57 research outputs found
Benzene and toluene in the surface air of northern Eurasia from TROICA-12 campaign along the Trans-Siberian Railway
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured by proton transfer
reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) on a mobile laboratory in a
transcontinental TROICA-12 (21 July–4 August 2008) campaign along
the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok. Surface concentrations
of benzene (C6H6) and toluene (C7H8) along with
non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), CO, O3, SO2, NO, NO2 and
meteorology are analyzed in this study to identify the main sources of
benzene and toluene along the Trans-Siberian Railway. The most measurements
in the TROICA-12 campaign were conducted under low-wind/stagnant conditions
in moderately ( ∼  78 % of measurements) to weakly polluted
( ∼  20 % of measurements) air directly affected by regional
anthropogenic sources adjacent to the railway. Only 2 % of measurements
were identified as characteristic of highly polluted urban atmosphere.
Maximum values of benzene and toluene during the campaign reached 36.5
and 45.6 ppb, respectively, which is significantly less than their
short-term exposure limits (94 and 159 ppb for benzene and toluene, respectively). About 90 % of benzene and 65 % of toluene content is
attributed to motor vehicle transport and 10 and 20 %, respectively,
provided by the other local- and regional-scale sources. The highest average
concentrations of benzene and toluene are measured in the industrial regions
of the European Russia (up to 0.3 and 0.4 ppb for benzene and toluene,
respectively) and south Siberia (up to 0.2 and 0.4 ppb for benzene and
toluene, respectively). Total contribution of benzene and toluene to
photochemical ozone production along the Trans-Siberian Railway is about
16 % compared to the most abundant organic VOC – isoprene. This
contribution, however, is found to be substantially higher (up to 60–70 %)
in urbanized areas along the railway, suggesting an important role of
anthropogenic pollutant sources in regional ozone photochemistry and air
quality
Chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols between Moscow and Vladivostok
International audienceThe TROICA-9 expedition (Trans-Siberian Observations Into the Chemistry of the Atmosphere) was carried out at the Trans-Siberian railway between Moscow and Vladivostok in October 2005. Measurements of aerosol physical and chemical properties were made from an observatory carriage connected to a passenger train. Black carbon (BC) concentrations in fine particles (PM2.5, aerodynamic diameter ?, NO3?, SO42?, Na+, NH4+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, oxalate and methane sulphonate) were measured continuously by using an on-line system with a 15-min time resolution. In addition, particle volume size distributions were determined for particles in the diameter range 3?850 nm using a 10-min. time resolution. The continuous measurements were completed with 24-h. PM2.5 filter samples which were stored in a refrigerator and later analyzed in chemical laboratory. The analyses included mass concentrations of PM2.5, ions, monosaccharide anhydrides (levoglucosan, galactosan and mannosan) and trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn). The mass concentrations of PM2.5 varied in the range of 4.3?34.8 ?g m?3 with an average of 21.6 ?g m?3. Fine particle mass consisted mainly of BC (average 27.6%), SO42? (13.0%), NH4+ (4.1%), and NO3? (1.4%). One of the major constituents was obviously also organic carbon which was not determined. The contribution of BC was high compared with other studies made in Europe and Asia. High concentrations of ions, BC and particle volume were observed between Moscow and roughly 4000 km east of it, as well as close to Vladivostok, primarily due to local anthropogenic sources. In the natural background area between 4000 and 7200 km distance from Moscow, observed concentrations were low, even though there were local particle sources, such as forest fires, that increased occasionally concentrations. The measurements indicated that during forest fire episodes, most of the aerosol mass consisted of organic particulate matter. Concentrations of biomass burning tracers levoglucosan, oxalate and potassium were elevated close to the forest fire areas observed by the MODIS satellite. The polluted air masses from Asia seem to have significant influences on the concentration levels of fine particles over south-eastern Russia
Using a moving measurement platform for determining the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols between Moscow and Vladivostok
The TROICA-9 expedition (Trans-Siberian Observations Into the Chemistry of the Atmosphere) was carried out at the Trans-Siberian railway between Moscow and Vladivostok in October 2005. Measurements of aerosol physical and chemical properties were made from an observatory carriage connected to a passenger train. Black carbon (BC) concentrations in fine particles (PM<sub>2.5</sub>, aerodynamic diameter &lt;2.5 μm) were measured with an aethalometer using a five-minute time resolution. Concentrations of inorganic ions and some organic compounds (Cl<sup>&minus;</sup>, NO<sub>3</sub><sup>&minus;</sup>, SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2&minus;</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, oxalate and methane sulphonate) were measured continuously by using an on-line system with a 15-min time resolution. In addition, particle volume size distributions were determined for particles in the diameter range 3&ndash;850 nm using a 10-min time resolution. The continuous measurements were completed with 24-h PM<sub>2.5</sub> filter samples stored in a refrigerator and analyzed later in a chemical laboratory. The analyses included the mass concentrations of PM<sub>2.5</sub>, ions, monosaccharide anhydrides (levoglucosan, galactosan and mannosan) and trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn). The mass concentrations of PM<sub>2.5</sub> varied in the range of 4.3&ndash;34.8 μg m<sup>&minus;3</sup> with an average of 21.6 μg m<sup>&minus;3</sup>. Fine particle mass consisted mainly of BC (average 27.6%), SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2&minus;</sup> (13.0%), NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> (4.1%) and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>&minus;</sup> (1.4%). One of the major constituents was obviously organic carbon which was not determined. The contribution of BC was high compared with other studies made in Europe and Asia. High concentrations of ions, BC and particle volume were observed between Moscow and roughly 4000 km east of it, as well as close to Vladivostok, primarily due to local anthropogenic sources. In the natural background area between 4000 and 7200 km away from Moscow, observed concentrations were low, even though local particle sources, such as forest fires, occasionally increased concentrations. During the measured forest fire episodes, most of the aerosol mass appeared to consist of organic particulate matter. Concentrations of the biomass burning tracers levoglucosan, oxalate and potassium were elevated close to the forest fire areas observed by the MODIS satellite. The polluted air masses from Asia seem to have significant influences on the concentration levels of fine particles over south-eastern Russia
Late permian changes in conditions of the atmosphere and environments caused by halogenated gases
DETECTION Of ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION SOURCES BY USING CROSS-PLUME SCANNING METHOD AND MOBILE RAILwAY LABORATORY
In this study the power of the sulfur dioxide emissions from the Mid-Urals copper-smelting enterprise (MUCE) was estimated by using plume cross-scanning. The combination of the observational data obtained by the TROICA experiments and information obtained by satellite photos of the Earth’s surface together with the ISCST3 dispersion model is promising for studies of the short-range atmospheric transport of chemically inactive pollutants. The results of ISCT3 model simulations indicate that the SO2 emissions in terms of sulfur make up about 3–4% of the plant sulfuric acid production. Also the cross validation between ISCST3 and NOAA HYSPLIT dispersion models was carried out. The emission rate obtained at the NOAA HYSPLIT model simulation is 1.5 times higher than the emission rate calculated at the ISCST3 simulation. It was emphasized, that the using of mobile platforms on electric traction has advantages in studying the environmental situation in comparison with the measurement system, constructed on the stationary Environmental Protection Stations. The cross-plume scanning method to a lesser degree depends on the wind rose, the features of the landscape and a relative location of emission sources and sensors
Why not take the train? Trans-Siberian atmospheric chemistry observations across Central and East Asia
Application of Atmospheric Chemical Transport Models to Validation of Pollutant Emissions in Moscow
Variations in PM2.5 Surface Concentration in Moscow according to Observations at MSU Meteorological Observatory
Estimation of nocturnal<sup>222</sup>Rn soil fluxes over Russia from TROICA measurements
In TROICA (TRanscontinental Observations Into the Chemistry of the
Atmosphere) campaigns (1999–2008), the simultaneous observations of near
surface <sup>222</sup>Rn concentrations and atmospheric boundary layer thermal
structure were performed along the Trans-Siberian Railway across northern
Eurasia from Moscow to Vladivostok, including central, southern and far
eastern parts of Russia. The data on <sup>222</sup>Rn and temperature
vertical distribution are used to estimate <sup>222</sup>Rn regional scale soil
fluxes based on calculations of nocturnal <sup>222</sup>Rn accumulation rates in
the surface layer under inversion conditions. An effect of seasonal soil
thawing on 2–4 times surface <sup>222</sup>Rn concentration increase from
summer 1999 to autumn 2005 is observed. The estimated <sup>222</sup>Rn regional
averaged fluxes vary over Russia from 29 ± 8 mBq m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>
in its so-called European territory to 95 ± 51 mBq m<sup>−2</sup> s<sup>−1</sup> in
the southern area of Siberia. The highest <sup>222</sup>Rn fluxes are derived in the regions of
high tectonic activity and orogenic belts of central and eastern Siberia and
in far eastern Russia. The observed high <sup>222</sup>Rn flux variations in specific
events show a strong effect of both soil and atmospheric conditions
on <sup>222</sup>Rn near-surface abundance and the derived seasonal
patterns over the continent
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