7 research outputs found
Instrument and method for X-ray diffraction, fluorescence, and crystal texture analysis without sample preparation
An X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence instrument for analyzing samples having no sample preparation includes a X-ray source configured to output a collimated X-ray beam comprising a continuum spectrum of X-rays to a predetermined coordinate and a photon-counting X-ray imaging spectrometer disposed to receive X-rays output from an unprepared sample disposed at the predetermined coordinate upon exposure of the unprepared sample to the collimated X-ray beam. The X-ray source and the photon-counting X-ray imaging spectrometer are arranged in a reflection geometry relative to the predetermined coordinate
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Identifying chemical aerosol signatures using optical suborbital observations: how much can optical properties tell us about aerosol composition
Improvements in air quality and Earth\u27s climate predictions require improvements of the aerosol speciation in chemical transport models, using observational constraints. Aerosol speciation (e.g., organic aerosols, black carbon, sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, dust or sea salt) is typically determined using in situ instrumentation. Continuous, routine aerosol composition measurements from ground-based networks are not uniformly widespread over the globe. Satellites, on the other hand, can provide a maximum coverage of the horizontal and vertical atmosphere but observe aerosol optical properties (and not aerosol speciation) based on remote sensing instrumentation. Combinations of satellite-derived aerosol optical properties can inform on air mass aerosol types (AMTs). However, these AMTs are subjectively defined, might often be misclassified and are hard to relate to the critical parameters that need to be refined in models.
In this paper, we derive AMTs that are more directly related to sources and hence to speciation. They are defined, characterized and derived using simultaneous in situ gas-phase, chemical and optical instruments on the same aircraft during the Study of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds, and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys (SEAC4RS, an airborne field campaign carried out over the US during the summer of 2013). We find distinct optical signatures for AMTs such as biomass burning (from agricultural or wildfires), biogenic and polluted dust. We find that all four AMTs, studied when prescribed using mostly airborne in situ gas measurements, can be successfully extracted from a few combinations of airborne in situ aerosol optical properties (e.g., extinction Ångström exponent, absorption Ångström exponent and real refractive index). However, we find that the optically based classifications for biomass burning from agricultural fires and polluted dust include a large percentage of misclassifications that limit the usefulness of results related to those classes.
The technique and results presented in this study are suitable to develop a representative, robust and diverse source-based AMT database. This database could then be used for widespread retrievals of AMTs using existing and future remote sensing suborbital instruments/networks. Ultimately, it has the potential to provide a much broader observational aerosol dataset to evaluate chemical transport and air quality models than is currently available by direct in situ measurements. This study illustrates how essential it is to explore existing airborne datasets to bridge chemical and optical signatures of different AMTs, before the implementation of future spaceborne missions (e.g., the next generation of Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites addressing Aerosols, Cloud, Convection and Precipitation (ACCP) designated observables)
The Effect of Aerosol Particle Burning of the Amazon in radiative balance of the atmosphere
Medidas in situ na Bacia Amazônica mostraram uma grande variedade de partículas de aerossol provenientes principalmente de fontes biogênicas e de queimadas. Partículas de queimadas foram estudadas em detalhe e são compostas de misturas de partículas esféricas e não esféricas, e aglomerados de até milhares de esferas nanométricas de \"black carbon\" PC). A forma e a estrutura macroscópica das partículas de queimadas são determinadas pelo tipo de combustíve1 queimado, pel0 tipo de combustição e pela \"idade\" das partículas. A estrutura macroscópica das partículas muda em função de suas interações com vapor d\'água, gotas de nuvens e devido à condensação de gases em sua superfície (e.g. gases orgânicos e dióxido de enxofre). Partículas não esféricas e grandes aglomerados tornam-se mais compactos e esféricos em função de seu envelhecimento. Estes aglomerados foram encontrados apenas perto das fontes de queimadas em fase \"flaming\", o que sugere que a compactação dos aglomerados ocorre numa escala de tempo relativamente pequena após sua emissão (minutos até horas). Esta mudança de morfologia produz alterações significativas nas propriedades ópticas das partículas aumentando suas eficiências de absorção e espalhamento de radiação. Micrografias obtidas com microscopia eletrônica de varredura em filtros amostrados em paralelo com diversas outras medidas sugerem o efeito da morfologia nas propriedades ópticas das partículas. Propriedades intensivas das partículas foram medidas neste trabalho para partículas de queimadas e biogênicas. Apesar serem emitidas por fontes bastante distintas, as partículas de queimadas e biogênicas apresentaram importantes similaridades em composição química, tamanho, coeficientes de Angström e rações de retroespalhamento. Por outro lado, as eficiências de absorção e espalhamento assim como o albedo simples apresentaram diferenças significativas entre partículas provenientes das duas fontes. Uma nova metodologia foi desenvolvida neste trabalho para a obtenção da forçante radiativa direta (FRD) por partículas de aerossol usando imagens de sensoriamento remoto. Novos parâmetros das partículas de aerossol foram também definidos neste trabalho para o estudo de seu impacto radiativo. Medidas espectrais com o sensor AVIRIS (224 comprimentos de onda entre 0,38 e 2,5 µm) a bordo do avião ER2 da NASA durante o experimento SCAR-B (Smoke Clouds and Radiation-Brazil) foram utilizadas para a derivação do albedo simples, da espessura óptica e da FRD. Valores significativos da FRD foram obtidos entre 0,25 e 1,6 µm com pico de aproximadamente -200 W m-2µm-1 para um comprimento de onda da ordem de 0,5 µm, por unidade de espessura óptica (valores de em = 0.66 µm). A integral da FRD ao longo do espectro solar é da ordem de -60 w m-2 em média para uma região de superfície heterogênea (incluindo áreas urbanas e vegetação) em Cuiabá. A FRD sobre áreas urbanas se mostrou significativamente menor que em áreas de vegetação devido à sua maior reflectância de superfície.In situ measurements in the Amazon Basin showed a large variety of aerosol particles in the atmosphere due mainly to biogenic and biomass burning sources. Particles from biomass burning are generally composed of a mixture of spherical and non-spherical particles, and chain aggregates of thousands of tiny black carbon (BC) spherules. The morphology and structure of smoke particles from biomass burning are determined by the type of fuel, the phase of combustion, and the age of the smoke. This structure changes due to interactions with water vapor, cloud droplets and due to condensation of gases on its surface (eg. sulfates and organic gases). Non-spherical and large (tens of micrometers) fluffy aggregates become more compacted and increasingly spherical with age. They are generally found only near the source of flaming-phase combustion, which suggests that particle compaction occurs in a relatively short time (likely, few hours) after release from a biomass fire. This change in morphology produces a significant change in the optical properties of these particles, enhancing its absorption and scattering cross sections. Scanning electron microscope photographs of aerosol particles from biomass burning taken in parallel with other physical measurements show correlation between morphology and the absorption coefficients suggesting the effect of the particle shape on optical properties. Intensive microphysical properties of the particles were measured and modeled in this work for biomass burning and biogenic aerosols. Despite of completely distinct sources, biogenic and biomass burning aerosols show some important similarities in chemical composition and particle sizes. Angström coefficients and backscattering ratios of biogenic aerosols were also found in the same range as biomass burning particles, but the scattering and absorption efficiencies, as well as single scattering albedo showed significantly different values. A new methodology was developed to obtain the spectral direct radiative forcing (DRF) by aerosol particles using remote sensing images and new parameters were defined in this work to access the radiative impact of the aerosols. Spectral measurements with the AVIRIS spectrometer (224 wavelengths between 0.38 and 2.5 µm) onboard the NASA-ER2 aircraft during the SCAR-B experiment (Smoke Clouds and Radiation -Brazil) have been used in this work to derive the spectral single scattering albedo of the aerosol particles, the aerosol optical thickness, and .the DRF.Significant values of spectral direct radiative forcing were found between 0,25 and 1.6 µm with a peak about -200 W m-2 µm-1 for a wavelength around 0.5 µm, per unity of optical depth (optical depth values at 0.66 µm). The integral over the whole solar spectrum averaged over heterogeneous surfaces (urban areas and vegetation) is about -60 W m-2 for the studied region (Cuiabá). The DRF over urban areas is smaller than over vegetation due to its brighter surface reflectance
The Effect of Aerosol Particle Burning of the Amazon in radiative balance of the atmosphere
Medidas in situ na Bacia Amazônica mostraram uma grande variedade de partículas de aerossol provenientes principalmente de fontes biogênicas e de queimadas. Partículas de queimadas foram estudadas em detalhe e são compostas de misturas de partículas esféricas e não esféricas, e aglomerados de até milhares de esferas nanométricas de \"black carbon\" PC). A forma e a estrutura macroscópica das partículas de queimadas são determinadas pelo tipo de combustíve1 queimado, pel0 tipo de combustição e pela \"idade\" das partículas. A estrutura macroscópica das partículas muda em função de suas interações com vapor d\'água, gotas de nuvens e devido à condensação de gases em sua superfície (e.g. gases orgânicos e dióxido de enxofre). Partículas não esféricas e grandes aglomerados tornam-se mais compactos e esféricos em função de seu envelhecimento. Estes aglomerados foram encontrados apenas perto das fontes de queimadas em fase \"flaming\", o que sugere que a compactação dos aglomerados ocorre numa escala de tempo relativamente pequena após sua emissão (minutos até horas). Esta mudança de morfologia produz alterações significativas nas propriedades ópticas das partículas aumentando suas eficiências de absorção e espalhamento de radiação. Micrografias obtidas com microscopia eletrônica de varredura em filtros amostrados em paralelo com diversas outras medidas sugerem o efeito da morfologia nas propriedades ópticas das partículas. Propriedades intensivas das partículas foram medidas neste trabalho para partículas de queimadas e biogênicas. Apesar serem emitidas por fontes bastante distintas, as partículas de queimadas e biogênicas apresentaram importantes similaridades em composição química, tamanho, coeficientes de Angström e rações de retroespalhamento. Por outro lado, as eficiências de absorção e espalhamento assim como o albedo simples apresentaram diferenças significativas entre partículas provenientes das duas fontes. Uma nova metodologia foi desenvolvida neste trabalho para a obtenção da forçante radiativa direta (FRD) por partículas de aerossol usando imagens de sensoriamento remoto. Novos parâmetros das partículas de aerossol foram também definidos neste trabalho para o estudo de seu impacto radiativo. Medidas espectrais com o sensor AVIRIS (224 comprimentos de onda entre 0,38 e 2,5 µm) a bordo do avião ER2 da NASA durante o experimento SCAR-B (Smoke Clouds and Radiation-Brazil) foram utilizadas para a derivação do albedo simples, da espessura óptica e da FRD. Valores significativos da FRD foram obtidos entre 0,25 e 1,6 µm com pico de aproximadamente -200 W m-2µm-1 para um comprimento de onda da ordem de 0,5 µm, por unidade de espessura óptica (valores de em = 0.66 µm). A integral da FRD ao longo do espectro solar é da ordem de -60 w m-2 em média para uma região de superfície heterogênea (incluindo áreas urbanas e vegetação) em Cuiabá. A FRD sobre áreas urbanas se mostrou significativamente menor que em áreas de vegetação devido à sua maior reflectância de superfície.In situ measurements in the Amazon Basin showed a large variety of aerosol particles in the atmosphere due mainly to biogenic and biomass burning sources. Particles from biomass burning are generally composed of a mixture of spherical and non-spherical particles, and chain aggregates of thousands of tiny black carbon (BC) spherules. The morphology and structure of smoke particles from biomass burning are determined by the type of fuel, the phase of combustion, and the age of the smoke. This structure changes due to interactions with water vapor, cloud droplets and due to condensation of gases on its surface (eg. sulfates and organic gases). Non-spherical and large (tens of micrometers) fluffy aggregates become more compacted and increasingly spherical with age. They are generally found only near the source of flaming-phase combustion, which suggests that particle compaction occurs in a relatively short time (likely, few hours) after release from a biomass fire. This change in morphology produces a significant change in the optical properties of these particles, enhancing its absorption and scattering cross sections. Scanning electron microscope photographs of aerosol particles from biomass burning taken in parallel with other physical measurements show correlation between morphology and the absorption coefficients suggesting the effect of the particle shape on optical properties. Intensive microphysical properties of the particles were measured and modeled in this work for biomass burning and biogenic aerosols. Despite of completely distinct sources, biogenic and biomass burning aerosols show some important similarities in chemical composition and particle sizes. Angström coefficients and backscattering ratios of biogenic aerosols were also found in the same range as biomass burning particles, but the scattering and absorption efficiencies, as well as single scattering albedo showed significantly different values. A new methodology was developed to obtain the spectral direct radiative forcing (DRF) by aerosol particles using remote sensing images and new parameters were defined in this work to access the radiative impact of the aerosols. Spectral measurements with the AVIRIS spectrometer (224 wavelengths between 0.38 and 2.5 µm) onboard the NASA-ER2 aircraft during the SCAR-B experiment (Smoke Clouds and Radiation -Brazil) have been used in this work to derive the spectral single scattering albedo of the aerosol particles, the aerosol optical thickness, and .the DRF.Significant values of spectral direct radiative forcing were found between 0,25 and 1.6 µm with a peak about -200 W m-2 µm-1 for a wavelength around 0.5 µm, per unity of optical depth (optical depth values at 0.66 µm). The integral over the whole solar spectrum averaged over heterogeneous surfaces (urban areas and vegetation) is about -60 W m-2 for the studied region (Cuiabá). The DRF over urban areas is smaller than over vegetation due to its brighter surface reflectance
Pathogenic variability of Moniliophthora perniciosa in three agroecological zones of the cacao region of Bahia, Brazil
Abstract Resistant cacao genotypes are the best measure to control the Witches' broom disease of cacao. To ensure efficiency, the pathogen variability in the cacao region of Bahia must be investigated. The pathogenic variability of Moniliophthora perniciosa inocula from nine municipalities was analyzed: Ilhéus, Floresta Azul and Jussari (agroecological zone Almada); Ipiaú, Itagibá and Jitaúna (agroecological zone Ipiaú), Camacan, Santa Luzia and Pau Brasil (agroecological zone Camacan), by inoculating progenies of Sca 6, ICS 1 and SIC 23 seedlings with 2 x 105 basidiospore.mL-1 of inocula and inoculum mixtures per agroecological zone, in a factorial 3 x 13 design, with 4 replications of 28 plants, in two seasons. Symptoms were assessed 60 days after inoculation. Pathogenic variability of inoculum in relation to the progeny performance was found; Ipiaú was the most aggressive and progeny ICS 1 the most susceptible. The mixtures of the agroecological zones Almada and Ipiaú were contrasting