollutants and, therefore, the air quality is expected to be good.
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12
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Zoran MA, Savastru RS, Savastru DM, Tautan MN, Baschir LA, Tenciu DV. Assessing the impact of air pollution and climate seasonality on COVID-19 multiwaves in Madrid, Spain. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 203:111849. [PMID: 34370990 PMCID: PMC8343379 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
While the COVID-19 pandemic is still in progress, being under the fifth COVID-19 wave in Madrid, over more than one year, Spain experienced a four wave pattern. The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 pathogens in Madrid metropolitan region was investigated from an urban context associated with seasonal variability of climate and air pollution drivers. Based on descriptive statistics and regression methods of in-situ and geospatial daily time series data, this study provides a comparative analysis between COVID-19 waves incidence and mortality cases in Madrid under different air quality and climate conditions. During analyzed period 1 January 2020-1 July 2021, for each of the four COVID-19 waves in Madrid were recorded anomalous anticyclonic synoptic meteorological patterns in the mid-troposphere and favorable stability conditions for COVID-19 disease fast spreading. As airborne microbial temporal pattern is most affected by seasonal changes, this paper found: 1) a significant negative correlation of air temperature, Planetary Boundary Layer height, and surface solar irradiance with daily new COVID-19 incidence and deaths; 2) a similar mutual seasonality with climate variables of the first and the fourth COVID-waves from spring seasons of 2020 and 2021 years. Such information may help the health decision makers and public plan for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Zoran
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania.
| | - Roxana S Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Dan M Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Marina N Tautan
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Laurentiu A Baschir
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Daniel V Tenciu
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
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13
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Zhao Z, Zhou Z, Russo A, Du H, Xiang J, Zhang J, Zhou C. Impact of meteorological conditions at multiple scales on ozone concentration in the Yangtze River Delta. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:62991-63007. [PMID: 34218370 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15160-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Tropospheric ozone is known to have adverse effects on human health. Ozone pollution events are often associated with specific atmospheric circulation conditions. Therefore, studying the relationship between atmospheric circulation and ozone is particularly important for early warning and forecasting of ozone pollution events. Focusing on the Yangtze River Delta region, particularly in four important large industrial cities (Xuzhou, Nanjing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou) in the Yangtze River Delta, the T-mode objective classification method was applied to classify the weather circulation that mainly affects the Yangtze River Delta region into nine types. Local wind fields for the four industrial cities were classified according to their propensity for ventilation, stagnation, and recirculation based on the Allwine and Whiteman method. Based on the analysis of large-scale atmospheric circulation, we concluded that certain circulation patterns correspond to excessive ozone concentrations, while other circulation patterns correspond to good air quality. Moreover, ozone pollution was not closely related to local regional transmission. The importance of high temperatures in potentiating ozone pollution was also identified in the study area, whereas the effect of relative humidity was negligible. Finally, the importance of the different scale atmospheric motions was analyzed by studying two specific ozone pollution events in Xuzhou area (March, 2019) and Nanjing area (July-August, 2017). This analysis was complemented by HYSPLIT model's outputs to simulate the pollutant diffusion path. Regarding the first episode, ozone concentration is often closely related to the slowly approaching thermal high-pressure system. In the second episode, local transmission had little effect on the generation and spread of ozone pollution. Furthermore, and comparing the circulation conditions with local meteorological factors, it was found that the increase in ozone concentration was often accompanied by higher temperature, and the response to humidity was not clear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zezheng Zhao
- National University of Defense Technology, College of Meteorology and Oceanology, Nanjing, 211101, China
| | - Zeming Zhou
- National University of Defense Technology, College of Meteorology and Oceanology, Nanjing, 211101, China
| | - Ana Russo
- Instituto Dom Luíz, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Edifício C1, Piso 1, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Huadong Du
- National University of Defense Technology, College of Meteorology and Oceanology, Nanjing, 211101, China
| | - Jie Xiang
- National University of Defense Technology, College of Meteorology and Oceanology, Nanjing, 211101, China
| | - Jiping Zhang
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Chengjun Zhou
- National University of Defense Technology, College of Meteorology and Oceanology, Nanjing, 211101, China.
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14
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Linares C, Culqui D, Belda F, López-Bueno JA, Luna Y, Sánchez-Martínez G, Hervella B, Díaz J. Impact of environmental factors and Sahara dust intrusions on incidence and severity of COVID-19 disease in Spain. Effect in the first and second pandemic waves. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:51948-51960. [PMID: 33993402 PMCID: PMC8124022 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14228-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Scientific evidence suggests that Saharan dust intrusions in Southern Europe contribute to the worsening of multiple pathologies and increase the concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and other pollutants. However, few studies have examined whether Saharan dust intrusions influence the incidence and severity of COVID-19 cases. To address this question, in this study we carried out generalized linear models with Poisson link between incidence rates and daily hospital admissions and average daily concentrations of PM10, NO2, and O3 in nine Spanish regions for the period from February 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The models were adjusted by maximum daily temperature and average daily absolute humidity. Furthermore, we controlled for trend, seasonality, and the autoregressive nature of the series. The variable relating to Saharan dust intrusions was introduced using a dichotomous variable, NAF, averaged across daily lags in ranges of 0-7 days, 8-14 days, 14-21 days, and 22-28 days. The results obtained in this study suggest that chemical air pollutants, and especially NO2, are related to the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in Spain. Furthermore, Saharan dust intrusions have an additional effect beyond what is attributable to the variation in air pollution; they are related, in different lags, to both the incidence and hospital admissions rates for COVID-19. These results serve to support public health measures that minimize population exposure on days with particulate matter advection from the Sahara.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Linares
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Avda Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dante Culqui
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Avda Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - José Antonio López-Bueno
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Avda Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yolanda Luna
- State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Julio Díaz
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII), Avda Monforte de Lemos 5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
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15
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Silva T, Fragoso M, Almendra R, Vasconcelos J, Lopes A, Faleh A. North African dust intrusions and increased risk of respiratory diseases in Southern Portugal. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:1767-1780. [PMID: 33890123 PMCID: PMC8437926 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-021-02132-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The study of dust intrusions in Portugal is still a subject on which little investigation has been made, especially in terms of their effects. Thus, this work aims to achieve two goals: firstly, to characterize the dust intrusions in the study area; and secondly, to evaluate the possible statistical association between the dust intrusion days and hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases. Dust intrusions in Portugal are prevalent during the summer season. During this season, the dust plumes tend to cover broader areas than in the other seasons and they have origin in the North African countries. In the study area for the period between 2005 and 2015, the relative risk of urgent hospitalizations due to respiratory diseases was 12.6% higher during dust intrusion days. In order to obtain this statistical association, a Distributed Lag Nonlinear Model was developed. With this work, we expect to help the development of further studies regarding North African dust intrusions in Portugal, more precisely their effects on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Silva
- University of Lisbon, Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT), Centre of Geographical Studies (CEG), Lisbon, Portugal.
- Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) , Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - M Fragoso
- University of Lisbon, Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT), Centre of Geographical Studies (CEG), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - R Almendra
- Department of Geography and Tourism, University of Coimbra, Centre of Studies in Geography and Spatial Planning (CEGOT), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - J Vasconcelos
- University of Lisbon, Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT), Centre of Geographical Studies (CEG), Lisbon, Portugal
- Polytechnic of Leiria , Leiria, Portugal
| | - A Lopes
- University of Lisbon, Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT), Centre of Geographical Studies (CEG), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - A Faleh
- Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University-Fès , Fès, Morocco
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16
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Zoran MA, Savastru RS, Savastru DM, Tautan MN, Baschir LA, Tenciu DV. Exploring the linkage between seasonality of environmental factors and COVID-19 waves in Madrid, Spain. PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION : TRANSACTIONS OF THE INSTITUTION OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS, PART B 2021; 152:583-600. [PMID: 36285289 PMCID: PMC9584827 DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2021.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Like several countries, Spain experienced a multi wave pattern of COVID-19 pandemic over more than one year period, between spring 2020 and spring 2021. The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 pandemics is a multi-factorial process involving among other factors outdoor environmental variables and viral inactivation.This study aims to quantify the impact of climate and air pollution factors seasonality on incidence and severity of COVID-19 disease waves in Madrid metropolitan region in Spain. We employed descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation tests for analysis of daily in-situ and geospatial time-series of air quality and climate data to investigate the associations with COVID-19 incidence and lethality in Madrid under different synoptic meteorological patterns. During the analyzed period (1 January 2020-28 February 2021), with one month before each of three COVID-19 waves were recorded anomalous anticyclonic circulations in the mid-troposphere, with positive anomalies of geopotential heights at 500 mb and favorable stability conditions for SARS-CoV-2 fast diffusion. In addition, the results reveal that air temperature, Planetary Boundary Layer height, ground level ozone have a significant negative relationship with daily new COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths. The findings of this study provide useful information to the public health authorities and policymakers for optimizing interventions during pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Zoran
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Roxana S Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Dan M Savastru
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Marina N Tautan
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Laurentiu A Baschir
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
| | - Daniel V Tenciu
- IT Department, National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics, Atomistilor Street 409, MG5, Magurele-Bucharest, 077125, Romania
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17
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Association between Prevailing Circulation Patterns and Coarse Particles in Portugal. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12010085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution is one of the major environmental concerns today, with high socio-economic and public health impacts, which are expected to worsen in the future due to anthropogenic warming. Among the toxic agents present in the atmosphere, coarse particles (PM10 and PM2.5) are some of the most harmful for human health and the environment. Therefore, the study of these particles and their association with meteorological constraining factors is of utmost importance. The aim of this study is to analyze the circulation weather types (CWT) affecting PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations measured at background monitoring stations in Portugal between 2006 and 2018. PM10 and PM2.5 were analyzed in terms of their intra-annual and inter-annual variability, their relations with CWT and the characteristics of two major extreme events over Portugal. The analysis of the extreme events relied on both background stations and through the near-real time data from Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) outputs. The inter-annual assessment showed a decrease in concentrations over the studied years, mainly for PM10. Intra-annual assessment pointed to higher concentrations during winter months. Higher PM concentrations were mostly associated with CWTs with easterly or southerly components, characterized by low frequency of rainfall and advection of dry air masses. The two analyzed extreme events, associated with mega wildfires (15–17 October 2017) and dust intrusion (1–10 August 2018) were analyzed in more detail. Prominent southerly and easterly circulations were observed during the onset and peak of the events, which then later decayed due to the change to maritime flows (westerly and northerly circulation types) which dispersed the particles.
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18
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Heat and Ozone Pollution Waves in Central and South Europe—Characteristics, Weather Types, and Association with Mortality. ATMOSPHERE 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos11121271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution and hot temperatures present two major health risks, especially for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing conditions. Episodes of high ozone concentrations and heat waves have been registered throughout Europe and are expected to continue to grow due to climate change. Here, several different heat and ozone wave definitions were applied to characterize the wave-type extremes for two climatically different regions, i.e., Portugal (South Europe) and Bavaria (Central Europe), and their impacts were evaluated considering each type of hazard independently but also when they occur simultaneously. Heat and ozone waves were analyzed with respect to the underlying atmospheric circulation patterns and in terms of their association with human mortality. Heat waves were identified as the most frequent wave type and, despite different climate settings, a comparable exposure to heat and ozone waves was found in Central and South Europe. Waves were associated with in-situ built-up as well as with advection of air masses. However, in Bavaria waves showed the strongest connection with autochthonous weather conditions, while for Portugal, the strongest relationship appeared for eastern and north-eastern inflow. The most severe events, as measured by excess mortality, were always associated to compound heat-ozone waves.
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19
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Relationship of Weather Types on the Seasonal and Spatial Variability of Rainfall, Runoff, and Sediment Yield in the Western Mediterranean Basin. ATMOSPHERE 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos11060609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Rainfall is the key factor to understand soil erosion processes, mechanisms, and rates. Most research was conducted to determine rainfall characteristics and their relationship with soil erosion (erosivity) but there is little information about how atmospheric patterns control soil losses, and this is important to enable sustainable environmental planning and risk prevention. We investigated the temporal and spatial variability of the relationships of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield with atmospheric patterns (weather types, WTs) in the western Mediterranean basin. For this purpose, we analyzed a large database of rainfall events collected between 1985 and 2015 in 46 experimental plots and catchments with the aim to: (i) evaluate seasonal differences in the contribution of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield produced by the WTs; and (ii) to analyze the seasonal efficiency of the different WTs (relation frequency and magnitude) related to rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield. The results indicate two different temporal patterns: the first weather type exhibits (during the cold period: autumn and winter) westerly flows that produce the highest rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield values throughout the territory; the second weather type exhibits easterly flows that predominate during the warm period (spring and summer) and it is located on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. However, the cyclonic situations present high frequency throughout the whole year with a large influence extended around the western Mediterranean basin. Contrary, the anticyclonic situations, despite of its high frequency, do not contribute significantly to the total rainfall, runoff, and sediment (showing the lowest efficiency) because of atmospheric stability that currently characterize this atmospheric pattern. Our approach helps to better understand the relationship of WTs on the seasonal and spatial variability of rainfall, runoff and sediment yield with a regional scale based on the large dataset and number of soil erosion experimental stations.
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