Effects of Independence Day fireworks on atmospheric concentrations of fine particulate matter in the United States

Seidel, Dian J.; Birnbaum, Abigail

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.05.065

Cited by 93 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Also note that the effects of the Independence Day fireworks are shown by the observations but are not reflected in any of the CMAQ tests. Seidel and Birnbaum [] demonstrated the similar effects using the AQS PM 2.5 data from 1999 to 2013 and suggested future inclusion in the model of the fireworks celebrating the 4 July as emission sources.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Aerosol Optical Depth and AirNow PM_2.5 assimilation on Community Multi‐scale Air Quality aerosol predictions over the contiguous United States

et al. 2017

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In this study, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and AirNow PM2.5 measurements are assimilated into the Community Multi‐scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model using an optimal interpolation (OI) method. Over a 30 day test period in July 2011, three assimilation configurations were used in which MODIS AOD and AirNow PM2.5 measurements were first assimilated separately before being assimilated simultaneously. The background error covariance is estimated using both the National Meteorological Center approach and the Hollingsworth‐Lönnberg method. The AOD observations from Terra are assimilated at 17Z and the Aqua AOD observations are assimilated at 20Z each day. AirNow PM2.5 measurements are assimilated 4 times a day at 00Z, 06Z, 12Z, and 18Z. Model performances are measured by the daily averaged and domain‐averaged biases and the root‐mean‐square errors (RMSEs) obtained by comparing the predictions with the AirNow PM2.5 observations that were not assimilated. Either assimilating the MODIS AOD or assimilating the AirNow PM2.5 alone helps PM2.5 predictions over the entire 30 days. The case that assimilates the observations from both sources has the best performance. While the CMAQ PM2.5 results exhibit exaggerated diurnal variations compared to the AirNow measurements, this is not as severe at rural sites as at urban or suburban sites. It was also found that assimilating the total AOD observations is more beneficial for correcting the PM2.5 underestimations than directly assimilating the AirNow PM2.5 measurements every 6 h. While the simple approach of applying the AOD scaling factors uniformly throughout the vertical columns proved effective, it is liable to produce substantial errors. This is demonstrated by a high‐AOD event.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Aerosol Optical Depth and AirNow PM_2.5 assimilation on Community Multi‐scale Air Quality aerosol predictions over the contiguous United States

et al. 2017

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“…Interestingly, Figure 9b compares the variation of BC in two successive High levels of BC concentrations were recorded with peaks exceeding 9.000 µgm -3 on 23 December and 5.000 µgm -3 on 2 January, and daily mean concentrations of 3.477 µgm -3 on 23 December, and 0.559 µgm -3 on 2 January, occuring during tremendous use of pyrotechnic products. Seidel and Birnbaum (2015) reported an increase of the US-average mean hourly PM 2.5 values reaching 21.000 µgm -3 21:00 to 22:00 during the celebration of the national independence day in the US (4 July 1999-2013) and a decrease to zero by noon the day after (5 July 1999(5 July -2013. The authorities implemented a day without traffic road in the center of Algiers.…”

Section: Sources Of Black Carbonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measurement of atmospheric black carbon in some South Mediterranean cities

Merabet

Kerbachi²,

Mihalopoulos³

et al. 2019

Clean Air J.

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This study aims to investigate, for the first time in Algeria, the atmospheric black carbon (BC) concentrations over one year measured at the Scientific Observatory of Algiers and to compare their concentration levels with other Mediterranean cities (i.e., Athens and Crete). The diurnal cycles as well as seasonal variations of BC concentrations were evaluated and attributed to their emission sources (fossil fuel: BCff and wood burning: BCwb). The annual mean concentrations of BC, BCff and BCwb were 1.113±2.030, 1.064±2.002 and 0.049±0.262 µgm-3, respectively. The highest seasonal mean concentrations were recorded in summer and autumn with 1.283±1.346 and 1.209±1.149 µgm-3 for BC and 1.217±1.431 and 1.177±1.151 µgm-3 for BCff, respectively. However, the lowest mean concentrations were recorded in winter and spring with 1.023±1.189 and 0.966±0.964 µgm-3 for BC and 0.933±1.177 and 0.956±0.874 µgm-3 for BCff, respectively. For BCwb, the highest mean concentrations were reached in winter and summer with 0.090±0.055 and 0.066±0.050 µgm-3, respectively, very likely due to the forest fires and long-range transport of air pollution from Europe. The lowest mean concentrations of BCwb were recorded in autumn and spring with 0.032±0.033 and 0.010±0.021 µgm-3, respectively. Seggregating BC levels into eight wind sectors, showed that the prevailing BC pollution with concentrations reaching up to 5.000 µgm-3 originated from the North-West wind sector. A source apportionment of BC for the wet and dry period was also perfomed followed by a back trajectory cluster analysis for long-range transport.

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“…They can generate dense clouds of smoke in the lower atmosphere (Drewnick et al ., ) and are sources of pollution including gas‐phase species (e.g. sulphur dioxide, ozone) and particulate‐phase species, including black carbon and metals (Ravindra et al ., ; Seidel and Birnbaum, ), some of which are associated with negative health effects (Ravindra et al ., ). Within the UK, several studies have linked the use of fireworks with changes in air quality (Knox et al ., ; Godri et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Remember, remember the 5th of November; gunpowder, particles and smog

Singh

Bloss

Pope

2015

Weather

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In the UK on 5 November, Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated with bonfires and fireworks. An undesirable consequence of these activities is a statistically significant reduction (~25%) in atmospheric visibility nationwide. This reduction is caused by increased loading of atmospheric particulate matter generated by bonfires and fireworks. The effect of this increased loading on visibility is investigated in greater detail for the city of Nottingham, where larger visibility decreases compared to the national average are observed. Visibility reduction is more significant when the background particulate matter loading and/or the atmospheric relative humidity are high.

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Effects of Independence Day fireworks on atmospheric concentrations of fine particulate matter in the United States

Cited by 93 publications

References 21 publications

Impact of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Aerosol Optical Depth and AirNow PM_2.5 assimilation on Community Multi‐scale Air Quality aerosol predictions over the contiguous United States

Impact of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Aerosol Optical Depth and AirNow PM_2.5 assimilation on Community Multi‐scale Air Quality aerosol predictions over the contiguous United States

Measurement of atmospheric black carbon in some South Mediterranean cities

Remember, remember the 5th of November; gunpowder, particles and smog

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Effects of Independence Day fireworks on atmospheric concentrations of fine particulate matter in the United States

Cited by 93 publications

References 21 publications

Impact of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Aerosol Optical Depth and AirNow PM2.5 assimilation on Community Multi‐scale Air Quality aerosol predictions over the contiguous United States

Impact of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Aerosol Optical Depth and AirNow PM2.5 assimilation on Community Multi‐scale Air Quality aerosol predictions over the contiguous United States

Measurement of atmospheric black carbon in some South Mediterranean cities

Remember, remember the 5th of November; gunpowder, particles and smog

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Impact of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Aerosol Optical Depth and AirNow PM_2.5 assimilation on Community Multi‐scale Air Quality aerosol predictions over the contiguous United States

Impact of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Aerosol Optical Depth and AirNow PM_2.5 assimilation on Community Multi‐scale Air Quality aerosol predictions over the contiguous United States