Asia Campaign Research Articles

Effects of transport on a biomass burning plume from Indochina during EMeRGe-Asia identified by WRF-Chem

Abstract. The Indochina biomass burning (BB) season in springtime has a substantial environmental impact on the surrounding areas in Asia. In this study, we evaluated the environmental impact of a major long-range BB transport event on 19 March 2018 (a flight of the High Altitude and Long Range Research Aircraft (HALO; https://www.halo-spp.de, last access: 14 February 2023) research aircraft, flight F0319) preceded by a minor event on 17 March 2018 (flight F0317). Aircraft data obtained during the campaign in Asia of the Effect of Megacities on the transport and transformation of pollutants on the Regional to Global scales (EMeRGe) were available between 12 March and 7 April 2018. In F0319, results of 1 min mean carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), acetone (ACE), acetonitrile (ACN), organic aerosol (OA), and black carbon aerosol (BC) concentrations were up to 312.0, 79.0, 3.0, and 0.6 ppb and 6.4 and 2.5 µg m−3, respectively, during the flight, which passed through the BB plume transport layer (BPTL) between the elevation of 2000–4000 m over the East China Sea (ECS). During F0319, the CO, O3, ACE, ACN, OA, and BC maximum of the 1 min average concentrations were higher in the BPTL by 109.0, 8.0, 1.0, and 0.3 ppb and 3.0 and 1.3 µg m−3 compared to flight F0317, respectively. Sulfate aerosol, rather than OA, showed the highest concentration at low altitudes (<1000 m) in both flights F0317 and F0319 resulting from the continental outflow in the ECS. The transport of BB aerosols from Indochina and its impacts on the downstream area were evaluated using a Weather Research Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model. The modeling results tended to overestimate the concentration of the species, with examples being CO (64 ppb), OA (0.3 µg m−3), BC (0.2 µg m−3), and O3 (12.5 ppb) in the BPTL. Over the ECS, the simulated BB contribution demonstrated an increasing trend from the lowest values on 17 March 2018 to the highest values on 18 and 19 March 2018 for CO, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), OA, BC, hydroxyl radicals (OH), nitrogen oxides (NOx), total reactive nitrogen (NOy), and O3; by contrast, the variation of J(O1D) decreased as the BB plume's contribution increased over the ECS. In the lower boundary layer (<1000 m), the BB plume's contribution to most species in the remote downstream areas was <20 %. However, at the BPTL, the contribution of the long-range transported BB plume was as high as 30 %–80 % for most of the species (NOy, NOx, PM2.5, BC, OH, O3, and CO) over southern China (SC), Taiwan, and the ECS. BB aerosols were identified as a potential source of cloud condensation nuclei, and the simulation results indicated that the transported BB plume had an effect on cloud water formation over SC and the ECS on 19 March 2018. The combination of BB aerosol enhancement with cloud water resulted in a reduction of incoming shortwave radiation at the surface in SC and the ECS by 5 %–7 % and 2 %–4 %, respectively, which potentially has significant regional climate implications.

The Fifth Stage Enigma, or The First Pilot in the History of Egypt (On a Hypothesis of Oleg D. Berlev)

2023 marks the 90th anniversary of the eminent Russian Egyptologist O. D. Berlev (1933-2023). This scientist is in a league of his own in Russian Egyptology. He had left no apprentices, but his fundamental knowledge and erudition made it possible to see the life of Ancient Egyptians literally on the inside. Therefore, this article is not just a tribute to the memory of our distinguished compatriot; rather it seeks to show that his ideas remain relevant and sometimes set a completely unexpected direction of scientific research. For example, while analyzing the biographical texts of the official named Uni (Sixth Dynasty), Prof. Berlev suggested that King Pepi I had established a special position for him: “the head of the fifth phyle of palace gardeners Khentiushe”. The fact is that a typical organization of labor force in Old Kingdom Egypt required the participation of only four phyles (i.e., 4 contingents of detachments), who replaced one another in course of a four-months season. Work gangs took shifts for rest or were redistributed for various types of work. Obviously, the purpose of establishing a non-typical position was the official’s certain duties which distinguished him from other participants of the work process. Prof. Berlev concluded that in this position Uni headed five victorious military campaigns in Asia. However, in this case a question arises: how could a high economic official lead the army and navy? Elaborating the hypothesis of Prof. Berlev, the author concludes that the real duty of Uni in these campaigns were not his military talents, but rather his ability to guide warships with infantry through waterways and channels towards the Mediterranean and Levantine coasts. In other words, Uni was not a military strategist, but rather a talented navigator to whom the command of the army passed for the entire time of venturesome crossings through the Nile Delta. Therefore, this function is consistent with his duties as the “head of the palace gardeners”, i.e. workers responsible for the water-engineering sector as a whole.

Nihon No Sensou – The Japanese War Experience Illustrated through the Lens of Ningen No Joken (The Human Condition)

Japan’s military campaigns in Asia during the Second World War were taboo, especially during the 1950s and the 1960s in Japanese society. After the Second World War, Japan experienced a political and social transformation, which unfortunately could not ‘eradicate all the elements of militarism’ still present in the society of the time. Instead of repenting for their misdeeds, many conservative leaders and people who experienced the war chose to identify themselves as the actual victims of the war. Consequently, they ignored the suffering of the inhabitants of the Japanese‑occupied territories during the Second World War. I will not dwell, however, into the reminiscences of the past present in the Japanese society of the time nor discuss the issue of war responsibility, but instead look into the case of a noteworthy attempt of coming to terms with the past, the case of Kobayashi Masaki’s trilogy, Ningen no Joken. The trilogy was not the first attempt at reconciling with the past. However, it is one of the most ambitious and well‑acclaimed attempts to acknowledge Imperial Japan’s misdeeds. By using Kobayashi’s movies, I will endeavor to sketch a portrait of the Japanese war experience and those who lived in the Japanese‑occupied territories of the time.

Effectiveness of Mass and Small Media Campaigns to Improve Cancer Awareness and Screening Rates in Asia: A Systematic Review

Background: Cancer presents an increasing burden for Asian countries and cancer-related deaths have been predicted to increase from 4.1 million in 2008 to 7.5 million in 2030 in Asia. Low-middle income countries are recommended to prioritize public education as a first step toward cancer prevention and early detection. Mass media campaigns have been found to be effective in increasing cancer awareness and screening uptake in western countries as well as cost-effective in reducing morbidity and mortality. A number of studies have used mass and or small media components in Asian countries. Aim: This systematic review aims to deliver an overview of small and mass media campaigns in Asia and to assess their effectiveness in improving cancer awareness. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Gray literature and Google Scholar for relevant literature. Furthermore, we hand-search reference lists of relevant reviews and studies and run a search in relevant journals individually. Peer-reviewed studies that were published in the English language before September 2017 and targeted adults aged 18 year or over in Asia, were included. We excluded studies targeting minority populations living abroad as well as studies that included individual or group components in addition to the media components. Results: The search identified 10,676 titles after removal of duplicates. A total of 479 titles were included in the abstract screen and 51 articles were included in the full-text screen. The full-text screen is currently ongoing and the results will be presented at the conference. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review summarizing the effectiveness of media campaigns to improve cancer awareness in Asia. The full results of the systematic review will be valuable to inform future mass and small media campaigns in Asian countries.

Nitrate-driven urban haze pollution during summertime over the North China Plain

Abstract. Compared to the severe winter haze episodes in the North China Plain (NCP), haze pollution during summertime has drawn little public attention. In this study, we present the highly time-resolved chemical composition of submicron particles (PM1) measured in Beijing and Xinxiang in the NCP region during summertime to evaluate the driving factors of aerosol pollution. During the campaign periods (30 June to 27 July 2015, for Beijing and 8 to 25 June 2017, for Xinxiang), the average PM1 concentrations were 35.0 and 64.2 µg m−3 in Beijing and Xinxiang. Pollution episodes characterized with largely enhanced nitrate concentrations were observed at both sites. In contrast to the slightly decreased mass fractions of sulfate, semivolatile oxygenated organic aerosol (SV-OOA), and low-volatility oxygenated organic aerosol (LV-OOA) in PM1, nitrate displayed a significantly enhanced contribution with the aggravation of aerosol pollution, highlighting the importance of nitrate formation as the driving force of haze evolution in summer. Rapid nitrate production mainly occurred after midnight, with a higher formation rate than that of sulfate, SV-OOA, or LV-OOA. Based on observation measurements and thermodynamic modeling, high ammonia emissions in the NCP region favored the high nitrate production in summer. Nighttime nitrate formation through heterogeneous hydrolysis of dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) enhanced with the development of haze pollution. In addition, air masses from surrounding polluted areas during haze episodes led to more nitrate production. Finally, atmospheric particulate nitrate data acquired by mass spectrometric techniques from various field campaigns in Asia, Europe, and North America uncovered a higher concentration and higher fraction of nitrate present in China. Although measurements in Beijing during different years demonstrate a decline in the nitrate concentration in recent years, the nitrate contribution in PM1 still remains high. To effectively alleviate particulate matter pollution in summer, our results suggest an urgent need to initiate ammonia emission control measures and further reduce nitrogen oxide emissions over the NCP region.

Estimation of columnar concentrations of absorbing and scattering fine mode aerosol components using AERONET data

AbstractColumnar concentrations of absorbing and scattering components of fine mode aerosols were estimated using Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) data for a site downwind of Seoul. The study period was between March 2012 and April 2013 including the period of the Distributed Regional Aerosol Gridded Observation Networks (DRAGON)‐Asia campaign in March to May 2012. The Maxwell Garnett mixing rule was assumed for insoluble components embedded in a host solution, while the volume average mixing rule was assumed for the aqueous solution of soluble components. During the DRAGON‐Asia campaign the surface concentrations of major components of fine particles were measured. The columnar mass fractions of black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), mineral dust (MD), and ammonium sulfate (AS) were 1.5, 5.9, 6.6, and 52%, respectively, which were comparable to the mass fractions measured at the surface for BC, OC, and secondary inorganic aerosols at 2.3, 18, and 55%. The vertical distributions of BC and AS were investigated by employing the concept of a column height. While the column height for BC was similar to the planetary boundary layer (PBL) height, that for AS was 4.4 times higher than the PBL height and increased with air temperature from March to May. The monthly variations of the columnar mass concentrations during the study period were generally well explained in term of meteorology and emission characteristics. However, certain variations of MD were different from those typically observed primarily because only fine mode aerosols were considered.

Aerosol optical properties derived from the DRAGON-NE Asia campaign, and implications for a single-channel algorithm to retrieve aerosol optical depth in spring from Meteorological Imager (MI) on-board the Communication, Ocean, and Meteorological Satellite (COMS)

Abstract. An aerosol model optimized for northeast Asia is updated with the inversion data from the Distributed Regional Aerosol Gridded Observation Networks (DRAGON)-northeast (NE) Asia campaign which was conducted during spring from March to May 2012. This updated aerosol model was then applied to a single visible channel algorithm to retrieve aerosol optical depth (AOD) from a Meteorological Imager (MI) on-board the geostationary meteorological satellite, Communication, Ocean, and Meteorological Satellite (COMS). This model plays an important role in retrieving accurate AOD from a single visible channel measurement. For the single-channel retrieval, sensitivity tests showed that perturbations by 4 % (0.926 ± 0.04) in the assumed single scattering albedo (SSA) can result in the retrieval error in AOD by over 20 %. Since the measured reflectance at the top of the atmosphere depends on both AOD and SSA, the overestimation of assumed SSA in the aerosol model leads to an underestimation of AOD. Based on the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) inversion data sets obtained over East Asia before 2011, seasonally analyzed aerosol optical properties (AOPs) were categorized by SSAs at 675 nm of 0.92 ± 0.035 for spring (March, April, and May). After the DRAGON-NE Asia campaign in 2012, the SSA during spring showed a slight increase to 0.93 ± 0.035. In terms of the volume size distribution, the mode radius of coarse particles was increased from 2.08 ± 0.40 to 2.14 ± 0.40. While the original aerosol model consists of volume size distribution and refractive indices obtained before 2011, the new model is constructed by using a total data set after the DRAGON-NE Asia campaign. The large volume of data in high spatial resolution from this intensive campaign can be used to improve the representative aerosol model for East Asia. Accordingly, the new AOD data sets retrieved from a single-channel algorithm, which uses a precalculated look-up table (LUT) with the new aerosol model, show an improved correlation with the measured AOD during the DRAGON-NE Asia campaign. The correlation between the new AOD and AERONET value shows a regression slope of 1.00, while the comparison of the original AOD data retrieved using the original aerosol model shows a slope of 1.08. The change of y-offset is not significant, and the correlation coefficients for the comparisons of the original and new AOD are 0.87 and 0.85, respectively. The tendency of the original aerosol model to overestimate the retrieved AOD is significantly improved by using the SSA values in addition to size distribution and refractive index obtained using the new model.

Evaluation of VIIRS, GOCI, and MODIS Collection 6 AOD retrievals against ground sunphotometer observations over East Asia

Abstract. Persistent high aerosol loadings together with extremely high population densities have raised serious air quality and public health concerns in many urban centers in East Asia. However, ground-based air quality monitoring is relatively limited in this area. Recently, satellite-retrieved Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) at high resolution has become a powerful tool to characterize aerosol patterns in space and time. Using ground AOD observations from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) and the Distributed Regional Aerosol Gridded Observation Networks (DRAGON)-Asia Campaign, as well as from handheld sunphotometers, we evaluated emerging aerosol products from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP), the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) aboard the Communication, Ocean, and Meteorology Satellite (COMS), and Terra and Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) (Collection 6) in East Asia in 2012 and 2013. In the case study in Beijing, when compared with AOD observations from handheld sunphotometers, 51 % of VIIRS Environmental Data Record (EDR) AOD, 37 % of GOCI AOD, 33 % of VIIRS Intermediate Product (IP) AOD, 26 % of Terra MODIS C6 3 km AOD, and 16 % of Aqua MODIS C6 3 km AOD fell within the reference expected error (EE) envelope (±0.05 ± 0.15 AOD). Comparing against AERONET AOD over the Japan–South Korea region, 64 % of EDR, 37 % of IP, 61 % of GOCI, 39 % of Terra MODIS, and 56 % of Aqua MODIS C6 3 km AOD fell within the EE. In general, satellite aerosol products performed better in tracking the day-to-day variability than tracking the spatial variability at high resolutions. The VIIRS EDR and GOCI products provided the most accurate AOD retrievals, while VIIRS IP and MODIS C6 3 km products had positive biases.

Estimation of PM<sub>10</sub> concentrations over Seoul using multiple empirical models with AERONET and MODIS data collected during the DRAGON-Asia campaign

Abstract. The performance of various empirical linear models to estimate the concentrations of surface-level particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 μm (PM10) was evaluated using Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) sun photometer and Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data collected in Seoul during the Distributed Regional Aerosol Gridded Observation Network (DRAGON)-Asia campaign from March to May 2012. An observed relationship between the PM10 concentration and the aerosol optical depth (AOD) was accounted for by several parameters in the empirical models, including boundary layer height (BLH), relative humidity (RH), and effective radius of the aerosol size distribution (Reff), which was used here for the first time in empirical modeling. Among various empirical models, the model which incorporates both BLH and Reff showed the highest correlation, which indicates the strong influence of BLH and Reff on the PM10 estimations. Meanwhile, the effect of RH on the relationship between AOD and PM10 appeared to be negligible during the campaign period (spring), when RH is generally low in northeast Asia. A large spatial dependency of the empirical model performance was found by categorizing the locations of the collected data into three different site types, which varied in terms of the distances between instruments and source locations. When both AERONET and MODIS data sets were used in the PM10 estimation, the highest correlations between measured and estimated values (R = 0.76 and 0.76 using AERONET and MODIS data, respectively) were found for the residential area (RA) site type, while the poorest correlations (R = 0.61 and 0.68 using AERONET and MODIS data, respectively) were found for the near-source (NS) site type. Significant seasonal variations of empirical model performances for PM10 estimation were found using the data collected at Yonsei University (one of the DRAGON campaign sites) over a period of 17 months including the DRAGON campaign period. The best correlation between measured and estimated PM10 concentrations (R = 0.81) was found in winter, due to the presence of a stagnant air mass and low BLH conditions, which may have resulted in relatively homogeneous aerosol properties within the BLH. On the other hand, the poorest correlation between measured and estimated PM10 concentrations (R = 0.54) was found in spring, due to the influence of the long-range transport of dust to both within and above the BLH.

Political Aspects of CEE-Countries Participation in American Anti-Terrorism Campaign (2001–2011)

The paper deals with the political moments of CEE countries participation in American anti-terrorist and military efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the course of these events, it accentuates the bilateral relationships between four countries of Visegrad group with the USA, with the focus on the participation of Poland and Czech Republic that presented some different, although controversial patterns of support of American policy. The paper clearly shows the remoteness of international terrorist threat in the region that is irrelevant with active participation of the region in outer campaigns in Asia, with dubious rationale and consequences. As a result this paper is the attempt to consolidate the conclusions of other (predominantly local) works on the issue, but also to generalize this issue from the historical perspective; and is the additional contribution to the whole picture of American anti-terrorist campaign in the first decade of XXI century . Thus the background of terrorism in the region is contemplated through the context of American anti-terrorist policy along with the reforms of anti-terrorist system of these states after “September 11”. Indeed, main point of the work is the comparative approach to analyzing the contribution of Poland and Czech Republic to the anti-terrorist campaign.

Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes: Big Trouble, Not So Little Asia

The review by Dr. Halabchi, et al [1] is an excellent summary and reiteration of the importance of the addition of ECG screening to the pre-participation exam (PPE) for athletic competition. To pioneer this campaign in Asia, is a noble endeavor and is no small feat. As highlighted by this review, the general consensus for enforcing ECG as a requisite for participation varies greatly by the governing bodies making the suggestions and the demographic which they represent. The controversies most commonly discussed in the literature are the issues of lack of consensus for how to advise patients with ECG aberrations, false positive tests and the negative implications of such results; and cost effectiveness of mass screening. Not only does this manuscript briefly confront these topics, it also raises novel ideas regarding the unique milieu within the Asian cohort that may affect the risks for sudden cardiac death. In evaluating the natural history of ECG recommendations, the pendulum has shifted from one extreme to the other in support or dissent with mandating ECGs to the PPE. Since the incorporation of the ECG in Italy in 1986 by law, the prevalence of athletic SCD death decreased by nearly 90% in a small part of Italy and was attributed mostly to early identification of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) [2]. On the contrary, the Israeli experience [3] showed neither utility nor cost effectiveness. Despite the Israeli National Sport Law implementtation in 1997, there was no difference in incidence of SCD in athletes before or after required athlete ECG screening. This may be a consequence of the Israeli population not being subject to the most common causes traditionally associated with athlete SCD that would be identified on ECG (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, ARVD, long QT syndrome, Brugada's Syndrome). It may be that Israeli athletes die from causes such as Marfan's Syndrome, anomalous coronary arteries, catecholamine related arrhythmias, or commotio cordis, which would not be detected by a resting ECG. However, as the Israelis demonstrate, serial studies of the addition of ECG screening suffer from the wide variation in sport related deaths from year to year and that a randomized trial is needed. Perhaps another explanation for the disparity between the Italians and Israelis is the cultural and genetic differences of the populations studied in different countries. Genetic variation within a single country may explain the US experience with ECG as a part of the PPE. North America's genetic heterogeneity in the proverbial “melting pot” is so vast, that until recently there has been limited uniformity in the athletic populations being studied. Despite the immense genetic variability in the States, recent data from Drezner et al suggests that underreporting of sports related SCD [4] makes addition of the ECG even more cost effective[5,6]. The main issue to keep in mind with the Halabchi paper is that this is a review for the entire Asian cohort, which includes countries as far west as the Middle East, Indonesia to the southeast, Russia to the north, Japan to the east, and everything in between. For years, it has been established that different subgroups of Asians have varying leading causes for SCD. For example, South and Southeast Asians suffer from various iterations of arrhythmogenic sudden cardiac death (Pokkuri, Bangungut, Sudden Unexpected Nocturnal Death Syndrome) [7] which may or may not all be variations of LQTS or Brugada Syndrome, all thought to be genetic in nature. On the other hand, there are retrospective analyses that suggest that cultural variations, environmental factors, emotional stressors, nutritional deficiencies (i.e. folate), and even climate/seasonal changes (peaks in December-January) may affect risks for SCD [8]. Interestingly, when removed from such conditions, the incidence of SCD in the same population decreases [9–11]. Additionally, the sports of interest within the different Asian countries vary widely, as mentioned by Halabchi. As we have recently reported, abnormalities noted on ECG are sport specific [12] so one would expect differing physiologic and ECG changes associated with martial arts, Kabbadi (Indian field sport with elements of wrestling), and cricket. Unfortunately, the implications of the ECG abnormalities for these sports and the causes of SCD have yet to be determined. To this end, no unifying mandates could reasonably be recommended for “Asians” when considering the variability of genetics, environment, and cultures that this broad term encompasses. However, we certainly support that ECG mandates should be country or region specific (ie Middle East, South Asian, Southeast Asian, East Asian, Eurasian, etc) rather than inclusive over a continent. This literature review from Halabchi et.al should serve as a call to action for other agencies within Asia to evaluate their specific risks and adverse events. Potentially, as more individual studies are completed, we may have a better universal understanding of these catastrophic adverse events that plague our young athletes.

The army of Alexander the Great and combat stress syndrome (326 BC)

In the summer of 326 BC, Alexander the Great’s triumphal seven-year campaign in Asia was unexpectedly halted in the upper reaches of the Indus river — not by enemy action, but by the troops’ refusal to march further eastwards. A possible reason for such drastic action by an army which had, until that point, followed its king with blind devotion, was that severe combat stress may have set in. This syndrome, as it is defined today, has been thoroughly researched. The present article investigates the possibility that combat stress perhaps provides an explanation for this dramatic occurrence in which Alexander’s dream of an empire extending to the ends of the earth was shattered.

Bacterial Bioassay for Rapid and Accurate Analysis of Arsenic in Highly Variable Groundwater Samples

In this study, we report the first ever large-scale environmental validation of a microbial reporter-based test to measure arsenic concentrations in natural water resources. A bioluminescence-producing arsenic-inducible bacterium based on Escherichia coli was used as the reporter organism. Specific protocols were developed with the goal to avoid the negative influence of iron in groundwater on arsenic availability to the bioreporter cells. A total of 194 groundwater samples were collected in the Red River and Mekong River Delta regions of Vietnam and were analyzed both by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and by the arsenic bioreporter protocol. The bacterial cells performed well at and above arsenic concentrations in groundwater of 7 microg/L, with an almost linearly proportional increase of the bioluminescence signal between 10 and 100 microg As/L (r2 = 0.997). Comparisons between AAS and arsenic bioreporter determinations gave an overall average of 8.0% false negative and 2.4% false positive identifications for the bioreporter prediction at the WHO recommended acceptable arsenic concentration of 10 microg/L, which is far betterthan the performance of chemical field test kits. Because of the ease of the measurement protocol and the low application cost, the microbiological arsenic test has a great potential in large screening campaigns in Asia and in other areas suffering from arsenic pollution in groundwater resources.

Gastric cancer awareness campaign in Asia

Gastric cancer awareness campaign in Asia

Clear‐column radiative closure during ACE‐Asia: Comparison of multiwavelength extinction derived from particle size and composition with results from Sun photometry

From March to May 2001, aerosol size distributions and chemical compositions were measured using differential mobility analyzers (DMA), an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS), Micro‐Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactors (MOUDI), and denuder samplers onboard the Twin Otter aircraft as part of the Aerosol Characterization Experiment (ACE)‐Asia campaign. Of the 19 research flights, measurements on four flights that represented different aerosol characteristics are analyzed in detail. Clear‐column radiative closure is studied by comparing aerosol extinctions predicted using in situ aerosol size distribution and chemical composition measurements to those derived from the 14‐wavelength NASA Ames Airborne Tracking Sun photometer (AATS‐14). In the boundary layer, pollution layers, and free troposphere with no significant mineral dust present, aerosol extinction closure was achieved within the estimated uncertainties over the full range of wavelengths of AATS‐14. Aerosol extinctions predicted based on measured size distributions also reproduce the wavelength dependence derived from AATS‐14 data. Considering all four flights, the best fit lines yield Predicted/Observed ratios in boundary and pollution layers of 0.97 ± 0.24 and 1.07 ± 0.08 at λ = 525 nm and 0.96 ± 0.21 and 1.08 ± 0.08 at λ = 1059 nm, respectively. In free troposphere dust layers, aerosol extinctions predicted from the measured size distributions were generally smaller than those derived from the AATS‐14 data, with Predicted/Observed ratios of 0.65 ± 0.06 and 0.66 ± 0.05 at 525 and 1059 nm, respectively. A detailed analysis suggests that the discrepancy is likely a result of the lack of the knowledge of mineral dust shape as well as variations in aerosol extinction derived from AATS‐14 data when viewing through horizontally inhomogeneous layers.

Refinement in methodologies for methane budget estimation from rice paddies

To reduce the involved uncertainties in the methane budget estimation from rice paddy fields, the methodologies of methane budget estimation have been revised mainly on the basis of measurements undertaken in the Methane Asia Campaign (MAC-98). Studies from other continuous measurements of methane emission from rice paddy fields over last few years in other Asian countries were also used. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) sponsored Methane Asia Campaign (MAC-98) in which India, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand participated during 1998–99.The resulting CH4 measurements have shown that apart from water management, soil organic carbon also plays a significant role in determination of methane emission factors from rice paddy fields. The available data from participating countries reveal that paddy soils can be broadly classified into low soil organic carbon ( 0.7% C) classes which show average methane emission factors of 12 (5–29) and 36 (22–57) g m−2 respectively for continuously flooded (CF) fields without organic amendments compared to the IPCC–96 emission factor of 20 g m−2. Similarly for irrigated paddy fields with intermittently flooded multiple aeration (IF-MA) without organic amendments, the MAC-98 gives average emission factors of 2 (0.06–3) and 6 (0.6–24) g m−2, respectively, for low and high organic carbon soils compared to IPCC–96 emission factor of 4 (0–10) g m−2. Incorporation of soil organic carbon along with classification based on water management and organic amendments in the estimation of CH4 emissions from rice paddy fields yields more characteristic emission factors for low and high organic carbon soils and is, therefore, capable of reducing uncertainties.

The campaigns in Asia and the pacific

The campaigns in Asia and the pacific

Malaria situation in Asia with special reference to Western Pacific Region

Antimalaria campaign in Asia has a unique history in the recent past in its strategies, organization and field operations. Since late 1950s, it has undergone three main periods or "eras" in the control efforts. These may be chronicled as follows: 1955 mid 1970s malaria eradication mid 1970s 1980 malaria control 1980 todate malaria control/primary health care With the advent of DDT and the reliance of insecticides with their residual effects to interrupt malaria transmission, a malaria eradication campaign was launched in a global scale in late 1950s. Many countries participated in the campaign. Initially, till 1965-1968, the campaign was successful in most countries/areas (e. g. India, Sri Lanka), however, the success was short-lived. Gradual setbacks appeared towards the end of 1960s or early 1970s with resurgence of malaria. A high peak of malaria incidence was observed in 1976-1978, though the situation differs from country to country. The Asian countries especially in the South-East Asia were most affected. Consequently, many countries involved had gradually revised their antimalaria strategies from the time-limited malaria eradication to a long-term control. Then, since late 1970s, under the innovative health development concept, the political and social goal, "Health for All by the Year 2000" through primary health care as the key approach, malaria control is being integrated into the national primary health care strategies. The difficulties and constraints encountered in the eradication programmes are of technical, operational and adminstrative aspects, which include: the development of resistance to antimalarial drugs in P. falciparum and resistance and/or refractory behaviour of vectors to insecticide spraying; over-reliance on insecticide spraying; difficulties in maintaining the gains achieved, financial problems and lack or less emphasis on research. The malaria epidemiological situation in the world during the past decade has hardly been in any true progress. The situation was rather stagnated in the recent years. At the end of 1983, it was estimated that out of a world population of 4.676 million, 2.616

A Gate Inscription from Karnak and Egyptian Involvement in Western Asia during the Early 18th Dynasty

Although from the reign of Thutmose III our records of Egyptian campaigns in Asia are reasonably full, we lack extensive evidence on Egypt's activity in the Levant during the first four reigns of the 18th Dynasty. This paper attempts, with the aid of new instructions from the Amun Temple at Karnak, to fill this gap and also to dovetail our meagre Egyptian texts with the more extensive inscriptional evidence from Syria and Anatolia.

Aetolian Policy in the Late Fourth Century B. C.

The Aetolian League came into being perhaps as early as 426 and certainly not later than 367 B. C.2. In the present context it is unnecessary to enter into an account of the relations of this federal state with the Macedonian kings Philip and Alexander ; but one revealing incident may be mentioned. During Alexander's campaign in Asia the Aetolians, although almost certainly members of the Corinthian League founded by Philip in 337 (as were all Greek states south of Macedonia, except Sparta) 3, had by their seizure of the Acarnanian city of Oeniadae and their expulsion of its inhabitants 4 broken the peace and thereby their oath as members. Their participation in the Lamian War 5, alongside the many other Greek states who chose the moment of Alexander's death to challenge Macedonian control of the peninsula, was a natural