Essay Examples - Environmental Studies Essays
Air Quality
A number of air pollutants have known, or suspected, harmful impacts upon human health and well-being, as well as environmental impacts (e.g. acid rain).
It is therefore of paramount importance that data relating to air quality is monitored on a regular basis. Local authorities since 1997 have been reviewing and assessing air quality, and the data generated provides information on how the UK is meeting set air quality objectives. The need for a co-ordinated national and holistic approach relates to the fact that pollutants may not manifest themselves as problems in the source area; rather they may travel large distances before being deposited.
The National Air Quality Information archive is a searchable database holding a vast array of data relating to air quality and is therefore an important resource for researchers investigating meteorology.
Trends in CO emissions at Birmingham during 2002.
Fluctuations in CO concentrations are relatively stable from January 02 until mid-July 02, ranging from approximately 0.2-0.7mg/m-3. An increase in CO emissions is observable from late-July 02 onwards, particularly during winter 2002. This increase could be a result of a rise in fossil fuel consumption as a result of summer holidays (i.e. rise in the number of motorists, air passengers etc) , heating demands etc.
Trends in the daily mean
Particulate (PM10) emissions at Birmingham during 2002. There were several cases during 2002 when the 2004 annual mean objective of 40g/m-3 set in the National Air Quality Strategy was exceeded. Excluding these occasions, particulate (PM10) emissions fluctuates between approximately 10-35g/m-3.
Concentrations and exceedences of ozone against the UK Air Quality Strategy, at the Birmingham automatic monitoring site during 2002. The objective that the daily maximum of running 8 hour means should not exceed 100 g/m-3 more than 10 times a year by the end of 2005 was met, with only one occasion when the O3 concentration reached 100 g/m-3. The overall trend is for increased levels of O3 during April to September, although higher variations in concentrations were recorded during February, November and December.
This increase in ozone during the summer months relates to long hours of bright sunlight, temperatures above 20C, and light, or no, winds.
The extent to which daily measurements of each pollutant are auto-correlated (i.e. correlated with the value on the previous day) can be demonstrated by the calculation of autocorrelation coefficients.
Autocorrelation Coefficients:
- CO = 0.57
- Particulates = 0.56
- Ozone = 0.67
Ozone exhibits the greatest fluctuation amongst the three calculated contaminants. Given a standard deviation of 20.89g/m-3 this was to be expected. At ground level, ozone occurs naturally but levels can be increased as a result of the presence of other pollutants. As a secondary pollutant, it is formed by a series of reactions between nitrogen dioxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxygen in the presence of sunlight.
Production of ozone is affected by the weather. Ozone episodes in which concentrations rise substantially above background levels occur in the summer months. This increase can be seen where maximum Ozone concentrations during 2002 were recorded in June. Long hours of bright sunlight, higher temperatures (i.e. above 20C), and light, or no, winds are principal factors accounting for this increase.
The overall trend is for increased levels of O3 during April to September, although higher variations in concentrations were recorded during February, November and December.
Airborne particulate matter is a very diverse material in terms of its physical and chemical properties and there are many sources that contribute to atmospheric concentrations. Particulate (PM10) emissions fluctuates between approximately 10-35g/m-3, with an annual mean recorded at 21.74 g/m-3. This is well below the National Air Quality target, and whilst a relatively high standard deviation, the number of times concentrations exceeded national objectives was well below the 35 times recommended.
Total Emissions of Carbon Monoxide
In the UK fell by 67 per cent between 1990 and 2003 mainly as a result of the introduction of catalytic converters on petrol cars. Fuel switching from non-catalyst petrol cars to diesel cars has also had an effect. An increase in CO emissions is observable from late-July 02 onwards, particularly during winter 2002.
As mentioned previously, this increase could be a result of a rise in fossil fuel consumption as a result of summer holidays (rise in no. of motorists, air passengers etc) , heating demands etc. An annual mean of 0.44 mg/m-3 was well below the strategy health objective for the end of 2003 of 10 mg/m3.
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The synoptic meteorological chart
Dated 05/04/2002 corresponds with the maximum Particulate PM10 value (69.58 g/m-3) recorded during 2002. The chart shows a low-pressure system over the UK, with an occluded front coming in from the West. Perhaps the ridge of high pressure to the south of the UK accounts for high PM10 concentrations by creating a temperature inversion and reducing vertical mixing.
The synoptic meteorological chart dated 04/06/2002 corresponds with the maximum Ozone value (100g/m-3) recorded during 2002. The chart shows a low-pressure system over the UK. The relatively weak winds (as denoted by wider isobars) combined with higher summer temperatures could account for the maximum Ozone levels recorded on this date.
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