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Atmosphere
Special Issues
Air Quality in Romania
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Air Quality in Romania

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Quality".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2020) | Viewed by 14372

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Doina Nicolae

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE, Magurele, Romania
Interests: lidar; aerosol properties; aerosol hygroscopicity; atmospheric physics; air pollution; atmospheric data analysis
Dr. Anca Nemuc

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
National Institute of Research and Development for Optoelectronics INOE, Magurele, Romania
Interests: active and passive remote sensing; aerosol physical and optical properties; air quality; field campaigns

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the context of The Clean Air Programme for Europe (CAPE), on 30 January 2018, the European Commission invited several Member States, including Romania, concerned by pending infringement procedures regarding excessive air pollution due to particulate matter or nitrogen dioxide. The Commission believes that Romania has not taken measures that should have been in place since 2007 to protect citizens’ health and is asking Romania to take forward-looking, speedy, and effective action to keep the period of noncompliance as short as possible.

This Special Issue aims to present recent results in the observation and modeling of the air quality in Romania, the atmosphere of which is subjected to emissions of several types of potentially hazardous air pollutants: urban–industrial, wildfires, local (agricultural) biomass‐burning, and mineral dust aerosols. High concentrations of urban–industrial pollution occur mainly close to the generating source. The vast majority of industrial facilities are located near urban areas, and therefore, the exposure of the human population to high concentrations of air pollutants can be significant. We invite researchers to present atmospheric research results based on in situ experimental observations, use of satellite retrievals, passive and active remote sensing observations, and application of chemical transport and/or development of statistical models for forecasting air pollution levels and assisting the monitoring and mapping of air pollution. We also invite researchers to contribute with original research articles dealing with activities used to validate products from atmospheric observations, studies on long-term trends in ambient air pollutants and atmospheric deposition, emissions, and emission sources, transboundary, long-range, and regional-range transport of air pollutants.

Dr. Doina Nicolae
Dr. Anca Nemuc
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Atmosphere is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Air quality
  • Air pollution monitoring
  • Atmospheric composition
  • Atmospheric aerosols
  • Greenhouse gases
  • Trace gases
  • Atmospheric modelling
  • Long-term trends and spatial patterns of pollutants
  • Long-range transport of pollutants
  • Air pollution mitigation

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 13435 KiB  
Article
Monitoring of Gas Emissions in Light of an OEF Application
by Victorin-Emilian Toader, Víctor Nicolae, Iren-Adelina Moldovan, Constantin Ionescu and Alexandru Marmureanu
Atmosphere 2021, 12(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12010026 - 27 Dec 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2436
Abstract
This study analyzes the possibility to use geophysical and geochemical parameters in an OEF (Operational Earthquake Forecasting) application correlated with short-term changes in seismicity rates using a magnitude–frequency relationship. Tectonic stress over the limits of rock elasticity generates earthquakes, but it is possible [...] Read more.
This study analyzes the possibility to use geophysical and geochemical parameters in an OEF (Operational Earthquake Forecasting) application correlated with short-term changes in seismicity rates using a magnitude–frequency relationship. Tectonic stress over the limits of rock elasticity generates earthquakes, but it is possible that the emission of gases increases as a result of the breaking process. The question is how reliable is the emission of radon-222 and Carbon Dioxide (CO2), with effects on air ionization and aerosol concentration, in an OEF application? The first step is to select the seismic area (in our study this is the Vrancea area characterized by deep earthquakes at the bend of the Carpathian Mountains), then determine the daily and seasonal evolution of the forecast parameters, their deviations from the normal level, the short-term changes in seismicity rates using a magnitude–frequency relationship and finally to correlate the data with recorded seismic events. The results of anomaly detection, effect evaluation and data analysis alert the beneficiaries specialized in emergency situations (Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, organizations involved in managing special events). Standard methods such as the standard deviation from the mean value, time gradient, cross correlation, and linear regression are customized for the geological specificity of the area under investigation. For detection we use the short-time-average through long-time-average trigger (STA/LTA) method on time-integral data and the daily–seasonal variation of parameters is correlated with atmospheric conditions to avoid false decisions. The probability and epistemic uncertainty of the gas emissions resulting from this study, in addition to other precursor factors such as air ionization, time between earthquakes, temperature in the borehole, telluric currents, and Gutenberg Richter “a-b” parameters, act as inputs into a logical decision tree, indicating the possibility of implementing an OEF application for the Vrancea area. This study is novel in its analysis of the Vrancea area and performs a seismic forecasting procedure in a new form compared to the known ones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Romania)
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27 pages, 5467 KiB  
Article
Online Chemical Characterization and Source Identification of Summer and Winter Aerosols in Măgurele, Romania
by Luminiţa Mărmureanu, Jeni Vasilescu, Jay Slowik, André S. H. Prévôt, Cristina Antonia Marin, Bogdan Antonescu, Athanasia Vlachou, Anca Nemuc, Alexandru Dandocsi and Sönke Szidat
Atmosphere 2020, 11(4), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11040385 - 14 Apr 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3607
Abstract
Aerosols and organic source apportionment were characterized using data collected during two measurement campaigns. These campaigns were conducted during the summer and winter seasons at Măgurele, a site located southwest of Bucharest, the capital of Romania and one of the largest cities in [...] Read more.
Aerosols and organic source apportionment were characterized using data collected during two measurement campaigns. These campaigns were conducted during the summer and winter seasons at Măgurele, a site located southwest of Bucharest, the capital of Romania and one of the largest cities in southeastern Europe (raking seven in Europe based on population). The summer campaign was conducted between 7 June–18 July 2012, and the winter campaign from 14 January–6 February 2013. Approximately 50% of the organic fraction contribution to the total submicron particulate matter sampled by aerosol mass spectrometer was evidenced during both seasons. Submicronic organic aerosol sources were quantified using the positive matrix factorization approach. For warm (summer) and cold (winter) seasons, more than 50% from total organics was represented by oxidized factors. For the summer season, separate analyses were conducted on data influenced by urban and non-urban sources. The influence of pollution from Bucharest on the measurement site was observed in aerosol concentration and composition. The primary organic aerosols have different contribution percentage during summer, depending on their main origin. The influence of Bucharest, during summer, included cooking contribution of 13%. The periods with more regional influence were characterized by lower contribution from traffic and biomass burning in a total proportion of 28%. In winter, the influence of local non-traffic sources was dominant. For more than 99% of the measurements, the biomass burning indicator, f 60 , exceeded the background value, with residential heating being an important source in this area. Fossil fuel contribution was confirmed for one week during the winter campaign, when 14 C analysis of total and elemental carbon revealed the presence of 17% fossil contributions to total carbon. Mass spectrometry, 14 C and absorption data suggest biomass burning as the predominant primary source of organic aerosols for the winter season. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Romania)
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17 pages, 8229 KiB  
Article
Tropospheric Dust and Associated Atmospheric Circulations over the Mediterranean Region with Focus on Romania’s Territory
by Simona Țîmpu, Lucian Sfîcă, Radu-Vlad Dobri, Marius-Mihai Cazacu, Andrei-Ion Nita and Marius-Victor Birsan
Atmosphere 2020, 11(4), 349; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11040349 - 02 Apr 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3729
Abstract
The aim of this study is to assess the distribution of dust over the Mediterranean region, with a special focus on the territory of Romania. Two parameters are analyzed—Dust Load (DL) and Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), the data is obtained from the dust [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to assess the distribution of dust over the Mediterranean region, with a special focus on the territory of Romania. Two parameters are analyzed—Dust Load (DL) and Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), the data is obtained from the dust forecast model BSC-DREAM8b v2.0, for the period between December 2015 and February 2019. The main geographical features of dust occurrence in the Mediterranean region are presented at the monthly and annual scale. The results show that, for Romania, the dust load is high from February to June, when it reaches its annual maximum. The atmospheric circulation inducing intense dust events over Romania have also been assessed using an objective classification method. A key element for the dust transport from the Sahara toward South-Eastern Europe is represented by the development of a deep cyclone South of Italy, following thereafter a North-East path towards the Balkan peninsula. The results at the regional scale are analyzed in connection with the aerosol optical properties at the local scale (e.g., aerosol optical depth at 440 nm, Absorption Ångström Exponent and Scattering Ångström Exponent at 440 nm and 675 nm, respectively) retrieved from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET-NASA) for Romania, using data from ACTRIS-RO monitoring sites from Iași, Cluj–Napoca, and Bucharest. The differences between the forecast model and the observational data are also explored. Our results also show that the contribution of the natural mineral dust to air pollution in Romania is small, representing not more than 10% of all kinds of aerosols detected over the observation points from the ACTRIS-RO network. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Romania)
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15 pages, 9749 KiB  
Article
Observations of Atmospheric NO2 Using a New Low-Cost MAX-DOAS System
by Adrian Roşu, Daniel-Eduard Constantin, Mirela Voiculescu, Maxim Arseni, Alexis Merlaud, Michel Van Roozendael and Puiu Lucian Georgescu
Atmosphere 2020, 11(2), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11020129 - 24 Jan 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3705
Abstract
This article describes the prototype of a new MAX-DOAS (multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy) system built at “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati (UGAL), Romania, and the first results of its use to observe NO2 content over Galati city (45.42° N, 28.04° [...] Read more.
This article describes the prototype of a new MAX-DOAS (multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy) system built at “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati (UGAL), Romania, and the first results of its use to observe NO2 content over Galati city (45.42° N, 28.04° E). The new equipment is a ground-based MAX-DOAS system capable of measuring the spatial distribution of DSCD (differential slant column densities) of several trace gases using horizontal and vertical observations. The new optic system, named UGAL-2-DOAS, is an in-house, low-cost, solution in comparison to the existing market of the MAX-DOAS systems. This paper describes the technical design and capabilities of the new MAX-DOAS instrument. The UGAL-2D-DOAS system was tested in April and June 2017 in Galati city. Measurements over three days were selected for the present manuscript. Full azimuthal (0–360°), local celestial meridian observations and other elevation angle sequence measurements (e.g., E–W) were performed. We found that the new MAX-DOAS system is able to detect diurnal variation and the local source emissions of NO2 from the urban environment. Also, we present concomitant zenith-sky car-DOAS observations measurements around the location of the new MAX-DOAS instrument. Comparing the horizontal scanning sequence of the new developed instrument with the mobile DOAS observations, we found that both systems can indicate and detect the same NO2 sources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Air Quality in Romania)
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