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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Volatile anaesthetics and the atmosphere: atmospheric lifetimes and atmospheric effects of halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, desflurane and sevoflurane.

The atmospheric lifetimes of the halogenated anaesthetics halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, desflurane and sevoflurane with respect to reaction with the hydroxyl radical (OH.) and UV photolysis have been determined from observations of OH. reaction kinetics and UV absorption spectra. Rate coefficients for the reaction with OH radicals for all halogenated anaesthetics investigated ranged from 0.44 to 2.7 x 10(-14) cm3 molec-1 s-1. Halothane, enflurane and isoflurane showed distinct UV absorption in the range 200-350 nm. In contrast, no absorption in this wavelength range was detected for desflurane or sevoflurane. The total atmospheric lifetimes, as derived from both OH. reactivity and photolysis, were 4.0-21.4 yr. It has been calculated that up to 20% of anaesthetics enter the stratosphere. As a result of chlorine and bromine content, the ozone depletion potential (ODP) relative to chlorofluorocarbon CFC-11 varies between 0 and 1.56, leading to a contribution to the total ozone depletion in the stratosphere of approximately 1% for halothane and 0.02% for enflurane and isoflurane. Estimates of the greenhouse warming potential (GWP) relative to CFC-12 yield values of 0.02-0.14, resulting in a relative contribution to global warming of all volatile anaesthetics of approximately 0.03%. The stratospheric impact of halothane, isoflurane and enflurane and their influence on ozone depletion is of increasing importance because of decreasing chlorofluorocarbons globally. However, the influence of volatile anaesthetics on greenhouse warming is small.

Air Pollutants↗

A combination of high oxygen atmosphere and equilibrium modified atmosphere packaging to improve the keeping quality of red fruits.

When high-barrier material is used to package fresh whole fruit in high oxygen atmospheres, shelf life is limited due to the accumulation of its produced CO2 and its creation of an anaerobic atmosphere. In this study, the effect of the combination of High Oxygen Atmosphere and Equilibrium Modified Atmosphere Packaging was tested on the shelf life of two non-climacteric red fruits, particularly strawberries and raspberries, at 7 degrees C. Herefor, the following packaging systems are compared: the conventional method of packaging in a macroperforated high-barrier film (air conditions) (1), Equilibrium Modified Atmosphere (EMA, i.e. 3-5% O2 and 5-10% CO2-balance N2) (2) and two novel modified atmospheres: High Oxygen Atmosphere (HOA, i.e. > 70% O2-balance N2) in a high-barrier film (3) and HOA in a EMA film with an adjusted film permeability (4). The shelf life of the fruits was determined by evaluating the evolution of the internal oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethylene concentrations in the packages, the microbial and sensorial quality during the storage, the loss of weight due to transpiration and respiration of the fruit and the loss of marketable fruit due to visual decay or to Botrytis growth. The High Oxygen Atmosphere in the EMA film re-established after five days to an equilibrium of 3% O2 and 5% CO2. The High Oxygen Atmosphere in the high-barrier film remained high during the first five days of storage, but decreased then rapidly to anaerobic conditions, resulting in off-flavours and odours. To avoid an accumulation of ethylene inside the high-barrier package, an ethylene adsorbing monolayer was added. Shelf life of strawberries and raspberries, packed in air conditions, was limited by growth of moulds and yeasts, rather than by sensorial unacceptance. On the other hand, sensorial properties limited the shelf life of the fruits packed under modified atmosphere. Especially High Oxygen Atmosphere improved the microbial quality, due to the inhibiting effect on yeasts and moulds. However, when oxygen was depleted and carbon dioxide had accumulated, sensorial quality (odour, taste andfirmness) was deteriorated. As this is not the case with high O2 in an EMA film, the latter can be assumed as a promising configuration for respiring fresh produce, combining the beneficial effect of high O2 and EMAP.

Bacteria↗

A comparison of the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn: deep atmospheric composition, cloud structure, vertical mixing, and origin.

We present our current understanding of the composition, vertical mixing, cloud structure and the origin of the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. Available observations point to a much more vigorous vertical mixing in Saturn's middle-upper atmosphere than in Jupiter's. The nearly cloud-free nature of the Galileo probe entry site, a 5-micron hotspot, is consistent with the depletion of condensable volatiles to great depths, which is attributed to local meteorology. Somewhat similar depletion of water may be present in the 5-micron bright regions of Saturn also. The supersolar abundances of heavy elements, particularly C and S in Jupiter's atmosphere and C in Saturn's, as well as the progressive increase of C from Jupiter to Saturn and beyond, tend to support the icy planetesimal model of the formation of the giant planets and their atmospheres. However, much work remains to be done, especially in the area of laboratory studies, including identification of possible new microwave absorbers, and modelling, in order to resolve the controversy surrounding the large discrepancy between Jupiter's global ammonia abundance, hence the nitrogen elemental ratio, derived from the earth-based microwave observations and that inferred from the analysis of the Galileo probe-orbiter radio attenuation data for the hotspot. We look forward to the observations from Cassini-Huygens spacecraft which are expected to result not only in a rich harvest of information for Saturn, but a better understanding of the formation of the giant planets and their atmospheres when these data are combined with those that exist for Jupiter.

Ammonia↗

Prediction of pesticide concentrations in the atmosphere using an atmospheric diffusion model (linear source plume model).

The foundational model to predict concentration of pesticides in the atmosphere outside of the sprayed area was developed using the results of measured concentration in the atmosphere, in reference to the atmospheric diffusion model utilized for the air pollution prediction model. The atmospheric diffusion model assumes that the applied area was a topographically flat farmland, that wind direction and wind speeds were constant, and the pesticide was constantly discharged from the emission line sources. Therefore the linear source plume model (LSPLM) was developed. The concentration in the atmosphere was predicted by assigning the property of the pesticides and various conditions of measurements of the model, and compared with the measured them, then the adaptability of the model was examined. As a result, the correlation between the measured value and the predicted value in paddy and forested areas was significant (P < 0.01) although deviations in the order of tens were observed, the measured value and the predicted value were generally in agreement.

Agriculture↗

[Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the exchange of trace gases between ecosystems and the atmosphere].

The latest researches on the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the exchanges of trace gases (e.g., CO2, CH4 and N2O) between the atmosphere and ecosystems were reviewed. The techniques and methods involved in the researches were introduced firstly. Then the review mainly focused upon the results from those studies using the open-top-chamber (OTC) methods and the free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) system. Generally, elevated atmospheric CO2 may stimulate biomass accumulation, and enlarge C/N ratio in plant tissue so as to reduce the decomposition of organic matter. This action could increase CO2 sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems. Elevated atmospheric CO2 could impact on methanogenic bacteria and CH4 emissions. An increase in CH4 emissions from wetland may appear. The argument among the responses of N2O emissions to elevated CO2, however, was inconsistent. So far, no study on other trace gases was reported. More efforts should be taken in the research on the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the exchange of trace gases.

Atmosphere↗

Direct evidence of atmospheric secondary organic aerosol formation in forest atmosphere through heteromolecular nucleation.

Atmospheric aerosols play a central role in climate and atmospheric chemistry. Organic matter frequently composes aerosol major fraction over continental areas. Reactions of natural volatile organic compounds, with atmospheric oxidants, are a key formation pathway of fine particles. The gas and particle atmospheric concentration of organic compounds directly emitted from conifer leaf epicuticular wax and of those formed through the photooxidation of alpha- and beta-pinene were simultaneously collected and measured in a conifer forest by using elaborated sampling and GC/ MS techniques. The saturation concentrations of acidic and carbonyl photooxidation products were estimated, by taking into consideration primary gas- and particle-phase organic species. Primary organic aerosol components represented an important fraction of the atmospheric gas-phase organic content Consequently, saturation concentrations of photooxidation products have been lowered facilitating new particle formation between molecules of photooxidation products and semi-volatile organic compounds. From the measured concentrations of the above-mentioned compounds, saturation concentrations (Csat,i) of alpha- and beta-pinene photooxidation products were calculated for nonideal conditions using a previously developed absorptive model. The results of these calculations indicated that primarily emitted organic species and ambient temperature play a crucial role in secondary organic aerosol formation.

Aerosols↗

Atmospheric chemistry of gas-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: formation of atmospheric mutagens.

The atmospheric chemistry of the 2- to 4-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which exist mainly in the gas phase in the atmosphere, is discussed. The dominant loss process for the gas-phase PAH is by reaction with the hydroxyl radical, resulting in calculated lifetimes in the atmosphere of generally less than one day. The hydroxyl (OH) radical-initiated reactions and nitrate (NO3) radical-initiated reactions often lead to the formation of mutagenic nitro-PAH and other nitropolycyclic aromatic compounds, including nitrodibenzopyranones. These atmospheric reactions have a significant effect on ambient mutagenic activity, indicating that health risk assessments of combustion emissions should include atmospheric transformation products.

Air Pollutants↗

Formation of prebiochemical compounds in models of the primitive earth's atmosphere. I: CH4 NH3 and CH4 N2 atmospheres.

In order to understand the formation of organic compounds in the primitive atmosphere, the first steps of evolution in models of the primitive atmosphere were investigated. Mixtures containing C-H-N elements were subjected to a low pressure silent electric discharge for several seconds, and the resulting effluents were analysed mainly by gas chromatography, infrared spectrometry and chemical analysis. The formation of hydrocarbon (i.e. ethylene, acetylene, methylacetylene) and of nitrogen containing compounds (i.e. hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen, saturated nitriles, acylonitrile, cyanoacetylene) is reported. The influence of the initial mixture composition on the amount of compounds formed was systematically studied. The nature of the nitrogen source (N2 or NH3) in the primitive atmosphere has a great influence on the amount and on the very nature of the synthesized products. It is shown that important precursors such as cyanogen and cyanoacetylene are formed only in very rich N2 mediums. These results show the important role played by the nature of the primitive atmosphere in the determination of the chemical evolution pathways.

Ammonia↗

[On-line method for measurement of the carbon isotope ratio of atmospheric methane and its application to atmosphere of Yakela condensed gas field].

An on-line method for measurement of the 13C/12C ratio of methane by a gas chromatography/high-temperature conversion/ isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/MS) technique was developed. This method is less laborious, more rapid (45 min), of high precision (+/- 0.4 x 10(-3)) and by using a small amount of sample (about 200 mL of atmosphere). Its application to isotopic characterization, and hence methane source identification, was demonstrated by examination of atmosphere sample collected in Yakela condensed gas field, China. The average 13C/12C ratio of atmospheric methane in Yakela field was -45.0 x 10(-3) heavier by 1.2 x 10(-3) -2.0 x 10(-3) than the global average. This is caused by seepage and diffusing of methane from Yakela condensed gas reservoir. The concentrations of atmospheric methane in daytimes are found to be lower than those in nighttimes, and the corresponding 13C/12C ratios in daytimes are lighter compared to those in nighttimes, a phenomena probably caused by the fact that a small part of methane from Yakela condensate reservoir is consumed in soil's surface under sunlight.

Air↗

Solar atmospheric magnetic effects on global acoustic and atmospheric gravity eigenoscillations.

Solar global observations suggest that the frequency and the line width of helioseismic acoustic eigenmodes vary with the solar cycle. One reason for the measured changes could be the variation of the global atmospheric magnetic fields. We model global solar oscillations in a plane-parallel, three-layer model within the framework of linear dissipative magnetohydrodynamics, and study the effects of a homogenous, horizontal atmospheric magnetic field on global oscillations. We find magnetoacoustic f- and p-modes and also atmospheric gravity modes (g-modes) among the eigenoscillations of the system. We conclude that changes in the atmospheric magnetic field can, significantly, shift the frequencies and vary the line width of global oscillation modes.

Journal Article↗

Spatial and temporal variations of atmospheric 85Kr observed during 1995-2001 in Japan: estimation of atmospheric 85Kr inventory in the Northern Hemisphere.

Atmospheric 85Kr concentrations have been continuously monitored since 1995 at the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI) in Tsukuba, Japan. They have also been observed once a year at several stations over the Japanese islands since 1995. The annual growth rate of the background atmospheric 85Kr concentrations in Tsukuba was 0.03 Bq x m(-3) x yr(-1) during 1996-2001. The atmospheric 85Kr concentrations at several stations over Japan were within the range of the annual variations in Tsukuba. However, higher and lower 85Kr concentrations in early winter, compared with those in Tsukuba (36.1 degrees N, 140.1 degrees E), occurred in Sapporo (43.1 degrees N, 141.3 degrees E) and Ishigaki (24.3 degrees N, 124.2 degrees E), respectively. The reason for this is that Sapporo is covered by a continental air mass, some from European sources, whereas Ishigaki is still covered by a subtropical air mass. The Northern Hemispheric background 85Kr concentrations from 1994 to 2001 was calculated from the 85Kr inventory and the release rate of 85Kr from the nuclear fuel reprocessing plants in Europe. Calculated 85Kr concentrations in surface air were in good agreement with annual average observed values at the MRI, Tsukuba. The global atmospheric inventory of 85Kr in December 2001 was also estimated to be approximately 5 EBq by using observed data in Tsukuba.

Air Pollutants, Radioactive↗

Thermally induced N-to-O rearrangement of tert-N-oxides in atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry: differentiation of N-oxidation from hydroxylation and potential determination of N-oxidation site.

N-Oxides are known to undergo deoxygenation during atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (Ramanathan, R.; Su, A.-D.; Alvarez, N.; Blumenkrantz, N.; Chowdhury, S. K.; Alton, K.; Patrick, J. Anal. Chem. 2000, 72, 1352-1359) resulting from thermal energy activation at the vaporizer of the APCI source. In addition to deoxygenation, tert-N-oxides containing an alkyl or benzyl group on the N-oxide nitrogen also undergo an N-R to O-R rearrangement (Meisenheimer arrangement, where R = alkyl or benzyl), followed by elimination of an aldehyde (or a ketone) through an internal hydrogen transfer. This has been observed under both atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and atmospheric pressure photoionization conditions. These fragment ions were not observed in the product ion spectra from the protonated molecules of the corresponding N-oxides. The elimination of an aldehyde or a ketone, thus, results from thermal energy activation at the vaporizer and is not induced by collisional activation. These fragmentations not only distinguish N-oxides from isomeric hydroxylated metabolites but also provide a potential way to determine the position of N-oxidation when a metabolite (or molecule) contains multiple N-oxidation sites that are in different chemical environments.

Atmospheric Pressure↗

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: isotopic exchange with ozone and its use as a tracer in the middle atmosphere.

Atmospheric heavy ozone is enriched in the isotopes 18O and 17O. The magnitude of this enhancement, of the order of 100%, is very large compared with that commonly known in atmospheric chemistry and geochemistry. The heavy oxygen atom in heavy ozone is therefore useful as a tracer of chemical species and pathways that involve ozone or its derived products. As a test of the isotopic exchange reactions, we successfully carry out a series of numerical experiments to simulate the results of the laboratory experiments performed by Wen and Thiemens [1993] on ozone and CO2. A small discrepancy between the experimental and the model values for 17O exchange is also revealed. The results are used to compute the magnitude of isotopic exchange between ozone and carbon dioxide via the excited atom O(1D) in the middle atmosphere. The model for 18O is in good agreement with the observed values.

Atmosphere↗

Diurnal variability of delta13C and delta18O of atmospheric CO2 in the urban atmosphere of Kraków, Poland.

This article presents the results of measurements of the isotopic composition and concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide, performed on air samples from Kraków (Southern Poland) in different seasons of the year. A simple isotope mass balance model has been applied to determine the contributions of different sources of CO2 to the urban atmosphere of Kraków city: the latitudinal/regional background, biospheric contributions and anthropogenic emissions. The calculations show that during the summer and early autumn the dominant contribution to local CO2 peaks is the biosphere, making up to 20% of atmospheric CO2 during the nocturnal temperature inversion in the lower troposphere. During early spring and winter, anthropogenic emissions are the main local source.

Atmosphere↗

Nightglow in the upper atmosphere of Mars and implications for atmospheric transport.

We detected light emissions in the nightside martian atmosphere with the SPICAM (spectroscopy for the investigation of the characteristics of the atmosphere of Mars) ultraviolet (UV) spectrometer on board the Mars Express. The UV spectrum of this nightglow is composed of hydrogen Lyman alpha emission (121.6 nanometers) and the gamma and delta bands of nitric oxide (NO) (190 to 270 nanometers) produced when N and O atoms combine to produce the NO molecule. N and O atoms are produced by extreme UV photodissociation of O2, CO2, and N2 in the dayside upper atmosphere and transported to the night side. The NO emission is brightest in the winter south polar night because of continuous downward transport of air in this region at night during winter and because of freezing at ground level.

Atmosphere↗

Molecular identification of organic compounds in atmospheric complex mixtures and relationship to atmospheric chemistry and sources.

This article describes a chemical characterization approach for complex organic compound mixtures associated with fine atmospheric particles of diameters less than 2.5 m (PM2.5). It relates molecular- and bulk-level chemical characteristics of the complex mixture to atmospheric chemistry and to emission sources. Overall, the analytical approach describes the organic complex mixtures in terms of a chemical mass balance (CMB). Here, the complex mixture is related to a bulk elemental measurement (total carbon) and is broken down systematically into functional groups and molecular compositions. The CMB and molecular-level information can be used to understand the sources of the atmospheric fine particles through conversion of chromatographic data and by incorporation into receptor-based CMB models. Once described and quantified within a mass balance framework, the chemical profiles for aerosol organic matter can be applied to existing air quality issues. Examples include understanding health effects of PM2.5 and defining and controlling key sources of anthropogenic fine particles. Overall, the organic aerosol compositional data provide chemical information needed for effective PM2.5 management.

Aerosols↗

[Dynamics of atmospheric pressure under the maxillary complete denture. 1. Relations between the denture retention and the atmospheric pressure].

Dynamics of atmospheric pressure under the maxillary complete denture, and their relations with the denture retention influenced by the factors such as the denture seating force, the saliva viscosity and the postdamming, were investigated on the simulation models. The following results were obtained. 1. The atmospheric pressure under the denture became higher than the external one by the denture insertion, and increased during the denture seating, and decreased by the removing force of denture and furthermore became lower than external one by continuous application of its force, and at all became equal to the external one when the denture separated from the basal seat. 2. Greater seating force brought about greater positive pressure and less negative pressure. 3. Higher viscosity of saliva and the postdamming brought about greater positive and negative pressures. 4. Both of greater seating force and higher viscosity of saliva brought about greater retentive force. 5. The postdamming was useful for the maxillary posterior border seal. 6. The atmospheric pressure under the denture base seems not to relate directly to the maxillary denture retention in the static condition but to reveal the status of peripheral seal.

Atmospheric Pressure↗