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1.
Intra- and inter-city variability of ▫$PM_2.5$▫ concentrations in Greece as determined with a low-cost sensor network
Konstantinos Dimitriou, Iasonas Stavroulas, Georgios Grivas, Charalampos Chatzidiakos, Georgios Kosmopoulos, Andreas Kazantzidis, Konstantinos Kourtidis, Athanasios Karagioras, Nikolaos Hatzianastassiou, Spyros N. Pandis, 2023, original scientific article

Abstract: Measurements of PM2.5 concentrations in five major Greek cities over a two-year period using calibrated low-cost sensor-based particulate matter (PM) monitors (Purple Air PA-II) were combined with local meteorological parameters, synoptic patterns and air mass residence time models to investigate the factors controlling PM2.5 spatiotemporal variability over continental Greece. Fourteen sensors nodes in Athens, Patras, Ioannina, Xanthi, and Thermi (in the Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki) were selected out of more than 100 of a countrywide network for detailed analysis. The cities have populations ranging from 65k to 3M inhabitants and cover different latitudes along the South-North axis. High correlations between the daily average PM2.5 levels were observed among all sites, indicating strong intra- and inter-city covariance of concentrations, both in cold and warm periods. Higher PM2.5 concentrations in all cities during the cold period were primarily associated with low temperatures and stagnant anticyclonic conditions, favoring the entrapment of residential heating emissions from biomass burning. Anticyclonic conditions were also connected to an increased frequency of PM2.5 episodes, exceeding the updated daily guideline value (15 μg m−3) of the World Health Organization (WHO). During the warm period, nearly uniform PM2.5 levels were encountered across continental Greece, independently of their population size. This uniformity strongly suggests the importance of long-range transport and regional secondary aerosol formation for PM2.5 during this period. Peak concentrations were associated mainly with regional northern air flows over Greece and the Balkan Peninsula. The use of the measurements from dense air quality sensor networks, provided that a robust calibration protocol and continuous data quality assurance practices are followed, appears to be an efficient tool to gain insights on the levels and variability of PM2.5 concentrations, underpinning the characterization of spatial and seasonal particularities and supporting real-time public information and warning.
Keywords: particulate matter, PM2.5, biomass burning, low-cost sensors, purple air PA-II, concentration weighted trajectory, potential source contribution function
Published in RUNG: 10.05.2024; Views: 782; Downloads: 4
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2.
Monitoring of the particles above the unpaved road by lidar technique
Urška Koren, William Eichinger, 2011, original scientific article

Abstract: Basic concepts of laser-based technique LIDAR (LIght Detection and Ranging) are discussed in this article as well as advantages and disadvantages. Presented are measurements of relative particulate concentrations above an unpaved road which were performed in a rural area near the Iowa City, Iowa, USA. The LIDAR system used in these measurements is a small, scanning LIDAR that uses elastic backscattering to obtain information on the amount of atmospheric aerosols. In the elastic LIDAR, light scattered back towards the LIDAR system from molecules and particles in the atmosphere is collected by a telescope and is detected with a photodiode. A Big Sky Laser model CFR-200 Nd:YAG laser operating at 1.064 microns is used to generate the LIDAR's outgoing signal. The laser is attached directly to the top of a 26 cm, f/10 Cassegrian telescope. A series of pulses are summed to make a single scan. A series of scans is used to build up a two- dimensional map of relative atmospheric aerosol concentrations. With a maximum range of about 6-8 km, a range resolution of 2.5 m, and a time resolution of 30 s, the LIDAR is capable of very detailed mapping of aerosols.
Keywords: LIDAR technique, particulate concentration, traffic emissions
Published in RUNG: 12.07.2023; Views: 1360; Downloads: 4
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Elucidating local pollution and site representativeness at the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland through parallel aerosol measurements at an adjacent mountain ridge
Nicolas Bukowiecki, Benjamin Brem, Günther Wehrle, Griša Močnik, Stéphane Affolter, Markus Christian Leuenberger, Martine Collaud Coen, Maxime Hervo, Urs Baltensperger, Martin Gysel, 2021, original scientific article

Abstract: Many long-term air pollution and climate monitoring stations face the issue of increasing anthropogenic activities in their vicinity. Furthermore, the spatial representativeness of the sites is often not entirely understood especially in mountainous terrain with complex topographic features. This study presents a 5-year comparison of parallel aerosol measurements (total particle number concentration and equivalent black carbon mass concentration) at the Jungfraujoch in the Swiss Alps (JFJ, 3580 m a.s.l.), and an adjacent mountain ridge, the Jungfrau East Ridge (JER, 3705 m a.s.l.), in 1000 m air-line distance to the main site. The parallel aerosol measurements reveal characteristic differences in the diurnal variations between the two sites under certain specific meteorological conditions. Our analysis estimates that on 20-40% of the days local activities at the Jungfraujoch have a clear influence on the measured time series of the total aerosol number concentration and the equivalent black carbon mass concentration. This influence is mainly seen in form of strong isolated spikes rather than by an increase in the on-site background concentration. They can thus be flagged during the data quality assurance process and filtered from those measurement parameters available at high time resolution. Removing the spikes from the original time series results in daily mean values for the total aerosol number concentration and equivalent black carbon mass concentration that are 5-10 % lower compared to the original signals. During nighttime with hardly any local pollution sources that cause spikes this percentage decreases towards 0%. The signal baselines at the Jungfraujoch and Jungfrau East Ridge correlate well during more than 50% of the days.
Keywords: aerosol long-term monitoring, equivalent black carbon, aerosol number concentration, spatial variation
Published in RUNG: 15.03.2021; Views: 2657; Downloads: 72
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5.
Determination of Iron in Environmental Water Samples by FIA-TLS
Miha Tomšič, Leja Goljat, Hanna Budasheva, Dorota Korte, Arne Bratkič, Mladen Franko, 2019, original scientific article

Abstract: The determination of low concentration of iron in natural waters can be difficult due to the complexity of natural water, but primarily because it requires preconcentration of the sample with solvent extraction. In this work we report on results of thermal lens spectrometry (TLS) coupled to flow injection analysis (FIA) as a highly sensitive FIA-TLS method of iron detection. The concentration of iron redox species was determined using 1,10-phenanthroline (PHN), that forms stable complexes with Fe(II) ions which are characterized by an absorption maximum at 508 nm. The TLS system using a 633 nm probe laser and 530 nm pump laser beam was exploited for on-line detection in flow injection analysis, where a PHN solution was used as the carrier solution for FIA. The concentration of the complexing agent affects the quality of the TLS signal, and the optimal concentration was found at 1 mM PHN. The achieved limits of detection (LODs) for Fe(II) and total iron were 33 nM for Fe(II) and 21 nM for total iron concentration. The method was further validated by determining the linear concentration range, specificity in terms of analytical yield and by determining concentration of iron in a water sample from a local water stream.
Keywords: Flow injection analysis, iron concentration, thermal lens spectroscopy
Published in RUNG: 18.12.2019; Views: 3985; Downloads: 108
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6.
Tracer concentration profiles measured in central London as part of the REPARTEE campaign
Damien Martin, K Fredrik Petersson, Iain R. White, Stephen H Henshaw, Graham Nickless, Amy Lovelock, Janet F Barlow, Tyrone Dunbar, Curtis R Wood, Dudley E. Shallcross, 2011, original scientific article

Abstract: There have been relatively few tracer experiments carried out that have looked at vertical plume spread in urban areas. In this paper we present results from two tracer (cyclic perfluorocarbon) experiments carried out in 2006 and 2007 in central London centred on the BT Tower as part of the REPARTEE (Regent's Park and Tower Environmental Experiment) campaign. The height of the tower gives a unique opportunity to study vertical dispersion profiles and transport times in central London. Vertical gradients are contrasted with the relevant Pasquill stability classes. Estimation of lateral advection and vertical mixing times are made and compared with previous measurements. Data are then compared with a simple operational dispersion model and contrasted with data taken in central London as part of the DAPPLE campaign. This correlates dosage with non-dimensionalised distance from source. Such analyses illustrate the feasibility of the use of these empirical correlations over these prescribed distances in central London.
Keywords: advection, concentration (composition), dispersion, tracer, urban atmosphere, vertical mixing, vertical profile
Published in RUNG: 18.07.2019; Views: 3930; Downloads: 0
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7.
CityFlux perfluorocarbon tracer experiments
Fredrik K Petersson, Damien Martin, Iain R. White, Stephen J Henshaw, Graham Nickless, Ian Longley, Carl J Percival, Martin Gallagher, Dudley E. Shallcross, 2010, original scientific article

Abstract: In June 2006, two perfluorocarbon tracer experiments were conducted in central Manchester UK as part of the CityFlux campaign. The main aim was to investigate vertical dispersion in an urban area during convective conditions, but dispersion mechanisms within the street network were also studied. Paired receptors were used in most cases where one receptor was located at ground level and one at roof level. One receptor was located on the roof of Portland Tower which is an 80m high building in central Manchester. Source receptor distances in the two experiments varied between 120 and 600 m. The results reveal that maximum concentration was sometimes found at roof level rather than at ground level implying the effectiveness of convective forces on dispersion. The degree of vertical dispersion was found to be dependent on source receptor distance as well as on building height in proximity to the release site. Evidence of flow channelling in a street canyon was also found. Both a Gaussian profile and a street network model were applied and the results show that the urban topography may lead to highly effective flow channelling which therefore may be a very important dispersion mechanism should the right meteorological conditions prevail. The experimental results from this campaign have also been compared with a simple urban dispersion model that was developed during the DAPPLE framework and show good agreement with this. The results presented here are some of the first published regarding vertical dispersion. More tracer experiments are needed in order to further characterise vertical concentration profiles and their dependence on, for instance, atmospheric stability. The impact of urban topography on pollutant dispersion is important to focus on in future tracer experiments in order to improve performance of models as well as for our understanding of the relationship between air quality and public health.
Keywords: air quality, atmospheric chemistry, concentration (composition), convective system, dispersion, public health, street canyon, tracer, urban area
Published in RUNG: 18.07.2019; Views: 3647; Downloads: 0
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8.
TLS-FIA System For Screening of Dissolved Iron in Ocean Water
Gaja Tomsič, Dorota Korte, Arne Bratkič, Mladen Franko, 2018, published scientific conference contribution abstract

Keywords: flow injection analysis, iron concentration, ocean water, thermal lens spectroscopy
Published in RUNG: 16.07.2018; Views: 4884; Downloads: 0
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9.
DISTRIBUTION OF ENTERIC VIRUSES IN THE GULF OF TRIESTE AND THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS
José Manuel Carita Gonçalves, 2018, doctoral dissertation

Abstract: The available classical diagnostic methods, due to many disadvantages, do not allow effective detection of pathogenic enteric viruses in environmental samples. Due to low concentrations of pathogenic viruses in the sea, it is important to develop an effective concentration procedure for their successful detection. In the first part of the doctoral thesis, we focused primarily on the development of a protocol for an effective concentration of pathogenic enteric viruses in coastal water samples. Monolithic chromatographic columns (BIAseparations) were used for the concentration of rotaviruses and noroviruses, prior to the detection with reverse transcription quantitative PCR in real time (RT-qPCR). We tested the efficiency of concentration using columns of various chemical properties and selected pathogenic enteric viruses (rotavirus and norovirus). Among them, hydrophobic interaction monolithic column (CIM® C4) was the most effective. CIM C4 was used to optimize the concentration step and tested in waters with different salinities. The presence of concentrated viruses was confirmed by RT-qPCR and transmission electron microscope. We have developed a protocol that enables rapid concentration of viruses in coastal waters of various salinities and can be used on-site. The presence of RoV and NoV was surveyed, using the developed concentration protocol, prior to one-step RT-qPCR molecular detection, in the inner part of the Bay of Koper, in mussel farming areas and a swimming area. Rotaviruses, noroviruses and fecal indicator bacteria were frequently detected in the inner part of the Bay of Koper. Rotaviruses and noroviruses were detected in the studied area, with higher rates close to the outfall of the wastewater treatment plant in the estuary of river Rižana and were also detected in the middle of the Bay of Koper and in areas used for recreation and mussel farming. The results show that water bodies, which are otherwise defined as suitable for bathing or mussel farming, based on the results of fecal indicator bacteria, still contain low concentrations of pathogenic enteric viruses. In addition to human pathogenic enteric viruses and faecal coliforms, changes in abundance of bacteria and virus particles were studied in relation to temperature, salinity, inorganic and organic nutrient concentrations in the organically polluted Rižana estuary. Preliminary results showed spatially and seasonally changes in bacterial and viral particles abundance, and bacterial composition spatially and seasonally. However, seasonality plays a greater role in bacterial dynamics.
Keywords: Concentration of viruses, Enteric viruses, Rotavirus, Norovirus, Feacal coliforms, Feacal contamination, qPCR, RT-qPCR, Monolithic columns, Sewage, Seasonal dynamics, Concentration, Coastal environment, Gulf of Trieste
Published in RUNG: 02.07.2018; Views: 5710; Downloads: 213
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