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Performance Assessment of Low- and Medium-Cost PM2.5 Sensors in Real-World Conditions in Central Europe
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Observation of Multilayer Clouds and Their Climate Effects: A Review
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Developing a Composite Drought Indicator Using PCA Integration of CHIRPS Rainfall, Temperature, and Vegetation Health Products for Agricultural Drought Monitoring in New Mexico
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Evaluating Outdoor Human Thermal Comfort Through Climate-Resilient Adaptation: A Case Study at School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT) Campus
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Drivers of Temperature Anomalies in Poland
Journal Description
Atmosphere
Atmosphere
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal of scientific studies related to the atmosphere published monthly online by MDPI. The Italian Aerosol Society (IAS) and Working Group of Air Quality in European Citizen Science Association (ECSA) are affiliated with Atmosphere and their members receive a discount on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Ei Compendex, GEOBASE, GeoRef, Inspec, CAPlus / SciFinder, Astrophysics Data System, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q2 (Environmental Science (miscellaneous))
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 16.9 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.9 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2025).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Testimonials: See what our editors and authors say about Atmosphere.
- Companion journals for Atmosphere include: Meteorology and Aerobiology.
Impact Factor:
2.3 (2024);
5-Year Impact Factor:
2.5 (2024)
Latest Articles
Deep Learning Emulator Towards Both Forward and Adjoint Modes of Atmospheric Gas-Phase Chemical Process
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1109; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091109 (registering DOI) - 21 Sep 2025
Abstract
Gas-phase chemistry has been identified as a major computational bottleneck in both the forward and adjoint modes of chemical transport models (CTMs). Although previous studies have demonstrated the potential of deep learning models to simulate and accelerate this process, few studies have examined
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Gas-phase chemistry has been identified as a major computational bottleneck in both the forward and adjoint modes of chemical transport models (CTMs). Although previous studies have demonstrated the potential of deep learning models to simulate and accelerate this process, few studies have examined the applicability and performance of these models in adjoint sensitivity analysis. In this study, a deep learning emulator for gas-phase chemistry is developed and trained on a diverse set of forward-mode simulations from the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. The emulator employs a residual neural network (ResNet) architecture referred to as FiLM-ResNet, which integrates Feature-wise Linear Modulation (FiLM) layers to explicitly account for photochemical and non-photochemical conditions. Validation within a single timestep indicates that the emulator accurately predicts concentration changes for 74% of gas-phase species with coefficient of determination (R2) exceeding 0.999. After embedding the emulator into the CTM, multi-timestep simulation over one week shows close agreement with the numerical model. For the adjoint mode, we compute the sensitivities of ozone (O3) with respect to O3, nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), hydroxyl radical (OH) and isoprene (ISOP) using automatic differentiation, with the emulator-based adjoint results achieving a maximum R2 of 0.995 in single timestep evaluations compared to the numerical adjoint sensitivities. A 24 h adjoint simulation reveals that the emulator maintains spatially consistent adjoint sensitivity distributions compared to the numerical model across most grid cells. In terms of computational efficiency, the emulator achieves speed-ups of 80×–130× in the forward mode and 45×–102× in the adjoint mode, depending on whether inference is executed on Central Processing Unit (CPU) or Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). These findings demonstrate that, once the emulator is accurately trained to reproduce forward-mode gas-phase chemistry, it can be effectively applied in adjoint sensitivity analysis. This approach offers a promising alternative approach to numerical adjoint frameworks in CTMs.
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(This article belongs to the Section Atmospheric Techniques, Instruments, and Modeling)
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Air and Surface Purification Using Heterogeneous Photocatalysis: Enhanced Indoor Sanitisation Through W18O49 and ZnO Catalyst Systems
by
Pablo Farnandez, Wesley Paul and Prashant Kumar
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1108; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091108 (registering DOI) - 21 Sep 2025
Abstract
Indoor air quality management has become increasingly critical for public health, particularly after the global COVID-19 respiratory disease outbreaks that highlighted airborne pathogen transmission risks. This review investigates an advanced air and surface purification method that is used in devices utilising heterogeneous photocatalysis
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Indoor air quality management has become increasingly critical for public health, particularly after the global COVID-19 respiratory disease outbreaks that highlighted airborne pathogen transmission risks. This review investigates an advanced air and surface purification method that is used in devices utilising heterogeneous photocatalysis with tungsten oxide (W18O49) and zinc oxide (ZnO) catalyst systems to generate controlled concentrations of hydrogen peroxide for continuous indoor sanitisation. The photocatalytic system converts ambient water vapour into aerosolised hydrogen peroxide at concentrations of 0.04–0.05 ppm, significantly below established safety thresholds, while maintaining effective antimicrobial activity. The W18O49 catalyst demonstrates superior visible-light absorption compared to conventional titanium dioxide (TiO2) systems, with ZnO serving as an effective cocatalyst to reduce electron–hole recombination and enhance reactive oxygen species generation. Safety analysis based on OSHA, WHO, and ACGIH guidelines confirms that continuous exposure to these low hydrogen peroxide concentrations poses no health risks to occupants. Real-world applications demonstrate up to 90% reduction in airborne pathogens and a 20–30% decrease in sick leave rates in office environments. The technology offers significant economic benefits through reduced healthcare costs and improved productivity while providing environmentally sustainable air purification without harmful residues. This photocatalytic approach represents a scientifically validated, safe, and economically viable solution for next-generation indoor air quality management across healthcare, educational, commercial, and residential sectors.
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(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)
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Spatiotemporal Graph Convolutional Network-Based Long Short-Term Memory Model with A* Search Path Navigation and Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Carbon Monoxide Prediction in Northern Cape Province, South Africa
by
Israel Edem Agbehadji and Ibidun Christiana Obagbuwa
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1107; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091107 (registering DOI) - 21 Sep 2025
Abstract
Background: The emission of air pollutants into the atmosphere is a global issue as it contributes to global warming and climate-related issues. Human activities like the burning of fossil fuel influence changes in weather patterns—resulting in issues such as a rise in sea
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Background: The emission of air pollutants into the atmosphere is a global issue as it contributes to global warming and climate-related issues. Human activities like the burning of fossil fuel influence changes in weather patterns—resulting in issues such as a rise in sea levels, among other things. Identifying road network routes within Northern Cape Province in South Africa that are less exposed to air pollutants like carbon monoxide is the issue this study seeks to address. Methods: The method used for our predictions is based on a graph convolutional network (GCN) and long short-term memory (LSTM). The GCN extracts geospatial characteristics, and the LSTM captures both nonlinear relationships and temporal dependencies in an air pollutant and meteorological dataset. Furthermore, an A* search strategy identifies the path from one location to another with the lowest carbon monoxide concentrations within a road network. The explainable artificial intelligence (xAI) technique is used to describe the nonlinear relationship between the target variable and features. Meteorological and air pollutant data in the form of statistical mean, minimum, and maximum values were leveraged, and a random sampling technique was utilized to fill the data gap to help train the predictive model (GCN-LSTM-A*). Results: The predictive model was evaluated with mean squared error (MSE) and root mean squared error (RMSE) values within two multi-time steps (8 and 16 h) with MSEs of 0.1648 and 0.1701, respectively. The LIME technique, which provides explanations of features, shows that Wind_speed and NO2 and NOx concentrations decreased the predicted CO, whereas PM2.5, PM10, relative humidity, and O3 increased the predicted CO of the route.
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(This article belongs to the Section Atmospheric Techniques, Instruments, and Modeling)
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The Time Delays in Reaction of the Ionosphere and the Earth’s Magnetic Field to the Solar Flares on 8 May and Geomagnetic Superstorm on 10 May 2024
by
Nazyf Salikhov, Alexander Shepetov, Galina Pak, Serik Nurakynov, Vladimir Ryabov, Zhumabek Zhantayev and Valery Zhukov
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1106; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091106 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2025
Abstract
In the paper we consider the pulsed disturbances caused in the ionosphere by an extreme G5-level geomagnetic superstorm on 10 May 2024, and by the X1.0 and M-class solar flares on 8 May 2024, which preceded the storm. Particular attention is
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In the paper we consider the pulsed disturbances caused in the ionosphere by an extreme G5-level geomagnetic superstorm on 10 May 2024, and by the X1.0 and M-class solar flares on 8 May 2024, which preceded the storm. Particular attention is paid to the short-term delays and the sequence of disturbance appearance in the ionosphere and geomagnetic field during these extreme events. The results of a continuous Doppler sounding of the ionosphere on an inclined radio path with a sampling frequency of 25 Hz were used, as well as the data of a ground-based mid-latitude fluxgate magnetometer LEMI-008, and an induction magnetometer IMS-008, which operated with a sampling frequency of 66.6 Hz. Ionization of the ionosphere by the intense X-ray and extreme ultraviolet radiation of solar flares was accompanied by the equally sudden and similarly timed disturbances in the Doppler frequency shift (DFS) of the ionospheric signal, which had an amplitude of 2.0–5.8 Hz. The largest pulsed burst in DFS was registered 68 s after an X1.0 flare on 8 May 2024 at the time when the change of the X-ray flux was at its maximum. Following onto the effect in the ionosphere, a disturbance in the geomagnetic field appeared with a time delay of 35 s. This disturbance is a secondary one that arose as a consequence of the ionosphere response to the solar flare. It was likely driven by the contribution of ionospheric currents and electric fields, which modified the Earth’s magnetic field. On 10 May 2024, a G5-level geomagnetic superstorm with a sudden commencement triggered an impulsive reaction in the ionosphere. A response in DFS at the calculated reflection altitude of the sounding radio wave of 267.5 km was detected 58 s after the commencement of the storm. The sudden impulsive changes in Doppler frequencies showed a bipolar character, reflecting complex dynamic transformations in the ionosphere at the geomagnetic storm. Consequently, the DFS amplitude initially rose to 5.5 Hz over 86 s, and then its sharp drop to Hz followed. Using the instruments that operated in a mode with a high temporal resolution allowed us to identify for the first time the impulsive nature of the ionospheric reaction, the time delays, and the sequence of disturbance appearances in the ionosphere and geomagnetic field in response to the X1.0 solar flare on 8 May 2024 as well as to the sudden commencement of the extreme G5-level geomagnetic storm on 10 May 2024.
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(This article belongs to the Section Upper Atmosphere)
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Improved Daytime Cloud Detection Algorithm in FY-4A’s Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager
by
Xiao Zhang, Song-Ying Zhao and Rui-Xuan Tang
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1105; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091105 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2025
Abstract
Cloud detection is an indispensable step in satellite remote sensing of cloud properties and objects under the influence of cloud occlusion. Nevertheless, interfering targets such as snow and haze pollution are easily misjudged as clouds for most of the current algorithms. Hence, a
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Cloud detection is an indispensable step in satellite remote sensing of cloud properties and objects under the influence of cloud occlusion. Nevertheless, interfering targets such as snow and haze pollution are easily misjudged as clouds for most of the current algorithms. Hence, a robust cloud detection algorithm is urgently needed, especially for regions with high latitudes or severe air pollution. This paper demonstrated that the passive satellite detector Advanced Geosynchronous Radiation Imager (AGRI) onboard the FY-4A satellite has a great possibility to misjudge the dense aerosols in haze pollution as clouds during the daytime, and constructed an algorithm based on the spectral information of the AGRI’s 14 bands with a concise and high-speed calculation. This study adjusted the previously proposed cloud mask rectification algorithm of Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), rectified the MODIS cloud detection result, and used it as the accurate cloud mask data. The algorithm was constructed based on adjusted Fisher discrimination analysis (AFDA) and spectral spatial variability (SSV) methods over four different underlying surfaces (land, desert, snow, and water) and two seasons (summer and winter). This algorithm divides the identification into two steps to screen the confident cloud clusters and broken clouds, which are not easy to recognize, respectively. In the first step, channels with obvious differences in cloudy and cloud-free areas were selected, and AFDA was utilized to build a weighted sum formula across the normalized spectral data of the selected bands. This step transforms the traditional dynamic-threshold test on multiple bands into a simple test of the calculated summation value. In the second step, SSV was used to capture the broken clouds by calculating the standard deviation (STD) of spectra in every 3 × 3-pixel window to quantify the spectral homogeneity within a small scale. To assess the algorithm’s spatial and temporal generalizability, two evaluations were conducted: one examining four key regions and another assessing three different moments on a certain day in East China. The results showed that the algorithm has an excellent accuracy across four different underlying surfaces, insusceptible to the main interferences such as haze and snow, and shows a strong detection capability for broken clouds. This algorithm enables widespread application to different regions and times of day, with a low calculation complexity, indicating that a new method satisfying the requirements of fast and robust cloud detection can be achieved.
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(This article belongs to the Section Atmospheric Techniques, Instruments, and Modeling)
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Forecasting 7Be Concentrations Using Time Series Analysis: A Case Study of Panama City
by
Alexander Esquivel-López, Bernardo Fernández, Omayra Pérez, Felipe Castillo, Nathalia Tejedor-Flores and Mitzi Cubilla-Montilla
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1104; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091104 (registering DOI) - 20 Sep 2025
Abstract
Beryllium-7 (7Be) is widely used as an atmospheric radiotracer due to its short half-life and ease of detection. Its evaluation and forecasting provide valuable insights into atmospheric behavior and environmental processes. This study aimed to develop a robust explanatory and predictive
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Beryllium-7 (7Be) is widely used as an atmospheric radiotracer due to its short half-life and ease of detection. Its evaluation and forecasting provide valuable insights into atmospheric behavior and environmental processes. This study aimed to develop a robust explanatory and predictive model for 7Be concentrations in Panama using monthly data from 2006 to 2019 provided by the RN50 Station at the University of Panama. This study employed ARIMA models for time series analysis and forecasting, complemented by error metrics such as Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Squared Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) to assess the accuracy of the results. After verifying data suitability, analyzing series components, and testing stationarity using the Dickey–Fuller test, the SARIMA (2,0,1) (2,1,0) model was identified as optimal. This model successfully forecasted 7Be concentrations for the final five months of 2019, offering a useful tool for understanding airborne particle dynamics in Panama and supporting future applications of 7Be in the study and estimation of soil erosion.
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(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)
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Application of Low-Cost Air Quality Monitoring System in Educational Facilities in Belgrade, Serbia
by
Uzahir Ramadani, Slobodan Radojević, Ivan M. Lazović, Dušan S. Radivojević, Jelena Obradović, Marija Živković and Viša Tasić
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1103; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091103 - 19 Sep 2025
Abstract
Indoor and outdoor air quality in school environments varies significantly with respect to particulate matter (PM) concentrations, carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, and microclimatic conditions, all of which have a direct impact on the health, well-being, and performance of both students and
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Indoor and outdoor air quality in school environments varies significantly with respect to particulate matter (PM) concentrations, carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, and microclimatic conditions, all of which have a direct impact on the health, well-being, and performance of both students and staff. This study reports the findings of a monitoring campaign focused on PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in two schools located in the urban area of Belgrade, Serbia. Measurements were carried out using low-cost sensor devices positioned in classrooms and in the surrounding outdoor environment. The PM concentration data were corrected through collocation with reference-grade automatic analyzers (Grimm EDM 180) from the National Air Quality Monitoring Network (NAQMN). During the winter season, the indoor-to-outdoor (I/O) concentration ratio for classrooms ranged between 0.7 and 0.8, indicating that indoor PM levels were generally lower than outdoor levels—likely a result of limited ventilation and reduced particle infiltration from outdoor sources. Conversely, in the summer season, the average I/O ratio typically exceeded 1.0 (ranging from 1.3 to 1.5), pointing to a more pronounced influence of indoor sources, such as occupant activities, resuspension of settled dust, and insufficient air exchange. Importantly, in over 60% of the measurements conducted during the summer period, indoor PM concentrations surpassed those outdoors, underscoring the critical need to address indoor emission sources and implement effective ventilation strategies, particularly during warmer months.
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(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)
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Advancing Nature-Based Solutions with Artificial Intelligence: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis Using ChatGPT
by
Mo Wang, Hui Liu, Menghan Zhang and Rana Muhammad Adnan
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1102; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091102 - 18 Sep 2025
Abstract
In response to escalating climate change and ecological degradation, nature-based solutions (NBSs) have emerged as a critical paradigm for sustainable environmental governance. Simultaneously, artificial intelligence (AI) offers powerful capabilities for addressing the complexity and uncertainty inherent in natural systems. This study investigates the
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In response to escalating climate change and ecological degradation, nature-based solutions (NBSs) have emerged as a critical paradigm for sustainable environmental governance. Simultaneously, artificial intelligence (AI) offers powerful capabilities for addressing the complexity and uncertainty inherent in natural systems. This study investigates the integration of AI within NBS through a hybrid bibliometric and semantic-enhancement framework. Drawing on 535 peer-reviewed articles from the Web of Science Core Collection (2011–2024), we employ keyword co-occurrence analysis via CiteSpace and semantic refinement using ChatGPT-4.0 to identify 15 key thematic clusters. Results reveal that AI is widely applied in ecological monitoring, carbon emission reduction, urban climate adaptation, and green infrastructure optimization—substantially improving the responsiveness, precision, and scalability of NBS interventions. The proposed methodology enhances both structural insight and semantic coherence in bibliometric review, offering a robust foundation for future interdisciplinary research. This study contributes to the theoretical development and practical implementation of AI-enhanced NBS, supporting data-driven, adaptive strategies for climate resilience and sustainable development.
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(This article belongs to the Section Atmospheric Techniques, Instruments, and Modeling)
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Diagnostic Ratios and Directional Analysis of Air Pollutants for Source Identification: A Global Perspective with Insights from Kuwait
by
Abdullah N. Al-Dabbous
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1101; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091101 - 18 Sep 2025
Abstract
Identifying the sources of atmospheric pollutants is essential for effective air quality management. This study assesses the diagnostic value of SO2/NO2 and CO/NO2 ratios in distinguishing between major emission sources, including vehicular traffic, industrial activity, and biomass burning. A
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Identifying the sources of atmospheric pollutants is essential for effective air quality management. This study assesses the diagnostic value of SO2/NO2 and CO/NO2 ratios in distinguishing between major emission sources, including vehicular traffic, industrial activity, and biomass burning. A global literature review was conducted to establish typical ratio thresholds associated with different sources. These thresholds were then applied in a case study of Kuwait, a representative Gulf Cooperation Council country with intense vehicular traffic and industrial activity. To complement the ratio-based diagnostics, directional pollution source identification was performed using the Conditional Bivariate Probability Function (CBPF) plots, linking elevated pollutant concentrations to prevailing wind speeds/directions. Results indicate that Al-Fahaheel exhibits a distinct SO2/NO2 ratio toward the south-southeast due to industrial activities, and a pronounced CO/NO2 ratio toward the east, reflecting contributions from mixed urban and traffic-related sources. The observed ratios at the Al-Fahaheel air quality monitoring station—very low CO/NO2 and moderate to high SO2/NO2—are inconsistent with vehicular emissions and are more indicative of industrial emissions from stationary sources. Directional CBPF plots reinforce these associations by clearly linking industrial activities and vehicular traffic sources to the southeastern and western sectors, respectively.
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(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)
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Air Quality Response to COVID-19 Control Measures in the Arid Inland Region of China: A Case Study of Eastern Xinjiang
by
Hui Xu, Yuanyuan Zhang, Yunhui Zhang, Bo Cao, Zihang Qin, Xiaofang Zhou, Li Zhang and Mingjie Xie
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1100; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091100 (registering DOI) - 18 Sep 2025
Abstract
This study examined the temporal changes and dispersion of potential sources of the six criteria air pollutants, namely, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 and 10 μm (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur
[...] Read more.
This study examined the temporal changes and dispersion of potential sources of the six criteria air pollutants, namely, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 and 10 μm (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3), in eastern Xinjiang, China, during the COVID-19 period in summer 2020 (16 July to 29 August ). Compared to the same periods in 2019 and 2021, the mean concentrations of all pollutants, except for SO2 and O3, and the air quality index (AQI) were lower in 2020 (relative changes: NO2 48.3–54.4%, PM10 35.8–49.6%, PM2.5 19.3–43.5%, CO 16.5–34.8%, AQI 17.2–29.4%), which can be attributed to the reduced anthropogenic activities. Compared to the period before the lockdown in 2020 (16 June to 15 July), the mean NO2 concentration showed the largest decrease during the lockdown (47.9%), followed by PM2.5 (32.7%), PM10 (37.6%), and CO (15.4%). In contrast, there were only minimal changes in O3, with the mean concentrations falling slightly by 7.56%, and the mean concentration of SO2 increased by 10.4%. The decrease in NOx and the dry climate could have hindered O3 formation, while vital industrial activities in eastern Xinjiang probably maintained SO2 emissions. In the subsequent recovery period (30 August to 28 September), the mean NO2 concentration increased the most at 59.3%, which was due to the rapid resumption of traffic-related emissions. During the lockdown in 2020, the diurnal profiles of PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and CO concentrations showed lower peak concentrations in the morning (09:00–11:00) and evening (20:00–22:00), demonstrating a significant reduction in traffic-related emissions. The lower O3 and higher SO2 peak concentrations may have resulted from lower NOx levels and higher electricity consumption due to the “stay-at-home” policy. The analysis of the distribution of potential sources showed that O3 generally originated from widespread source areas, while the other pollutants mainly originated from local emissions. During the lockdown period, the source areas of PM2.5 and PM10 were more dispersed, with an enhanced contribution from long-range transport.
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(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)
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Severe Typhoon Danas (2025)—A Tropical Cyclone with Erratic Track over the Northern Part of the South China Sea and Adjacent Sea of Taiwan
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Chun-Wing Choy, Pak-Wai Chan, Ping Cheung, Ching-Chi Lam, Chun-Kit Ho, Yu-Heng He and Jun-Yi He
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1099; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091099 - 18 Sep 2025
Abstract
Severe Typhoon Danas over the northern part of the South China Sea and seas near Taiwan in early July 2025 had an erratic path that had not been observed before, according to historical data in the region. Its formation, movement, and intensification posed
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Severe Typhoon Danas over the northern part of the South China Sea and seas near Taiwan in early July 2025 had an erratic path that had not been observed before, according to historical data in the region. Its formation, movement, and intensification posed significant challenges to the timely tropical cyclone (TC) warning services. This paper documents the observational aspect and forecasting aspect of this cyclone. There are key findings: (a) when Danas interacted with the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan, a “secondary cyclone” appeared over the northeastern part of Taiwan, which was observed by both weather radars and meteorological satellite winds, and was simulated to a certain extent by a mesoscale numerical weather prediction (NWP) model; (b) data-driven AI global models performed better than physics-based global NWP models in capturing the formation and the rather erratic track of Danas a couple of days earlier, although AI models generally underestimate the intensity forecasts; and (c) an atmosphere–ocean–wave coupled model was found to perform the best in capturing both the track changes of Danas (because of being driven by an AI global model) and its intensity changes (because of better physical representation of the oceanic impact on the intensity of this TC), whereas AI global models, though with various recent enhancements, still tended to underestimate the strength of Danas. This paper serves as a reference of this rather unusual TC for the weather forecasting services in the region.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Typhoon Climatology: Intensity and Structure)
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Study on the Influence of Topography on Dew Amount—A Case Study of Hilly and Gully Regions in the Loess Plateau, China
by
Zhifeng Jia, Hao Liu and Yan Ma
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091098 - 18 Sep 2025
Abstract
Dew is an important water source for vegetation growth in arid regions and plays a significant role in maintaining ecosystem balance. The characteristics of dew formation vary under different topographic conditions. In response to the challenges posed by climate change to the sustainability
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Dew is an important water source for vegetation growth in arid regions and plays a significant role in maintaining ecosystem balance. The characteristics of dew formation vary under different topographic conditions. In response to the challenges posed by climate change to the sustainability of water resources and ecosystems, this study explored the impact of topography on dew formation, and leaf wetness sensors (LWSs) were employed to conduct field observations from April 2023 to April 2025 in typical hilly and gully regions of China’s Loess Plateau. We analyzed the characteristics, influencing factors, and ecological significance of near-surface water vapor condensation. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) During the observation period, dew primarily occurred between 19:00 and 07:00 the next day, peaking between 05:30 and 07:00 in the early morning. The monthly average dew amounts for the hilly region and gully region were 2.15 mm and 3.38 mm, respectively, and the monthly maximum dew amounts were 8.57 mm and 11.88 mm, respectively, both peaking in autumn, with the gully region exhibiting higher dew amounts. (2) Dew formation at a 0.2 m height was favored when relative humidity at 0.2 m exceeded 70%, the air temperature–dew point difference was less than 8 °C, the wind direction was between 150 and 210° and 240 and 270° for the hilly region and gully region, respectively, and the standardized wind speed at a 10 m height was less than 0.5 m/s and 1.5 m/s for the hilly region and gully region, respectively. (3) Moderate rainfall facilitates dew condensation. The monthly average dew-to-precipitation (dew and rain) ratio reached its maximum in November for both the Loess hilly region and gully region, at 12.88% and 18.91%, respectively. (4) The gully region experienced larger dew events more frequently than the hilly region, resulting in a higher overall dew amount in the gully region during the observation period. The dew formation characteristics observed in this study can provide a scientific basis for assessing the future supply potential of non-precipitation water sources in the Loess Plateau under climate change and their supporting role in the ecological environment.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis of Dew under Different Climate Changes)
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The Characteristics of Key Odorants from Livestock Farms and Their Mitigation Potential: A Meta-Analysis
by
Yazhan Ren, Ruifang Zhang, Lu Zhang, Hongge Wang, Xinyuan Zhang, Zhaohai Bai, Lin Ma and Xuan Wang
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1097; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091097 - 18 Sep 2025
Abstract
The persistent issue of odor nuisance poses significant challenges to the sustainable development of livestock farming. While previous studies have primarily focused on individual gas concentrations, a comprehensive understanding of overall odor impact based on human perception remains limited. This study introduces a
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The persistent issue of odor nuisance poses significant challenges to the sustainable development of livestock farming. While previous studies have primarily focused on individual gas concentrations, a comprehensive understanding of overall odor impact based on human perception remains limited. This study introduces a novel perspective by employing the odor activity value (OAV)—calculated from the ratio of gas concentration to its olfactory threshold—to evaluate the actual odor contribution of various compounds. Through a meta-analysis of data from 123 papers, we systematically assessed odor emission characteristics and mitigation strategies across different manure management stages. The results indicated that ammonia (NH3) (with maximum concentration of 8056 ppm) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) (with maximum concentration of 20,057 ppm) were the most concentrated odor components in the whole manure management links. However, considering the olfactory threshold, trimethylamine (TMA) (with OAVmax 380800), H2S (with OAVmax 48919512), butyric acid (with OAVmax 801684), and aldehydes (with OAVmax 11707) played major odor-causing roles. Notably, biological methods (83%), covering (77%), and additives (39%) were the most efficient odor mitigation strategies in the barn, manure storage, and manure treatment link, respectively. Therefore, employing the OAV-based approach is crucial for identifying priority pollutants and developing targeted control strategies across different livestock species and management stages, ultimately guiding more effective odor mitigation and healthier cohabitation.
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(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality and Health)
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Increased Exposure Risk of Natural Reserves to Rainstorm in the Eastern Monsoon Region of China
by
Yixuan Zhou, Hanming Cao, Lin Zhao and Shao Sun
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1096; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091096 - 18 Sep 2025
Abstract
Due to climate warming, extreme precipitation events have intensified in frequency and intensity. This trend has raised significant concerns about its impact on natural reserves in eastern China’s monsoon region. A risk assessment is, therefore, needed to evaluate the vulnerability of these protected
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Due to climate warming, extreme precipitation events have intensified in frequency and intensity. This trend has raised significant concerns about its impact on natural reserves in eastern China’s monsoon region. A risk assessment is, therefore, needed to evaluate the vulnerability of these protected areas. Based on observed and simulated daily precipitation data, this study analyzed the spatiotemporal trends of heavy rainfall in the eastern monsoon region of China and assessed the exposure risk of the protected areas to rainstorm events both in the historical and future periods. Results indicate that the annual average number of heavy rainfall days gradually increases from northwest to southeast, displaying a distinct zonal distribution pattern. The proportion of heavy rainfall days to total precipitation days and the average intensity of heavy rainfall show peak centers in the southeastern coastal areas, western Sichuan region, and North China Plain, with minimum values observed in the northwestern direction. Protected areas in China’s Eastern Monsoon Region display a north–south gradient of precipitation exposure risk that intensifies from historical (1995–2014) to near future (2031–2050) to far future (2081–2100) under SSP245 scenario, with highest vulnerability in southeastern coastal areas. National reserves generally experience lower exposure than provincial and municipal ones, though all categories face increasing precipitation risks over time.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Climate Variability, and Their Impact on Extreme Events (2nd Edition))
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Open AccessArticle
A Deep Learning Model Integrating EEMD and GRU for Air Quality Index Forecasting
by
Mei-Ling Huang, Netnapha Chamnisampan and Yi-Ru Ke
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1095; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091095 - 18 Sep 2025
Abstract
Accurate prediction of the air quality index (AQI) is essential for environmental monitoring and sustainable urban planning. With rising pollution from industrialization and urbanization, particularly from fine particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O
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Accurate prediction of the air quality index (AQI) is essential for environmental monitoring and sustainable urban planning. With rising pollution from industrialization and urbanization, particularly from fine particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3), robust forecasting tools are needed to support timely public health interventions. This study proposes a hybrid deep learning framework that combines empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) with two recurrent neural network architectures: long short-term memory (LSTM) and gated recurrent unit (GRU). A comprehensive dataset from Xitun District, Taichung City—including AQI and 18 pollutant and meteorological variables—was used to train and evaluate the models. Model performance was assessed using root mean square error, mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error, and the coefficient of determination. Both LSTM and GRU models effectively capture the temporal patterns of air quality data, outperforming traditional methods. Among all configurations, the EEMD-GRU model delivered the highest prediction accuracy, demonstrating strong capability in modeling high-dimensional and nonlinear environmental data. Furthermore, the incorporation of decomposition techniques significantly reduced prediction error across all models. These findings highlight the effectiveness of hybrid deep learning approaches for modeling complex environmental time series. The results further demonstrate their practical value in air quality management and early-warning systems.
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(This article belongs to the Section Air Quality)
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Open AccessArticle
Evaporite Mineral Evidence for the Dry–Wet Variations in the Mid-Pliocene Warm Period in the Qaidam Basin
by
Shun Hua, Zeng Luo, Ruipei Xie and Hansheng Wang
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091094 - 18 Sep 2025
Abstract
Knowledge of dry–wet variations in arid Central Asia (ACA) during the mid-Pliocene warm period (mPWP; ~3.3–3.0 Ma) is instructive to understanding the future variations in this fragile ecosystem region. However, the dry–wet variations in ACA during the mPWP remain controversial. Here, we present
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Knowledge of dry–wet variations in arid Central Asia (ACA) during the mid-Pliocene warm period (mPWP; ~3.3–3.0 Ma) is instructive to understanding the future variations in this fragile ecosystem region. However, the dry–wet variations in ACA during the mPWP remain controversial. Here, we present high-resolution evaporite mineralogy records from the Gansen (GS) section of the western Qaidam Basin during 3.25–2.95 Ma. Based on the similar periodic variations between the calcite content and χfd/HIRM value-based precipitation records, we infer that the calcite content has the potential to reflect precipitation variations. The results suggest that the calcite content reveals dominant 20 kyr precessional cycles and strong 40 kyr non-obliquity cycles, consistent with the χfd/HIRM values from the GS section, further demonstrating that Qaidam precipitation was affected by the intensified East Asian summer monsoon during the mPWP. However, the occurrence of gypsum beds reveals that the Qaidam Basin still experienced relatively arid climatic conditions despite the increased precipitation during this warm interval. Furthermore, halite and gypsum records suggest that the degree of aridification was relatively moderate during 3.25–3.06 Ma but intensified during 3.06–2.95 Ma. For the intensified aridification, we infer that the further global cooling, which induced a relative decrease in water vapor, played an important role at ~3.06 Ma. Taking the mPWP as the reference, our findings indicate that under continued warming the East Asian summer monsoon will bring abundant water vapor to the inland basin and alleviate aridification in ACA. However, the increased precipitation will have difficulty reversing the aridification trend in the short term. This requires us to evaluate the warming and wetting trend in ACA from a dialectical perspective.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Desert Climate and Environmental Change: From Past to Present)
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Open AccessArticle
Assessing Future Heatwave-Related Mortality in Greece Using Advanced Machine Learning and Climate Projections
by
Ilias Petrou, Pavlos Kassomenos and Nikolaos Kyriazis
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1093; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091093 - 17 Sep 2025
Abstract
Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of heatwaves globally, posing significant public health risks, particularly in Mediterranean countries such as Greece, where rising temperatures coincide with vulnerable aging populations. This study develops a machine learning framework employing XGBoost models to predict
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Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of heatwaves globally, posing significant public health risks, particularly in Mediterranean countries such as Greece, where rising temperatures coincide with vulnerable aging populations. This study develops a machine learning framework employing XGBoost models to predict monthly heatwave-attributable mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases across Greek regions, stratified by age groups. Using high-resolution climate projections under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, the models integrate meteorological and demographic data to capture complex nonlinear relationships and regional heterogeneity. Model performance was rigorously validated with a temporally held-out dataset, demonstrating high predictive accuracy (R2 > 0.96). Projections indicate a sharp increase in elderly mortality due to heat exposure by mid-century, with marked geographic disparities emphasizing urban centers like Attica. This work advances prior studies by incorporating detailed spatial and demographic stratification and applying robust machine learning techniques beyond traditional statistical approaches. The model offers a valuable tool for public health planning and climate adaptation in Greece and similar Mediterranean contexts. Our findings highlight the urgent need for targeted mitigation strategies to address the growing burden of heatwave-related mortality under changing climate conditions.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Drivers and Impacts of Climate Change Over the Eastern Mediterranean)
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Open AccessArticle
High-Resolution Estimation of Cropland N2O Emissions in China Based on Machine Learning Algorithms
by
Chong Liu, Zhang Wen, Jianxiao Wang and Xuejun Liu
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1092; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091092 - 17 Sep 2025
Abstract
Over the past two decades, agricultural nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions have increased significantly, further intensifying their impact on global warming. Accurate emission estimates are essential for developing effective N2O-mitigation strategies. However, the high-resolution, dynamic simulations of emissions and comprehensive
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Over the past two decades, agricultural nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions have increased significantly, further intensifying their impact on global warming. Accurate emission estimates are essential for developing effective N2O-mitigation strategies. However, the high-resolution, dynamic simulations of emissions and comprehensive analysis of their driving mechanisms in China remain unclear. In this study, we constructed a city-level agricultural N2O emission inventory covering 336 cities in China from 2000 to 2022 based on multi-source data and machine learning algorithms. Results demonstrate that China’s cropland N2O emissions averaged 390 Gg year−1 during 2000 and 2022, exhibiting sustained growth until 2016, followed by a 13% reduction driven by the nationwide Fertilizer Reduction Policy implementation. Maize, wheat, and rice are identified as the main sources of cropland N2O emissions. Spatially, higher N2O emission intensities were concentrated in eastern China, and hotspots were identified in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain (5.23 kg ha−1) and the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Plain (2.95 kg ha−1). These emission patterns are primarily influenced by soil organic carbon, crop type, and fertilizer-management practices. This study provides robust data support and methodological basis for formulating agricultural mitigation policies.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Research on Anthropogenic Pollutant Emission Inventory)
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Open AccessArticle
Simulations of Drainage Flows with Topographic Shading and Surface Physics Inform Analytical Models
by
Alex Connolly and Fotini Katopodes Chow
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1091; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091091 - 17 Sep 2025
Abstract
We perform large-eddy simulations (LESs) with realistic radiation, including topographic shading, and an advanced land surface model to investigate drainage flow dynamics in an idealized compound-slope mountain geometry. This allows an analysis not only of fully developed profiles in steady state—the subject of
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We perform large-eddy simulations (LESs) with realistic radiation, including topographic shading, and an advanced land surface model to investigate drainage flow dynamics in an idealized compound-slope mountain geometry. This allows an analysis not only of fully developed profiles in steady state—the subject of existing analytical solutions—but also of transient two- and three-dimensional dynamics. The evening onset of downslope flow is related to the duration of shadow front propagation along the eastern slopes, for which an analytic form is derived. We demonstrate that the flow response to this radiation pattern is mediated by the thermal inertia of the land through sensitivity to soil moisture. Onset timing differences on opposite sides of the peak are explained by convective structures that persist after sunset over the western slopes when topographic shading is considered. Although these preceding convective systems, as well as the presence of neighboring terrain, inhibit the initial development of drainage flows, the LES develops an approximately steady-state, fully developed flow over the finite slopes and finite nocturnal period. This allows a comparison to analytical models restricted to such cases. New analytical solutions based on surface heat flux boundary conditions, which can be estimated by the coupled land surface model, suggest the need for improved representation of the eddy diffusivity for analytical models of drainage flows.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atmospheric Boundary Layer Processes, Characteristics and Parameterization (3rd Edition))
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Open AccessReview
Keyword Analysis and Systematic Review of China’s Sponge City Policy and Flood Management Research
by
Yichen Lu, Muge Huang, Haixin Xiao, Zekun Lu, Mingjing Xie and Kaida Chen
Atmosphere 2025, 16(9), 1090; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16091090 - 16 Sep 2025
Abstract
With the acceleration of climate change and urbanisation, Chinese cities are facing increasingly severe flood risks. To address this challenge, China began implementing its sponge city policy in 2013, leveraging low-impact development, green infrastructure construction, and integrated water resource management to enhance urban
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With the acceleration of climate change and urbanisation, Chinese cities are facing increasingly severe flood risks. To address this challenge, China began implementing its sponge city policy in 2013, leveraging low-impact development, green infrastructure construction, and integrated water resource management to enhance urban resilience to floods and improve water security. This study utilises the Web of Science database as a reference, retrieving 201 relevant literature sources. From these, 61 studies closely related to China’s sponge city policy and urban flood management were selected. CiteSpace was employed to conduct keyword co-occurrence and temporal evolution analyses, comprehensively outlining the research hotspots and developmental trajectory of this field. The results indicate that research content has gradually shifted from early engineering-based flood control models to multi-objective, interdisciplinary comprehensive management, encompassing flood risk assessment, policy implementation mechanisms, integration of green infrastructure, and economic feasibility analysis. Based on this, this paper constructs an analytical framework incorporating technical, environmental, institutional, and social dimensions to integrate existing research findings, while identifying gaps in cross-scale coordination, smart management, and public participation. The research conclusions can provide valuable references for future policy optimisation and urban sustainable development.
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(This article belongs to the Section Meteorology)
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