To address odour and gas problems generated by livestock facilities, air dispersion models have been used to determine reasonable science-based setback distances between the livestock operations and the neighbouring residences. However, none of the existing models consider diurnal, seasonal and climate variations of odour and gas (ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide) concentrations and emission rates (OGCER), which may result in great uncertainties in setback distance calculations. Thus, the purpose of this project was to monitor and model diurnal and seasonal OGCER from swine grower/finisher rooms. Specifically, this research was conducted to: 1) characterize diurnal OGCER between two different flooring systems (fully and partially slatted floorings) under three different weather conditions (August, October and February); 2) identify seasonal OGCER over a 12-month measuring period; and 3) develop mathematical models to predict the OGCER. <p>A two-factorial strip-block experiment was designed for measuring diurnal OGCER in two grower/finisher rooms. It was found that: 1) the diurnal OGCER in the fully slatted flooring system was 27.6 to 39.5% higher than that in the partially slatted flooring system; however, no significant differences in the diurnal OGCER were found between the two rooms, except for the NH3 concentrations in August, the NH3 and H2S concentrations and emissions in October, and odour concentrations and emissions in February (P > 0.05), and 2) significant diurnal variations in the OGCER (except for the odour concentrations and H2S emissions) have been observed in August (P < 0.05); only gas emissions showed significant fluctuation patterns in October (P < 0.05); no significant variations in the OGCER (except for the CO2 concentrations and emissions) were found in February (P > 0.05). <p>A repeated measurement method was used to monitor seasonal OGCER in four grower/finisher rooms over a period of 12 months. It was found that: 1) the seasonal OGCER from the fully slatted flooring system was 2.9 to 40.6% higher than that from the partially slatted flooring system; however, the seasonal OGCER (except for the NH3 concentrations in October, November and January; the CO2 concentrations in August and the CO2 emissions in December) between the two different floors for each measuring month did not differ significantly (P > 0.05); and 2) the seasonal OGCER was significantly affected by the sampling month (P < 0.05), and no specific seasonal pattern was observed. <p> The statistical models developed for each type of the flooring system determined the OGCER based on the room and ambient temperatures, the ventilation rates and the animal units. The predicted results showed good agreement with measured values for most of OGCER (r2: 0.67-0.95). In order to improve odour and gas prediction models, animal activity and dirtiness of pens should be further investigated.

The main objectives of this thesis are to determine if the addition of an energy wheel in an HVAC system can improve the indoor air relative humidity (RH), and perceived air quality (PAQ), as well as reduce energy consumption. An energy wheel is an air-to-air energy exchanger that transfers heat and moisture between the outdoor air entering and the exhaust air leaving a building. This thesis uses the TRNSYS computer package to model two buildings (an office and a school) in four different cities (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Vancouver, British Columbia; Tampa, Florida and Phoenix, Arizona).<p>The results with and without an energy wheel are compared to see if the energy wheel has a significant impact on the RH and PAQ in the buildings. The energy wheel reduces peak RH levels in Tampa, (up to 15% RH), which is a humid climate, but has a smaller effect on the indoor RH in Saskatoon (up to 4% RH) and Phoenix (up to 11% RH), which are dry climates. The energy wheel also reduces the number of people that are dissatisfied with the PAQ within the space by up to 17% in Tampa. <p>The addition of the energy wheel to the HVAC system creates a reduction in the total energy consumed by the HVAC system in Saskatoon, Phoenix and Tampa (2% in each city). There is a significant reduction in the size of the heating equipment in Saskatoon (26%) and in the size of the cooling equipment in Phoenix (18%) and Tampa (17%). A cost analysis shows that the HVAC system including an energy wheel has the least life-cycle costs in these three cities, with savings of up to 6%. In Vancouver, the energy wheel has a negligible impact on the indoor RH, PAQ and energy consumption.

No description available.

In Part 1, we separated surface ozone time series collected from EPA monitoring sites in and around Georgia from 1980-2002 using a Kolmogorov -Zurbenko Filter to assess the influences associated with characteristic timescales to the overall variability of ozone for individual communities. Comparison of time scale variabilities supports that the diurnal and synoptic variation are most influential timescales in small and large urban and rural locations, with the synoptic scale variation decreasing with the increase of urban size. We define boundaries of influence due to a communitys local chemistry and due to transport by utilizing the diurnal and synoptic ozone timescales respectively. We used the synoptic scale to evaluate the boundaries of similarity among sites that share synoptic scale trends due to transport. Results showed two-phased correlation decay with distance from urban centers. We evaluate the diurnal timescale as a means of evaluating the influence of an areas photochemistry, separated from long-range transport mechanisms. We consider isolation of the diurnal timescale extrapolated spatially for a relative sensitivity analysis based on ozone with respect to concentrations of the precursor group NOy. Results show differences base on urban scale and can define photochemical boundaries. In Part 2, a Particle-Into-Liquid Sampler with an anion/cation chromatograph (PILS-IC) was used to evaluate the fine particle desert dust mixed with urban pollution during the Asian Pacific Regional Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE-Asia). Three flights in the Yellow Sea boundary layer captured high mineral dust mixed with pollutants from Asian urban centers. Results report on the fine particle ionic compositions and chemical evolution of dust and pollution during those flights. The main component of water-soluble mineral dust was Ca2+ with Mg2+, which existed with significant fractions in the form of carbonates. Nitrate and sulfate measured after transport of nearly half a day, were connected to ammonium or potassium, the rest likely associated with mineral dust. Initial mass accommodation coefficients much less than 0.1 for uptake of SO2 or HNO3 by mineral dust in urban plumes containing fossil fuel and biomass burning emissions could explain the observations. The data suggest a dependence of accommodation coefficient on relative humidity.

The current dissertation is motivated by the need for an improved understanding of aerosol water interactions both in subsaturated and supersaturated atmospheric conditions with a strong emphasis on air pollution and climate change modeling. A cloud droplet formation parameterization was developed to i) predict droplet formation from a lognormal representation of aerosol size distribution and composition, and, ii) include a size-dependant mass transfer coefficient for the growth of water droplets which explicitly accounts for the impact of organics on droplet growth kinetics. The parameterization unravels most of the physics of droplet formation and is in remarkable agreement with detailed numerical parcel model simulations, even for low values of the accommodation coefficient. The parameterization offers a much needed rigorous and computationally inexpensive framework for directly linking complex chemical effects on aerosol activation in global climate models. The new aerosol activation parameterization was also tested against observations from highly polluted clouds (within the vicinity of power plant plumes). Remarkable closure was achieved (much less than the 20% measurement uncertainty). The error in predicted cloud droplet concentration was mostly sensitive to updraft velocity. Optimal closure is obtained if the water vapor uptake coefficient is equal to 0.06. These findings can serve as much needed constraints in modeling of aerosol-cloud interactions in the North America. Aerosol water interactions in ambient relative humidities less than 100% were studied using a thermodynamic equilibrium model for inorganic aerosol and a three dimensional air quality model. We developed a new thermodynamic equilibrium model, ISORROPIA-II, which predicts the partitioning of semi-volatiles and the phase state of K+/Ca2+/Mg2+/NH4+/Na+/SO42-/NO3-/Cl-/H2O aerosols. A comprehensive evaluation of its performance was conducted against the thermodynamic module SCAPE2 over a wide range of atmospherically relevant conditions. Based on its computational rigor and performance, ISORROPIA-II appears to be a highly attractive alternative for use in large scale air quality and atmospheric transport models. The new equilibrium model was also used to thermodynamically characterize aerosols measured at a highly polluted area. In the ammonia-rich environment of Mexico City, nitrate and chloride primarily partition in the aerosol phase with a 20-min equilibrium timescale; PM2.5 is insensitive to changes in ammonia but is to acidic semivolatile species. When RH is below 50%, predictions improve substantially if the aerosol follows a deliquescent behavior. The impact of including crustal species (Ca2+, K+, M2+) in equilibrium calculations within a three dimensional air quality model was also studied. A significant change in aerosol water (-19.8%) and ammonium (-27.5%) concentrations was predicted when crustals are explicitly included in the calculations even though they contributed, on average, only a few percent of the total PM2.5 mass, highlighting the need for comprehensive thermodynamic calculations in the presence of dust.

Cognition, attitudes, behavior and feel things from the environment to explore the small Port of Kaohsiung residents in the air pollution control fee levied in the Republic of China 87 years, for housing the regional air pollution perception of air quality to improve satisfaction and surfacetake the behavior of the current situation of air pollution.To explore the residents of different backgrounds, perception, the air pollution and air quality to improve the satisfaction and take the differences of behavior. This study used a random convenience sampling questionnaire, collection of air pollution fee on air quality questionnaire "to refer to the relevant literature and experts to discuss the small port area residents as a research tool.In this study, questionnaire survey was small Port of Kaohsiung residents to random convenience sampling survey, issued 233 questionnaires were valid questionnaires was 212. Finally, the collected data using descriptive statistics, independent sample t test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and simple regression and other statistical methods, data processing analysis. The results of this study found that the small port area residents are the upper level air pollution Perception extent. However, a small port area residents as both are not satisfied with the degree of satisfaction for today's small port area of air quality improvement.Acts taken in the face of air pollution is mostly self-protection, and group behavior, and petition the face of lack of government subsidies, while complaints. The results showed that although the high degree of Perception of the small port area residents air pollution, but taken in the face of air pollution, but a means of self-protection, so this study will analyze relevant statistical data and the last suggestions reference, and more availableinformation for the government to improve air quality.

Air quality in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) is the subject of many studies due to concerns from high emissions and their adverse effects on public health and the environment. In this study, a high resolution simulation is performed with the Community Multi-scale Air Quality modeling system (CMAQ) using meteorology generated by the Weather Research Forecasting system (WRF). The boundary conditions for CMAQ are provided by the Goddard Earth Observing System-CHEMistry model (GEOS-Chem). The simulation period was March 2-7, 2006. Hourly species concentrations of O3, NOx, CO, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5 for the period were provided by the Automatic Air Quality Monitoring Network (labeled as RAMA). Preliminary evaluation showed GEOS-Chem and CMAQ being in good agreement with their predicted concentrations. In comparison with the base case boundary conditions, the GEOS-Chem case performs better and predicts closer to the observed values of O3, NOx, PM10, PM2.5, and SO2. Particle trajectory analysis was performed using the HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT) to ascertain the major sources of SO2 emitters and their impact on the MCMA.

The EPA press release dated February 23, 2004 states that the three Buckeye Egg Farm facilities had the potential to emit more than a combined total of 1850 tons per year of particulate matter (PM). This number was based on flowrate calculations that were three times higher than those measured as well as a failure to include particle size distributions in the emissions calculations. The annual PM emission for each facility was approximately 35 tons per year. The EPA was unjustified in requiring Buckeye Egg Farm to obtain Title V and PSD permits as the facilities could not have met the thresholds for these permits. Engineers need to be concerned with correctly measuring and calculating emission rates in order to enforce the current regulations. Consistency among regulators and regulations includes using the correct emission factors for regulatory permitting purposes. EPA has adopted AERMOD as the preferred dispersion model for regulatory use on the premise that it more accurately models the dispersion of pollutants near the surface of the Earth than ISCST3; therefore, it is inappropriate to use the same emission factor in both ISCST3 and AERMOD in an effort to equitably regulate PM sources. For cattle feedlots in Texas, the ISCST3 emission factor is 7 kg/1000 hd-day (16 lb/1000 hd-day) while the AERMOD emission factor is 5 kg/1000 hd-day (11 lb/1000 he-day). The EPA is considering implementing a crustal exclusion for the PM emitted by agricultural sources. Over the next five years, it will be critical to determine a definition of crustal particulate matter that researchers and regulators can agree upon. It will also be necessary to develop a standard procedure to determine the crustal mass fraction of particulate matter downwind from a source to use in the regulatory process. It is important to develop a procedure to determine the particulate matter mass fraction of crustal downwind from a source before the crustal exclusion can be implemented to ensure that the exclusion is being used correctly and consistently among all regulators. According to my findings, the mass fraction of crustal from cattle feedlot PM emissions in the Texas High Plains region is 52%.

Air quality was influenced by many factors, in South Taiwan, air pollutants transportation caused by monsoon or sea-land breeze that may caused high air pollution events. Air pollutant generated by human activity on daytime, then transported and accumulated at sea region by land breeze during the nighttime. Unfortunately, air pollutants that accumulated over sea on night may transport back to land by sea breeze on daytime. Besides, monsoon may carry air pollutants from other regions to South Taiwan and caused high air quality event. Till now, air quality influenced by sea-land breeze and monsoon were not verified in South Taiwan. This study investigated the temporal variation and spatial distribution of air pollutants in the atmosphere around the coastal region of South Taiwan. Ambient air pollutants were simultaneously monitored both inland and offshore. Inland monitoring was conducted at two sites associated with fourteen national air quality monitoring stations, while offshore monitoring was conducted at two sites both in an island and on the boat. A protocol of ambient air quality monitoring was conducted for forty-eight hours. Gaseous air pollutants (i.e. CO, SO2, NOX, THC, and O3) were continuously monitored instrumentally. Data obtained from both inland and offshore monitoring were applied to plot the concentration contour by a software SURFER. Hourly variation of air pollutant concentrations was further used to study the influences of sea-land breezes on the transportation of air pollutants around the coastal region of South Taiwan for different seasons. In August and November, 2006 and May, 2007, sea-land breeze was observed during sampling period and sea breeze arise from 9:00 A.M. to 24:00 P.M. The average wind velocity was 1~4 m/s during the sampling period. In January and March, 2007, prevail wind direction was north direction and northeast direction (270o~30o), that was influenced by northeast monsoon during the sampling period. The average wind velocity was 2~4 m/s. The results showed that distribution of air pollutants, including O3, NOX, THC, and CO influenced by sea-land breezes, particularly for ozone. Air pollutants transported to sea region during the nighttime, and transported back at daytime. This phenomenon cause air pollutants accumulated between Kao-Ping and sea region. In general, NOX generated by transportation and industrial process, thus high concentration of NOX appeared during traffic congestion period and at industry region, mainly Kaohsiung city and Linyuang industrial region. However, sea-land breeze effect upon transportation of air pollutants wasn¡¦t obvious for SO2. High SO2 concentration appeared at Linyuang industrial region and Siaogang at daytime, and transported to region along the coast. During northeastern monsoon season, northeast winds obstructed by Central Mountain Range cause air pollutants accumulated at Kao-Ping region. High NOX concentration appeared at Kaohsiung City and Linyuang industrial region. SO2 accumulated at Siaogang and Linyuang during the nighttime might be caused by high atmospheric pressure system and blew air pollutants to Linbian. CO was accumulated at Siaogang at daytime and transported to Donggang, while THC was accumulated at Donggang whole day.

PM10 and ozone are the dominant air pollutants in the Urban Kaohsiung. Ozone is a secondary pollutant generated in the troposphere from the precursors nitrogen dioxide and non-methane hydrocarbons. The trends of ozone concentrations first statistically are summarized utilizing the monitoring data during the period 1998¡Ð2007. All data are collected from four fixed-site air quality monitoring stations in Kaohsiung City. The results show that ozone concentration in Kaohsiung has one perennial peak concentration, occurring in October and March. The highest values occur in October and the secondary high value in March. The lowest values occur in the summer. The monitor data possess timeliness of data and the non-linear dynamic tendency. Artificial Neural Network ¡]ANN¡^, a system recognition, self-study function and ability of the solution to non-linearity dynamic system problem, was used as a tool to analyze these monitor data. This work utilizing neural networks develops a model to predict the trend of ozone situations in the Urban Kaohsiung. The network was trained using meteorological factor and air quality data when the ozone concentrations are the highest. The optimum set value of five parameters including date partition, hidden layer neurons, training function, leraning rate , and momentum coefficient were obtained based on trial and error methods. The simulated results of ozone concentration have a correlation coefficient within the range 0.865¡Ð0.899 and IOA within the range 0.927¡Ð0.934. The trend results of ozone concentration reflect strong relationships in all stations. The results of this study indicate that the artificial neural network (ANN) is a promising method for air pollution modeling.