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Topic Review Peer Reviewed
A Methodology for Air Temperature Extrema Characterization Pertinent to Improving the Accuracy of Climatological Analyses
The suggested methodology for the characterization of temperature extrema presents a multistep preprocessing procedure intended to derive extrema time series of correctly identified and thermally defined daily air temperature extrema pairs. The underlying conceptual framework for this approach was developed in response to the existing gaps in the current state of daily extrema identification and the development of extrema-based synthetic air temperature time series. A code consisting of a series of algorithms was developed to establish four-parameter criteria for a more accurate representation of daily variability that allows easy replication of temperature distribution based on the correct characterization of daily temperature patterns. The first preprocessing step consists of subjecting the high-frequency temperature time series to a theoretical diurnal observing window that imposes latitudinally and seasonally crafted limits for the individual identification of daily minima and maxima. The following pre-processing step involves the supplementation of air temperature extrema with the information on the occurrence of extrema timing deemed as vital information for the reconstruction of the temperature time series. The subsequent step involves the application of an innovative temperature pattern recognition algorithm that identifies physically homogeneous air temperature populations based on the information obtained in previous steps. The last step involves the use of a metric for the assessment of extrema temperature and timing parameters’ susceptibility to climate change. The application of the presented procedure to high-frequency temperature data yields two strains of physically homogeneous extrema time series with the preserved characteristics of the overall temperature variability. In the present form, individual elements of this methodology are applicable for correcting historical sampling and air temperature averaging biases, improving the reproducibility of daily air temperature variation, and enhancing the performance of temperature index formulae based on daily temperature extrema. The objective of this analysis is the eventual implementation of the presented methodology into the practice of systematic temperature extrema identification and preprocessing of temperature time series for the configuration of physically homogeneous air temperature subpopulations.
  • 456
  • 29 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Aerosol Characteristics on the Himalayan Energy Budget
The extensive work on the increasing burden of aerosols and resultant climate implications shows a matter of great concern.
  • 349
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Air during New Year’s Eve
Mosses are one of the best bioindicators in the assessment of atmospheric aerosol pollution by heavy metals. Studies using mosses allow both short- and long-term air quality monitoring. The increasing contamination of the environment (including air) is causing a search for new, cheap and effective methods of monitoring its condition. Once such method is the use of mosses in active biomonitoring. The aim of the entry was to assess the atmospheric aerosol pollution with selected heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb) from the smoke of fireworks used during New Year’s Eve in the years 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.
  • 849
  • 16 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Air Pollution Policy in Israel
Since its establishment in 1948, the State of Israel has been oriented towards economic development and industrialization, with a transportation sector increasingly focused on private cars. In 1961, initial awareness of environmental risks led to the adoption of the Abatement of Nuisances Law, which served as the platform for air pollution policy for several decades, even as population growth and growth of the industrial sector, including fossil fuel power plants, led to a continuous increase in air pollution. In the early 2000s, the environmental movement in Israel criticized local air pollution policy as being out of date and started to promote a new Clean Air Law. The law, which was adopted in 2008 and came into force in 2011, was a watershed in air pollution policy in Israel. It includes ambient air quality values for 28 contaminants, emission permits for the industrial sector based on best available techniques (BAT), an enforcement system, and a unified and transparent monitoring system. This entry introduces the history of air pollution policy in Israel from 1948, through the 1961 and 2008 landmark legislations and their strengths and weaknesses, to the present. Also, it gives  recommendations for future air pollution policy in Israel.
  • 909
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Air Quality and Shipping Emissions
Maritime transport has been recognized as an essential driver for economic and social development, especially for coastal regions. However, shipping and in-port activities pose public health issues and environmental pressures, exposing coastal population to associated emissions (i.e., particulate matter and gaseous pollutants). In the last decades, several policies have been implemented at local/regional and international level, reducing the content of sulphur in marine fuels. This work provides a brief comment of some recent results regarding the impacts of maritime emissions on air quality, health effects and future projections, taking into account the current implementation of the IMO-2020 legislation. Finally, future perspectives and potential mitigation strategies are discussed.
  • 580
  • 18 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Air Quality Management
Most of the Ecuador buses run on diesel, emitting high quantities  NOx and PM2.5.  Into the framework of promoting the use of low impact energy and efficiency, the Ecuadorian energy efficiency law requires by 2025 that all vehicles incorporated into the public transportation system must be electric. To assess the effects on the air quality of Cuenca, a city located al the Southern Andean region of Ecuador, we used the Eulerian Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model. The results were consistent with the pollutants' trends observed during the COVID-19 lockdown in this city.
  • 703
  • 09 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Ambient Nanoparticles Mapping in Thailand
Nanoparticles (NPs), nanoaerosols (NAs), ultrafine particles (UFPs), and PM0.1 (diameters ≤ 0.1 µm or 100 nm) are used interchangeably in the field of atmospheric studies. PM0.1 mainly originate from combustion processes such as in motor vehicles. The highest mass concentration of PM0.1 occurs during the dry season, in which open fires occur in some regions of Thailand. The northern area of the country has higher PM0.1 mass concentrations, followed by the central and southern areas. Carbonaceous nanoaerosols are produced during normal periods, and the proportions of organic to elemental carbon and char to soot suggest that these originate from motor vehicles. However, in haze periods, biomass fires can also produce carbon-containing particles. PM0.1 pollution from local and cross-border countries also needs to be considered. The overall conclusions reached will likely have a beneficial long-term impact on achieving a blue sky over Thailand through the development of coherent policies and managing new air pollution challenges and sharing knowledge with a broader audience.
  • 313
  • 11 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Primary Sludge and Biowastes
Primary sludge is a valuable substrate for anaerobic digestion as it contains a higher percentage of fatty acids and lipids compared to secondary sludge, although its carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is relatively low due to its inherent deficiency of carbon. This limiting factor of C/N ratio can be overwhelmed by the co-digestion of primary sludge with organic fractions such as agricultural byproducts and municipal solid wastes. The operating principle of this practice is based on the fact that organic fractions such as agricultural byproducts contain a high percentage of carbon and a low percentage of nitrogen, so the co-digestion of primary sludge with different organic fractions, such as animal manure, agricultural residues, organic fractions of municipal waste, or vegetable residues, may improve the balance of nutrients, provide buffering capacity, adjust the C/N ratio, reduce the concentration of ammonia, and hence its inhibitory effects, and overall promote the process of methanogenesis.
  • 47
  • 26 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Application of CMAQ during SOAS
Formation of aerosol from biogenic hydrocarbons relies heavily on anthropogenic emissions since they control the availability of species such as sulfate and nitrate, and through them, aerosol acidity (pH). To elucidate the role that acidity and emissions play in regulating Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA), we utilize the 2013 Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study (SOAS) dataset to enhance the extensive mechanism of isoprene epoxydiol (IEPOX)-mediated SOA formation implemented in the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model (Pye et al., 2013), which was then used to investigate the impact of potential future emission controls on IEPOX OA.
  • 550
  • 29 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Assessment System and Observation Network
We propose to build on and link with the existing research activities and observational networks and infrastructures to specifically address the key North Atlantic challenges that encompass a range of policy areas. This will strengthen the institutional response to weather, climate, environmental and ecological threats and reduce societal risk. 
  • 445
  • 16 Aug 2021
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