Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 25, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dissertation advisor: Dr. Raymond D. Semlitsch. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 129 p.; also includes graphics. Includes abstract and vita. Advisor: D. Lynn Forster, Dept. of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 124-129).

Thesis (M. Nurs.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 34-36).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 174-186).

Thesis (M. Econ.(Res))--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

Respirable Suspended Particulate (RSP) time series data sampled in an air quality monitoring network are found strongly correlated and they are varying in highly similar patterns. This study provides a methodology for spatio-temporal modeling and forecasting of multiple RSP time series, in which the dynamic spatial correlations amongst the series can be effectively utilized. 　　The efficacy of the Spatio-Temporal Dynamic Harmonic Regression (STDHR) model is demonstrated. Based on the decomposition of the observed time series into the trend and periodic components, the model is capable of making forecast of RSP data series that exhibit variation patterns during air pollution episodes and typhoons with dynamic weather conditions. It is also capable to produce spatial predictions of RSP time series up to three unobserved sites. 　　The Noise-variance-ratio (NVR) form of the multivariate recursive algorithm ((M2) algorithm) that derived by the author can greatly facilitate its practical application in both multivariate and univariate time series analysis. The (M2) algorithm allows the spatial correlations to be specified at parametric levels. The state-space (SS) model formulation can flexibly accommodate the existing inter or intra (auto) correlations amongst the parameters of the data series. 　　Applications of the variance intervention (VI) are exploited and illustrated with a real life case study which involves forecasting of RSP data series during an air pollution episode. This illustrates that time series with abrupt changes can be predicted by automatic implementation of the VI approach. 　　The present study also extended the anisotropic Matern model to estimate the dynamic spatial correlation structure of the air quality data by using mean wind speed and prevailing wind direction in defining the spatial anisotropy. The Anisotropic Matern model by Mean Wind Speed and Prevailing Wind Direction (AMMP) model that devised by the author can avoid huge computational burden in estimating variogram at every variation of the underlying spatial structure. 　　Finally, the findings of this dissertation have laid the foundation for further research on multiple time series analysis and estimation of dynamic spatial structure. / published_or_final_version / Geography / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

This thesis presents precipitation chemistry data from a dense network of 18 bulk and one wet-only precipitation collectors across the Metropolitan County of Greater Manchester, in the North-West of England, between January 1987 and December 1988. The samples were analysed for the major ions in precipitation. The data were used to investigate the spatial and temporal variability of non marine sulphate, nitrate, ammonium, calcium and hydrogen, their sources and potential atmospheric removal processes. This study has demonstrated the significant spatial variability of non marine sulphate, nitrate, ammonium, calcium and hydrogen ion concentrations in bulk precipitation from a dense urban network. The spatial pattern of hydrogen showed a significant inverse relationship with that of calcium, showing the importance of calcium species as the principal buffering agent of urban precipitation chemistry. A significant relationship between calcium and non marine sulphate was found using advanced statistical techniques. Calcium is proposed to principally originate from urban 'dust' particles which react with either sulphur dioxide or sulphate particles to ·produce enhanced concentrations of non marine sulphate in precipitation. A significant relationship was also found between nitrate and ammonium using the same statistical techniques and trajectory analysis. It is proposed that ammonia from sources within the U.K. and the conurbation itself, undergoes gas phase reactions with nitric acid to form ammonium nitrate, and that the spatial variability of nitrate in precipitation is likely to be the result of the strong spatial variability of ammonium. It may also be possible that calcium carbonate, from local sources, reacts with ammonium sulphate particles, liberating ammonia. The temporal variability of non marine sulphate, nitrate, ammonium and hydrogen ion concentrations in precipitation was consistent with patterns observed by other workers. Local and meso scale emissions do not seem to greatly affect the temporal variabi1ity of these ion concentrations, the major controlling factor being meteorology. The temporal variability of ammonium and nitrate deposition is more susceptible to the effects of local and meso scale emissions. Mean network concentrations of non marine sulphate, nitrate, ammonium and hydrogen did not differ great1y to interpolated values from the secondary national network for the year 1988. However, sophisticated statistical analysis comparing selected data from the G.M. network to those from two nearby national network sites revealed important differences regarding the sources of some ions in precipitation and their relative strengths.

published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

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