Season 32001 ((FREE))

The petrochemical industry produces many air pollutants during production, such as airborne particulate matters (PM10 and PM2.5), sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, carbon oxides, etc. Petrochemical industrial accidents are more likely to cause major air pollution hazards in a short period. Therefore this study simulated diffusion and performed air pollution spatial risk analysis for potential air pollutants generated by the petrochemical industry using meteorological observation data from 2017 to 2019. The study targets were No. 6 Naphtha Cracker Complex Petrochemical Industrial Park (6NCC) of Formosa Petrochemical Corporation and Taichung Thermal Power Plant (TTPP) in central Taiwan. We used the industrial source complex model short term (ISCST3) air simulation model developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency to simulate pollutant diffusion under different weather conditions and seasons. Air pollution spatial risk was investigated for neighboring hospitals and schools for pollutant emission and diffusion to provide feedback to petrochemical related industry's risk management. Emission areas (6NCC and TTPP) were all in the southwest since the main air pollution accumulation and diffusion is to the northeast during monsoon season (October through March). Air pollution April through September each year is more evenly distributed, with pollutant concentrations low in all directions, approximately half the concentration in winter. Simulated air pollutant concentrations often overlapped with high risk population clusters (schools and hospitals). 6NCC posed little impact on nearby schools throughout the year; whereas TTPP posed relatively low risks to nearby schools and hospitals in summer, with slightly higher risk for Shenren Elementary School in Shengang township, Changhua County in winter. Overall 6NCC posed higher risk for Mailiao and Taixi townships in Yunlin County; whereas the TTPP posed higher risk on Longjing District of Taichung City, Shengang and Xianxi townships in Changhua County, particularly during winter. The results of this study will help the petrochemical industry and public health authority to wider manage air pollution risks.

Season 32001

Continental outflows from peninsular Southeast Asia and East Asia dominate the widespread dispersal of air pollutants over subtropical western North Pacific during spring and autumn, respectively. This study analyses the chemical composition and optical properties of PM10 aerosols during autumn and spring at a representative high-altitude site, viz., Lulin Atmospheric Background Station (23.47N, 120.87E; 2862 m a.s.l.), Taiwan. PM10 mass was reconstructed and the contributions of major chemical components were also delineated. Aerosol scattering (σsp) and absorption (σap) coefficients were regressed on mass densities of major chemical components by assuming external mixing between them, and the site-specific mass scattering efficiency (MSE) and mass absorption efficiency (MAE) of individual components for dry conditions were determined. NH4NO3 exhibited the highest MSE among all components during both seasons (8.40 and 12.58 m2 g-1 at 550 nm in autumn and spring, respectively). (NH4)2SO4 and organic matter (OM) accounted for the highest σsp during autumn (51%) and spring (50%), respectively. Mean MAE (mean contribution to σap) of elemental carbon (EC) at 550 nm was 2.51 m2 g-1 (36%) and 7.30 m2 g-1 (61%) in autumn and spring, respectively. Likewise, the mean MAE (mean contribution to σap) of organic carbon (OC) at 550 nm was 0.84 m2 g-1 (64%) and 0.83 m2 g-1 (39%) in autumn and spring, respectively. However, a classification matrix, based on scattering Ångström exponent, absorption Ångström exponent, and single scattering albedo (ω), demonstrated that the composite absorbing aerosols were EC-dominated (with weak absorption; ω = 0.91-0.95) in autumn and a combination of EC-dominated and EC/OC mixture (with moderate absorption; ω = 0.85-0.92) in spring. This study demonstrates a strong link between chemical composition and optical properties of aerosol and provides essential information for model simulations to assess the imbalance in regional radiation budget with better accuracy over the western North Pacific.

Wednesday, September 1st @ 7pm Men of Resurrection: Enjoy mass and fellowship in the grass where we will have plenty of room for social distancing. Our final mass of the season is at 7:00pm on Wednesday, September 1st at the home of Tom Schneck, 33050 Woodsdale Lane, Solon. POTLUCK Dinner to follow, water will be provided. [...]

Due to higher than expected order volume and busy sales season, larger orders may take an extra 3-5 days to be prepared for shipment. We are working around-the-clock to ship out all orders in a timely manner, and will communicate with you if there are any unexpected delays or questions.

Last season, the NAHL had a record number of 362 NCAA commitments. In addition, the NAHL has had more than 1,500+ NCAA commitments and 36 NHL Draft picks in the last six years, which has coincided with an increased presence on the annual NHL Central Scouting players to watch list.

AbstractRadiometrically calibrated, Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) images acquired during the Smoke, Clouds and Radiation in Brazil (SCAR-B) experiment were processed to simulate vegetation index (VI) imagery with the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) band passes. Data sets were extracted from tropical forested areas, burned fields, and shrub/grassland areas over both clear and variable smoke conditions with average aerosol optical thickness (AOT) values at 0.67 mu m of 0.14, 1.1, and 1.9, respectively. The atmospheric resistant VIs and various middle-infrared (MIR) derived VIs were then analyzed with respect to their ability to minimize atmospheric smoke contamination, The atmospheric resistant VIs utilized the blue band for correction of the red band, while the MIR-derived VIs used the MIR region (1.3 - 2.5 mu m) as a substitute for the red band since it is relatively transparent to smoke, yet remains sensitive to green vegetation. The performance of these indices were assessed and compared with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI). Over the tropical forests the NDVI and SAVI had high relative errors over all smoke-filled atmospheric conditions (50-80% error), while the atmospheric resistant VIs resulted in a 50-80% relative error only over thick levels of smoke. Over optically thin levels (AOT at 0.67 mu m 40%), while all other indices had errors below 20%. In the shrub/grassland site, the atmospheric resistant indices behaved similarly with the MIR-derived indices, with both less sensitive to smoke than the NDVI and SAVI. We conclude that the MIR indices, particularly with MODIS band 7 (2.13 mu m), are useful in vegetation monitoring over forested areas during the burning season. However, they did not perform well in areas outside of forests such as burned areas and shrub/grassland.

Because of the diurnal thermal cycle and the irregular shape of the nucleus, gas outflow of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko could be highly anisotropic as indicated by the colliminated dust jet structures on the sunlit side. Based on the OSIRIS imaging observations of the outgassing effect, a simple model of surface sublimation can be constructed by taking into account the dependence on the solar insolation. With preliminary information on the time variability of the global gas production rate, a sequence of gas coma models can be generated at different epochs before and after perihelion. We also investigate different patterns of dust particle dynamics under the influences of nuclear rotation and gas drag. From these considerations, a consistent picture of the spatial distribution of dusty materials across the surface of comet 67P as it moves around the perihelion can be developed. It is found that because of the redeposition of the ejected dust from the Southern hemisphere to the Northern hemisphere during the southern summer season the Hapi region could gain up to 0.4 m while the Wosret region would lose up to 1.8 m of dust mantle per orbit.

This report, which will be updated periodically, deals with broad issues in U.S. relations with the Caribbean, including foreign assistance; counternarcotics and security cooperation; support to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic; trade policy; the deportation issue; and energy issues. It does not include an extensive discussion of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, or Haiti, which are covered in other CRS reports. Additional CRS reports on the Caribbean region include CRS Report RL33951, U.S. Trade Policy and the Caribbean: From Trade Preferences to Free Trade Agreements, by J. F. Hornbeck, and CRS Report RL32001, HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean and Central America, by Mark P. Sullivan.

This report, which will be updated periodically, deals with broad issues in U.S. relations with the Caribbean, including foreign assistance; counternarcotics and security cooperation; support to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic; trade policy; the deportation issue; and energy issues. It does not include an extensive discussion of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, or Haiti, which are covered in other CRS reports. Additional CRS reports on the Caribbean region include CRS Report RL33951, U.S. Trade Policy and the Caribbean: From Trade Preferences to Free Trade Agreements, by [author name scrubbed], and CRS Report RL32001, HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean and Central America, by [author name scrubbed]. 041b061a72