This study investigates translocation of particulate carbon and nitrogen from burned and unburned catchments within New Mexico's Valles Caldera National Preserve following severe wildfire. My research questions are: (1) how much carbon and nitrogen is eroded from burned slopes and re-deposited in debris fans? and (2) how do these quantities compare to fluvial export of particulate carbon and nitrogen from nearby unburned catchments? Results indicate that the ~200 kg ha⁻¹ of nitrogen per depositional area on the debris fans represents ~50 to 100 years' worth of atmospheric inputs. In total, 124 times more carbon and 21 times more nitrogen were deposited on the two fans than was exported in particulate form from all three unburned catchments combined in water year 2012. My findings suggest that post-fire erosion may increase nitrogen loading to downslope environments, with the potential to alter the biogeochemical budgets of both aquatic and terrestrial systems.

Through biomass gasification, biomass can be converted at high temperature to a product gas rich in carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane. After cleaning and upgrading, the product gas can be converted to biofuels such as hydrogen; methanol; dimethyl ether; and synthetic diesel, gasoline, and natural gas. Particulate matter (PM) is formed as a contaminant in the gasification process, and the aim of this work was to develop and apply a method for sampling and characterization of PM in the hot product gas.   A particle measurement system consisting of a dilution probe combined in series with a bed of granular activated carbon for tar adsorption was developed, with the aim of extracting a sample of the hot product gas without changing the size distribution and composition of the PM. The mass size distribution and concentration, as well as the morphology and elementary composition, of PM in the size range 10 nm to 10 µm in the product gas from a bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) gasifier, a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) gasifier and an indirect BFB gasifier using various types of biomass as fuel were determined.   All gasifiers and fuels displayed a bimodal particle mass size distribution with a fine mode in the <0.5 µm size range and a coarse mode in the >0.5 µm size range. Compared with the mass concentration of the coarse mode the mass concentration of the fine mode was low from all gasifiers. The evaluation of the results for the fine-mode PM was complicated by condensing potassium chloride for the CFB gasifier when using miscanthus as fuel and by condensing tars for the indirect BFB gasifier when using wood C as fuel. The mass concentration of the coarse-mode PM was higher from the CFB gasifier than from the two BFB gasifiers. The coarse-mode PM from the BFB gasifier when using wood A as fuel was dominated by char. In the CFB gasifier the coarse-mode PM was mainly ash and bed material when using all fuels. The coarse-mode PM from the indirect BFB gasifier when using wood C as fuel was mainly ash.

In this MSc thesis I determine if wind-generated bubbles elevated measurements of above-water normalized water-leaving radiance (nLw) and subsequent remote sensing estimates of particulate inorganic carbon (PIC) in a coccolithophore bloom on the Patagonian Shelf. Although no measurements were made of bubbles, shipboard wind speed was used as a proxy for bubble backscattering. An empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis was performed on nLw. The first EOF accounted for 95% of the variance, and was attributed to changes in spectral amplitude. Scores of the first EOF were positively correlated with flow-through PIC backscattering (bb′) > 5x10-4 m-1, indicating that above this threshold PIC was an optically active seawater constituent. There was only evidence for a bubble elevation of nLw at values of bb′ < 5x10-4 m-1 and wind speeds > 12.5 m s-1. There was no evidence for a bubble elevation of PIC estimated using the two-band PIC algorithm.

This study’s purpose is to examine the potential relationships between MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and environmental outdoor air pollutants in GA (Georgia). We used secondary, cross-sectional data received from the member’s list of the National Multiples Sclerosis Society’s GA chapter (NMSS-GA), the U.S. census, and scorecard.org, a database based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory (to 2002) and National Emissions Inventory (1999) data. The study population was 9,072,576 including 6,247 self-reported MS cases from NMSS-GA. Using stepwise multivariate linear regression of census and EPA data, the best predictive model in GA for female or total prevalence rates used per capita income and coarse particles (PM-10); male prevalence rates included only per capita income. The relationship between MS and PM-10 could be facilitated by influences of PM-10 on the systemic immune response and inflammation. More exposure and basic and clinical research are needed to understand environmental influences on MS.

During the last 10 years, air pollution has become one of the major public health problems in Ulaanbaatar city of Mongolia, and concentrations of pollutants were measured 3 to 50 times higher than WHO recommendation. This devastating air pollution is produced mostly by thousands of families who migrated from countryside and live in gers (traditional dwellings) in the suburban area which is not connected to the central heating system, and nearly all of them burn coal to keep them warm. Due to air pollution, residents living in Ulaanbaatar city suffer health problems that equal to the smoking of 4-5 packs of cigarettes. During the winter time, PM10 hourly average concentrations increased to 2,300 μg/m3, and daily average became over than 1,000 μg/m3 in the most polluted parts of the city. At present, Mongolian government has accepted that the health of Mongolian residents has deteriorated at an alarming level. In January of 2011, Mongolian Parliament approved the Law on Reduction of Air Pollution in the Capital City to control air pollution and eliminate the gaps in practice. One main provision of this law was to improve ger district electricity transmission and distribution network and reduce the night-time price of electricity by 50 percent. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate direct health benefits of Government Provision on cutting electricity payment by 50 percent during the night time and analyze the efficiency of this program on reducing air pollution and its related health impact. The study result showed when this new regulation is fully implemented in the ger districts, the annual consumption of coal and wood would be decreased by about 550,000 tons and 415,000 tons, accompanied by massive reduction of the emission. These changes would lead into noteworthy health benefits such as 15.7 and 17.4 percent of reduction of total and infant mortality rates and 4.3 and 4.7 percent decrease of cardiovascular and respiratory disease morbidity cases, annually.

Biomass fast pyrolysis liquid, also known as bio-oil, is a promising renewable fuel for heat and power generation; however, implementing crude bio-oil in some current combustion systems can degrade combustion performance and emissions. In this study, optimizing fuel properties to improve combustion is considered. Various bio-oils with different fuel properties are tested in a pilot stabilized spray burner under very close flow conditions. Effects of solids, ash and water content of bio-oil as well as ethanol blending were examined. The results show the amount of solids and ash fractions of the fuel were correlated with combustion efficiency. The CO and unburned hydrocarbon emissions decreased with both water and ethanol content. Increasing the fuel’s volatile content by blending in ethanol has been shown to improve flame stability. Also, the organic fraction of particulate matter emissions was found to be a strong function of the thermogravimetric analysis residue of the fuel.

Biomass fast pyrolysis liquid, also known as bio-oil, is a promising renewable fuel for heat and power generation; however, implementing crude bio-oil in some current combustion systems can degrade combustion performance and emissions. In this study, optimizing fuel properties to improve combustion is considered. Various bio-oils with different fuel properties are tested in a pilot stabilized spray burner under very close flow conditions. Effects of solids, ash and water content of bio-oil as well as ethanol blending were examined. The results show the amount of solids and ash fractions of the fuel were correlated with combustion efficiency. The CO and unburned hydrocarbon emissions decreased with both water and ethanol content. Increasing the fuel’s volatile content by blending in ethanol has been shown to improve flame stability. Also, the organic fraction of particulate matter emissions was found to be a strong function of the thermogravimetric analysis residue of the fuel.

Vis daugiau epidemiologinių tyrimų atskleidžia neigiamą oro taršos įtaką žmonių sveikatai. Ypač oro taršos neigiamam poveikiui yra jautrūs maži vaikai. Todėl, siekiant nustatyti ryšį tarp oro taršos kietosiomis dalelėmis ir bronchito rizikos, atlikome oro kokybės ir epidemiologinį „atvejis – kontrolė“ tyrimą. Nustatėme, kad vidutinė sezoninė kietųjų dalelių koncentracija dviejuose mikrorajonuose svyravo nuo 20 µg/m3 iki 41 µg/m3, o vidutinė metinė - svyravo nuo 24 µg/m3 iki 33 µg/m3. Didžiausia vidutinė metinė koncentracija 2010 ir 2011 nustatyta Petrašiūnuose. Atliekant „atvejis – kontrolė” nustatėme, kad Petrašiūnuose iki penkerių metų amžiaus vaikų bronchito paplitimas yra didesnis - 69% visų tirtų vaikų, kai Dainavoje – tik 49 % visų tirtų vaikų. Kontroliuojant ryšį iškraipančius veiksnius, nustatėme, kad riziką susirgti bronchitu dididno suaugusiųjų rūkymas ir vitamino D trūkumas. Tyrimo analizė leido padaryti išvadą, kad vaikams, gyvenantiems ir lankantiems darželius Petrašiūnų mikrorajone, rizika susirgti bronchitu buvo 2,9 karto (PI 95 % 1,789 – 4,716) didesnė, nei vaikams, kurie gyveno ir lankė darželius Dainavos mikrorajone. Taip pat nustatyta, kad berniukams rizika susirgti bronchitu yra didesnė, nei mergaitėms. / There are plenty of epidemiological researches reveal that, exposure to air pollution is associated with numerous effects on human health. The association of PM 10 with the prevalence of bronchitis among till 5 years old children was examined in a cross-sectional study. We found out that, average seasonal pm 10 concentration varied from 20 µg/m3 till 41 µg/m3. And average pm 10 concentration and counted in every year varied from 24 µg/m3 till 33 µg/m3. The highest average yearly pm 10 concentration was determined in Petrašiūnai 2010 and 2011 years. Also we found out that, the prevalence of bronchitis between 5 years old children was higher in Petrašiūnai (69%). The prevalence of bronchitis in Dainava was 49 %. Controlling the factors perverting connection we found out that, smoking and indoor smoking also deficiency of D vitamin have the tendency to increase the risk of bronchitis. In conclusion, we found that, children who lived and used to go to kindergartens in Petrašiūnai the risk of the bronchitis was 2,9 (PI 95 % 1,789 – 4,716).

Oro tarša yra viena svarbiausių žmonijos problemų Lietuvoje ir pasauliniu mąstu. Oro taršos poveikis kelia didžiulį pavojų aplinkai ir visų gyvų organizmų tolimesniam egzistavimui. Viena pagrindinių problemų daugumoje didesnių miestų yra užterštumas kietosiomis dalelėmis. Šiame darbe pateikiami tyrimų duomenys apie kietųjų dalelių ir sunkiųjų metalų koncentracijų kiekius Šiaulių miesto aplinkos ore 2007 m. Darbe įvertinti atliktų kietųjų dalelių koncentracijų tyrimai gyvenamųjų mikrorajonų aplinkos ore šildymo sezonu, iš kurių paaiškėjo, kad labiausiai kietosiomis dalelėmis užterštas Medelyno mikrorajonas, o KD10 koncentracija kito nuo 0,4 iki 1,16 DLK. Įvertinus sunkiųjų metalų koncentracijas miesto aplinkos ore buvo nustatyta, kad jais labiausiai užterštas miesto centras, kur didžiausi autotransporto srautai. Iš Medelyne atliktų kietųjų dalelių dispersinės sudėties tyrimų buvo nustatyta, kad pavojingiausių dalelių (KD2,5) yra ~60%, KD10 ~15%, 20-60 µm dalelių ~25%. Taip pat darbe buvo sumodeliuota, programų paketu „Varsa“, pietinio pramoninio rajono ���monių išmetamų kietųjų dalelių emisijų sklaida. Paaiškėjo, kad šie teršalai dažniausiai vėjo nešami centro link, į šiaurinę miesto dalį, o aplink taršos šaltinius jų kiekiai siekia 0,3 mg/m3. / Air polution is one of the most important problems in Lithuania and all over the world. Air polution causes hudge harm to environment and to all egzisting organizms. Particulate air polution is one of hazardous part especialy in the bigger citys. This master degree‘s work represents the research data on the concentration volumes of the solid particles and heavy metals in the environmental air in Šiauliai city in 2007. The concentration analysis of solid particles in the environmental air, at housing/residential areas, during winter seasons, research proved that Medelynas district is mostly pulluted district in Šiauliai and the PM10 concentration varyed from 0.4 to 1.16 MPC. Due to the biggest flow of transport, the town centre is mostly polluted with heavyweight metals. A result of a solid particle dispersional analysis showed the size of solid particules,and that the most dangerous amount of particles (PM2,5) is about 60%, PM10 ~15%, 20-60 microns size ~ 25%. The simulation of emmision from the stationary polluting sources of solid particles at industrial enterprises in the south of the town gets carried by the wind towards the center of the city and it reaches the amount of 0.3 mg/m3 concentration of solid particles around the industrial enterprise district.

Šiame darbe atliekamas kietųjų dalelių dispersijos modeliavimas SILAM modeliu pernašos atmosferoje tyrimo tikslais, pateikiami modelio rezultatai, išvados. Lietuvoje yra sąlygos efektyviam modelio darbui bei poreikis modeliuoti ir prognozuoti atmosferos teršalų sklidimą, todėl šio darbo rezultatas ir darbo metu sukurta modelio nustatymo metodika galėtų būti plačiai naudojami praktikoje. Kol kas nėra gausios informacijos apie atmosferos taršos modeliavimą Lietuvos teritorijoje. Atliekami tik matavimai ir regioniniu bei valstybės mastu naudojami kaimyninių valstybių modeliavimo duomenys, o atskiros savivaldybės teršalų sklaidą atmosferoje modeliuoja mikro masto modeliais. Pagrindinis darbo tikslas: ištirti pagrindines kietųjų dalelių pernašos Lietuvos teritorijoje savybes naudojant SILAM modelį, parengtą kietųjų dalelių dispersijos modeliavimui ir prognozavimui Lietuvos teritorijoje bei kuo naujesnius ir kuo gausesnius duomenis iš Lietuvos institucijų (pavyzdžiui Lietuvos hidrometeorologijos tarnybos, Aplinkos ministerijos ir t.t.). Gauti rezultatai, išvados: 1. Pagal atliktų modeliavimų rezultatus matyti, kad pagrindinė kietųjų dalelių taršos dalis laikosi priežeminiuose troposferos sluoksniuose ir pernešama netoli (šis braižas verčia manyti, kad tai stambiosios frakcijos). Tuo tarpu į aukštesnius sluoksnius patenka keletą ir net keletą dešimčių kartų mažesnė kietųjų dalelių dalis, bet jos pernešamos toliau. 2. Pagal gautus duomenis galima teigti, kad modeliuojamuoju... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The main purpose of this diploma thesis “Particulate matter transport in the atmosphere research using SILAM model” (written by Adomas Mažeikis) is to use SILAM model to research the transport of local Particulate matter pollutants and those from neighboring countries too. Emission data was prepared by interpolating EMEP and Statistical Department provided data sets. Meteorological data was taken from Lithuanian HydroMeteorological Service HIRLAM installation. The setup of model was prepared and test runs were made (one of them is simulating fire in oil refinery "Mažeikių nafta"). The results of this thesis are large arrays of past (2007 October - 2008 April) PM10 dispersion data. Grads package was used to perform the analysis of data and these are the conclusions made after the analysis was finished: 1. SILAM model is accurate enough for researching country wide PM10 transport analysis. 2. Each and every model run needs individual setup for best performance. 3. SILAM is not user friendly application and there is a lack of documentation (User guide, Operational instructions and model technical descriptions are available but it does not describe the setup of model in details). 4. Users of SILAM should check model run logs. There is plenty of useful data in there though the format is not very usable. 5. Performed analysis of model run results shows that the biggest part of PM10 aerosol is in the lower levels of the troposphere and that part is transported up to 100km (this can... [to full text]