Atmospheric Dust Particles Research Articles

Saharan dust and respiratory health: Understanding the link between airborne particulate matter and chronic lung diseases (Review).

Saharan dust storms, which originate from the Sahara desert, have a significant impact on global health, especially on respiratory conditions of populations exposed to fine particulate matter that travels across continents. Dust events, characterized by the transport of mineral dust such as quartz and feldspar, lead to the suspension of particulate matter in the atmosphere, capable of traversing long distances and affecting air quality adversely. Emerging research links these dust episodes with increased incidence and exacerbation of lung diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, especially during peak dust emission seasons from November to March. The present review aims to synthesize existing scientific evidence concerning the respiratory health impacts of Saharan dust, examining the environmental dynamics of dust transmission, the physical and chemical properties of dust particles, and their biological effects on human health. Further, it assesses epidemiological studies and discusses public health strategies for mitigating adverse health outcomes. Given the complexity of interactions between atmospheric dust particles and respiratory health, this review also highlights critical research gaps that need attention to better understand and manage the health risks associated with Saharan dust.

Research on particle size distribution and composition of road deposit dust in Xi'an: From the perspective of non-exhaust emissions

Road dust, containing tire-road wear particles, atmospheric dust, or construction-related particles, contaminates road environments and poses a health hazard when inhaled by humans. To further explore the particle size and composition of road deposit dust, this study collects these particles in Xi'an, considering various road grades, materials, service conditions, sections, and locations. The collected particles undergo electron microscopy, laser particle size, thermal, mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma analyses. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the particles has been conducted, leading to the following conclusions: Asphalt & tire contribute 8.5% of the road deposit dust, while wear from calcium carbonate accounts for approximately 30%. The average particle size on urban roads (392 μm) is 1.25 times that of rural roads (312 μm). The smaller particles on rural roads are more easily resuspended and inhaled, posing health risks and requiring more attention. Brake zones, which often have 1.4 times the metal content compared to mid-sections, including potentially carcinogenic chromium (Cr), should receive focused watering and adsorption due to brake zone where is also at intersections and pedestrian crossing. New roads, which generate 3-6 times more organic matter than old roads, requires continuous cleaning after opening to traffic. Surface-blocked asphalt concrete (AC) pavements, as their lack of pores can lead to easy re-suspension of deposited particles due to tire-road interaction should also be attention. This study aims to contribute to the field of traffic-related dust pollution cleaning strategies and non-exhaust emissions mitigation measures in the future.

Effect of Saharan dust episodes on the accuracy of photovoltaic energy production forecast in Hungary (Central Europe)

In order to meet global sustainability goals, in particular, the rapid decarbonisation of the energy sector in combination with geopolitical energy security issues, as well as further improvement in regional air quality-the so-called renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly critical and important. Photovoltaic power (PV) generation is clearly the most widely deployed (non-hydro) renewable energy source globally, which still has a significant growth potential in many countries, including Hungary.However, due to the intermittent nature and the strong dependency of photovoltaic power production on meteorological factors, continuous adjustment of electric power in the electric grid is needed. This, in turn, requires the most accurate forecast of the photovoltaic energy to be produced in the ultra-short term (15 min) and short term (1 day) in order to minimise last-minute and high-price energy acquisition or unplanned kicks-in of gas-fired auxiliary power plants.In this paper, we evaluate the impacts of large-scale dust transport episodes on the accuracy of forecasts of PV power generation. The numbers and intensities of Saharan dust storm events reaching Central Europe have increased over the last decade, hitting a new record in 2022 with 16 (!) African dust episodes observed over Hungary. We have shown that the semi-direct effect of atmospheric dust particles on high-level cloud formation rather than their direct irradiance-reducing effect is responsible for the reduced accuracies of e short-term (24-h) PV energy production forecasts during these events.

Dehazing in hyperspectral images: the GRANHHADA database.

In this study, we present an analysis of dehazing techniques for hyperspectral images in outdoor scenes. The aim of our research is to compare different dehazing approaches for hyperspectral images and introduce a new hyperspectral image database called GRANHHADA (GRANada Hyperspectral HAzy Database) containing 35 scenes with various haze conditions. We conducted three experiments to assess dehazing strategies, using the Multi-Scale Convolutional Neural Network (MS-CNN) algorithm. In the first experiment, we searched for optimal triplets of spectral bands to use as input for dehazing algorithms. The results revealed that certain bands in the near-infrared range showed promise for dehazing. The second experiment involved sRGB dehazing, where we generated sRGB images from hyperspectral data and applied dehazing techniques. While this approach showed improvements in some cases, it did not consistently outperform the spectral band-based approach. In the third experiment, we proposed a novel method that involved dehazing each spectral band individually and then generating an sRGB image. This approach yielded promising results, particularly for images with a high level of atmospheric dust particles. We evaluated the quality of dehazed images using a combination of image quality metrics including reference and non-reference quality scores. Using a reduced set of bands instead of the full spectral image capture can contribute to lower processing time and yields better quality results than sRGB dehazing. If the full spectral data are available, then band-per-band dehazing is a better option than sRGB dehazing. Our findings provide insights into the effectiveness of different dehazing strategies for hyperspectral images, with implications for various applications in remote sensing and image processing.

On the similarity of rotational motion of dust particles in the inner atmosphere of comets

ABSTRACT In situ measurements of individual dust grain parameters in the immediate vicinity of a cometary nucleus are being carried by the Rosetta spacecraft at comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. For interpretation of these observational data, a model of dust grain motion as realistic as possible is requested. In particular, the results of Stardust mission and analysis of samples of interplanetary dust have shown that these particles are highly non-spherical. In many cases precise simulations of non-spherical grain’s dynamics is either impossible or computationally too expensive. In such situation it is proposed to use available experimental or numerical data obtained for other conditions and rescale them considering similarity of the physical process. In the present paper we focus on the derivation of scaling laws of rotational motion applicable for any shape of particles. We use a set of universal, dimensionless parameters characterizing the dust motion in the inner cometary coma. The scaling relations for translational and rotational motion of dust grains in a cometary environment are proposed. The scaled values are compared with numerically computed ones in our previous works.

Southern Alaska as a source of atmospheric mineral dust and ice-nucleating particles.

Ice-nucleating particles (INPs) influence cloud radiative properties and climate; however, INP sources and concentrations are poorly constrained, particularly in high-latitude regions. Southern Alaska is a known source of high-latitude dust, but its contribution to atmospheric mineral dust and INP concentrations has not been quantified. We show that glacial dust collected in southern Alaska is an effective ice-nucleating material under conditions relevant for mixed-phase clouds and is more active than low-latitude dust because of a biological component that enhances its activity. We use dispersion modeling to show that this source contributes to the regional INP population and that the dust emitted is transported over a broad area of North America, reaching altitudes where it could cause cloud glaciation. Our results highlight the importance of quantifying emissions and ice-nucleating characteristics of high-latitude dusts and suggest that the ice-nucleating ability of emitted dust in these regions should be represented in models using different parametrizations to low-latitude dust.

Effects of atmospheric dust particles on common medicinal plants in an industrial area of West Bengal, India.

The exposure of atmospheric dust particles on four common medicinal plants (Ocimum sanctum, Andrographis paniculata, Catharanthus roseous, and Kaempferia galanga, which are available in the study area and cultivated by the local people for medicinal purposes) affects their growth, levels of essential biochemical constituents and heavy metal concentration. The plant species were grown by pot cultivation in an industrial area with high levels of coal dust to assess the capacity of heavy metals accumulation in their leaves and changes in allometry and biochemical parameters. The results showed that annual average SPM and dustfall varied between 195.88 to 645.97 μg/m3 and 17.55 to 41.16 g/m2/month, respectively. Dustfall at different polluted sites was 2.4, 2.1, 1.5, 1.4, and 2.3 times higher than at the control site. The most prevalent heavy metal in atmospheric particulate matter was Zn, followed by Pb, Ni, Cu, Co, and Cd. Plant allometry measurements such as height, stem width, root length, petiole length, and leaf area are shown to have a strong and significant (p<0.05) negative correlation with dustfall and SPM. Total chlorophyll and RWC were inversely proportional to the dust load present in all the species. Except for Andrographis paniculata, chlorophyll and leaf-extracted pH of plant species were moderately correlated with APTI, whereas no correlation was noticed for ascorbic acid. A positive correlation between SPM and heavy metals in leaves was observed. The results implied that the cultivation and collection of medicinal plants from the study area could be potentially toxic to human health.

Investigation of snow cover solid phase using total‐reflection x‐ray fluorescence method for an assessment of the environmental pollution

AbstractSnow cover is an important source of data for the study of environmental pollution due to its ability to accumulate atmospheric dust particles. A total reflection x‐ray fluorescence method (TXRF) was applied to assess the concentration levels of potentially toxic elements (As, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr, V, Mn, and Sr) in samples of snow cover solid phase collected in suburban areas of the Irkutsk region with industrial activity. Suspension was chosen as an optimal sample preparation procedure for solid phases of snow samples obtained after melting and filtration. Results were compared with those obtained by wavelength‐dispersive x‐ray fluorescence spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrometry. Precision of TXRF results expressed by repeatability values was not exceeded 15% (n = 3) for most of the elements, and the trueness of the TXRF method expressed by recovery values was in the range of 87%–115% for concentration levels of 5.0–350 μg/g. Forty samples of snow cover solid phase were analyzed by TXRF method and results were compared with the background values. The investigation showed low contamination of the studied area by Pb, Cu, V, Mn, and Sr, medium contamination by Ni, As, and Cr, and high contamination by Zn. TXRF is advantageous in being rapid, cost‐efficient, and simple and can be used as a promising method for an assessment of environmental pollution.

On the Kinetic Features of Sedimentation of Dust Particles in the Martian Atmosphere

On the Kinetic Features of Sedimentation of Dust Particles in the Martian Atmosphere

On the Kinetic Features of Sedimentation of Dust Particles in the Martian Atmosphere

The mode of subsidence of layered structures in the ionosphere of Mars has been studied taking into account the compositional features of the Martian atmosphere. The characteristic sedimentation rates of dust particles, their sizes and charges, as well as the sedimentation time of layered structures are calculated. The results obtained can be used in the study of atmospheric phenomena on Mars in the course of upcoming space missions.

Aeolian sand transport over a dry playa surface: Sand flux density profiles, saltation layer height, and flux scaling laws and implications for dust emission dynamics

Dry playa surfaces under saltation bombardment release abundant atmospheric dust particles. Understanding aeolian sand transport over dry playa surfaces is vital for gaining insight into the process of dust emission from these surfaces. Here, we report characteristics of aeolian sand transport over a dry playa surface based on systematic field measurements of three transport events, and the sand flux density profiles, saltation layer height, and flux scaling laws were examined. The results show that sand flux density decreases exponentially with increasing height over the dry playa surface, and 90 % of the sand flux is concentrated within 0.3 m above the surface. The average saltation layer height (zq) for the dry playa surface, with an average value of 0.13 m, is 2.6 times larger than that of the sand surface and only half of that over the gobi surface with similar median grain size. Sand transport rate (Q) over the dry playa surface is proportional to a quadratic equation of the shear velocity (u*) over the threshold shear velocity (u*t), u*2-u*t2, and this flux scaling law is supported by the negligible variation of zq with u*. This study indicates that sand transport rate model for the dry playa surface is consistent with the splash-dominated model of aeolian saltation over sand surfaces. Our results are significant for studies of dust emission from dry playa surfaces under saltation bombardment.

Detecting dust loads in the atmosphere over Thar desert by using MODIS and INSAT-3D data

• Dust detection algorithm based on MODIS and INSAT-3D were developed for Thar desert. • Brightness temperature difference and dust indices were used to detect dust load. • Integrated dust detection approach using MODIS and INSAT-3D was complementary. • Dust load detection over Indian Thar desert was successfully validated and tested. Suspended dust particles in atmosphere have adverse impacts on environment, ecosystem as well as on human health. To avoid negative impacts of dust storm events, early warning system to predict it well in advance may be a suitable option. However, for this purpose, assessment on magnitude of dust load and its dynamics in atmosphere is a primary requirement. The present study aims to develop remote sensing based assessment of dust load in atmosphere specifically over the Indian Thar Desert region. The severe dust storm event occurred on 5 th June 2017 over the Indian Thar Desert has been used in this study to develop integrated dust detection algorithm using split window technique, mid-infrared technique and different dust indices derived from MODIS and INSAT-3D data. Evaluation of the developed algorithm revealed that the area classified under dust load depends on threshold value of dust indices used in the algorithm, type of dust detection techniques followed and the specifications of remote sensing sensors used to retrieve the dust image. The integrated dust detection algorithm developed in this study has the capability to eliminate the problem in variations of predicted dust loadings in atmosphere. Validation of the developed algorithm to detect dust pixels showed good agreement with independent observations on aerosol optical depth (AOD), wind speed profile data and ground visibility data. The method adopted can be helpful to implement an operational system for detection and monitoring of dust storms over the Thar Desert region.

Contact Characteristics at Interface in Three-Body Contact Conditions with Rough Surfaces and Foreign Particles

Nanoparticles as lubricant additives under a certain average diameter and concentration may reduce wear, friction and scuffing damage. However, atmospheric dust particles affect not only human health but also the efficiency of components, and even cause component failures. Therefore, the contact characteristics at interfaces with foreign particles require careful investigation. In this work, a 3-body microcontact mechanics concept is used to analyze the effects of wear debris and foreign particles on real contact area, contact mode, asperity deformation type and separation at interface. The results show that the relationship profile between dimensionless real contact area (At*) and dimensionless normal contact load (Ft*) is wedge-shaped in a 3-body contact interface. Using surface-to-surface 2-body contact area as upper bound and surface-to-particle 3-body contact as lower bound, the 3-body hybrid contact situation is in between upper and lower bounds. As the dimensionless normal contact load increases, At* increases gradually as well. The order of contact mode is p-s contact, hybrid contact and then s-s contact. If the 3-body contact interface is in hybrid contact mode, the decrease in the hardness and average third body diameter will cause the At* to increase significantly at the same Ft*. Conversely, the separation and real contact area ratio of plastic deformation decrease gradually. The turning point of contact area (TPCA) occurs when the contact mode is within hybrid contact mode and the ratio of average third body diameter to the composite equivalent surface RMS roughness is about 50–70% for foreign particles and wear debris. When the Ft* is slightly larger than Ftpca*, the third body and surface share the total interface load approximately equally which will help reduce the real contact pressure and plastic contact area to improve surface performance.

Impact of dust accumulation on the physiological functioning of selected herbaceous plants of Delhi, India.

Plants are now widely recognized for their potential role in improving the air quality by dispersion and deposition of atmospheric dust particles. However, suspended dust particles negatively affect plant growth and physiological development. The present study aims to assess the amount of dust accumulation on the leaf surface and to evaluate the effect of foliar dust on leaf gas exchange parameters, photosynthetic pigment, and metabolite content of five roadside herbaceous plant species (Amaranthus viridis, Achyranthes aspera, Acalypha indica, Parthenium hysterophorus, Trianthema portulacastrum). Two sites (site I and site II) were selected that differed in their surrounding anthropogenic activities and dust pollution levels. Results showed that the average amount of dust accumulated on the leaf surface was significantly greater in plants grown at the polluted site. Among the five species examined, the highest amount of foliar dust load was observed for A. aspera (0.49mgcm-2). Dust accumulation caused substantial changes in plant physiology as indicated by the significant decline in chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductivity, and transpiration rate in plants grown at the polluted site. Moreover, an increase in antioxidant activity, total ascorbate, and metabolite content, responsible for maintaining plant defense, was higher in plants at polluted site. Biochemical response of the individual plants studied was variable, which suggests that different plants adopted different mechanisms to cope with the stress induced by dust particles.

Surrogate atmospheric dust particles generated from dune soils in laboratory: Comparison with field measurement

Desert dust strongly influences the climate and the environment by altering the radiation budget, participating in atmospheric chemical reactions, and engaging the biogeochemical cycle. Studying its impacts requires knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of the original particles from the source origin. Unfortunately, the field collection of atmospheric samples in the desert is impractical. Fine surface soil is thus considered an alternative material from which to obtain the information applicable to dust particles from the desert soil. In this study, a laboratory system was set up to generate dust particles with simulated natural wind erosion processes from surface soils or directly from desert surfaces. Surface soils and field dust were simultaneously collected during a local blowing dust event. The comparison between the laboratory-generated dust and the field dust showed a consistent trend in particle size distribution and chemical composition. The chemical compositions were found to have explainable differences with the Certified Reference Materials for Asian dust (CJ-2). The laboratory-generated dust particles with the system could be applied as surrogates for soil-emitted dust in desert areas.

Quantitative Fit Test of a 3D Printed Frame Fitted Over a Surgical Mask: An Alternative Option to N95 Respirator.

Background COVID-19 has spread worldwide and caused severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to numerous dead cases. However, with the new COVID-19 outbreaks, there is a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) especially N95 masks worldwide including Thailand. This issue had placed the health professional in great need of an alternative mask. Aim This study aimed to measure the fit factor of 3D printed frames by quantitative fit testing (QNFT) to find an alternative facemask by using a mask fitter together with 2 different kinds of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) level 1 surgical mask. Materials and Methods Two commonly used surgical masks (Sultan Com-Fit Super Sensitive Ear Loop Mask or “White Mask Group,” not water-resistant, and Sultan Blue Com-Fit Super High Filtration Ear Loop Mask or “Blue Mask Group,” water-resistant) with and without 3D printed frame covering. The fit performance was measured by a quantitative fit test (QNFT) device (PortaCount, model 8048, TSI Incorporated, Minnesota, USA) accepted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The PortaCount device, which is based on a miniature continuous flow condensation nucleus counter (CNC), assesses the respiratory fit by comparing the concentration of ambient dust particles outside the surgical mask to the concentration that has leaked into the surgical mask. The ratio of these two concentrations (Cout/Cin) is called the fit factor. A fit factor of a 3D printed frame of at least 100 is required and considered as a pass level. Results We found that the mask fitter improves the overall performance of surgical masks significantly. The improved performance is comparable to that of N95. Conclusion The mask fitter improves the performance of surgical masks. The authors suggested that further study on frame material, shape, and expanded sample size would be beneficial to society.

Synergic analysis of radio ducting anomalies and atmospheric aerosols’ concentration over Nigeria

The study investigates the influence of the three atmospheric aerosols viz dust particles (DST), ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and sulphate (SO4) on the radio ducting anomalous propagation over thirteen selected locations and their respective regions in Nigeria. Radio duct was computed from temperature, relative humidity, and pressure datasets obtained from the ERA5 database of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Also, dust, ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and sulphate (SO4) aerosol emissions were obtained from the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario database of the Integrated Assessment and Climate Modelling community. The data covered a period of seven years (2010 – 2016) across sixteen locations in Nigeria. The seasonal analysis of the ducting frequency of occurrence and that of mass concentration of the aerosols were performed. Beta weight analysis was carried out between atmospheric duct and aerosols. Analyses showed that ducting occurrences were relatively higher when the concentration of dust and SO4 aerosols were very low. Whereas there was no or low occurrence of ducting in the months with a high concentration of dust, SO4, and NH4NO3 aerosols across studied locations. It can be concluded based on correlation analysis that aerosols have a greater influence on the atmospheric duct in the Coastal regions, followed by the Sahel region and then the Savannah region.

Characterization of released dust over open waters in the south of the Iran Plateau based on satellite and ground-based measurements

Satellite recordings by CALIPSO and Aqua-MODIS, available data on the Aerosol Robotic Net-work (AERONET), and synoptic stations have been used to investigate dust storms over the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea from January 2007 to December 2019. We found that the depo-larization of lidar signals by atmospheric dust particles is quite sensitive to their origins (deserts, or alluvial sediments). In the CALIPSO data set, the depolarization just over the thickness of an aerosol layer is called as the integrated depolarization ratio (IPDR). The IPDR and MODIS aerosol optical depth (AOD) over the mentioned waters are in correlation with the changes in the wind pattern over the region and activities of different dust sources in the neighborhoods of the waters. This investigation shows that the highest IPDR values belong to the dust particles which are originating from the Arabian Peninsula and impacting almost all regions in the south of the Iran Plateau from February to May. Also, these waters are under considerable influence of the Mesopotamian region and dust sources at the east side of the plateau. These sources are almost composed of alluvial sediments, and the IPDR for particles rising from them, is not high as those from the Arabian desert. Even though intense dust plumes raised from sources in the East of the Plateau impact these waters very frequently in summertime, but largest dust particles belong to the plumes originating from the Arabian desert in spring.

The Sandwich Mode for Vertical Shear Instability in Protoplanetary Disks

Abstract Turbulence has a profound impact on the evolution of gas and dust in protoplanetary disks (PPDs), from driving the collisions and the diffusion of dust grains, to the concentration of pebbles in giant vortices, thus, facilitating planetesimal formation. The vertical shear instability (VSI) is a hydrodynamic mechanism, operating in PPDs if the local rate of thermal relaxation is high enough. Previous studies of the VSI have, however, relied on the assumption of constant cooling rates, or neglected the finite coupling time between the gas particles and the dust grains. Here, we present the results of hydrodynamic simulations of PPDs with the PLUTO code that include a more realistic thermal relaxation prescription, which enables us to study the VSI in the optically thick and optically thin parts of the disk under consideration of the thermal dust-gas coupling. We show the VSI to cause turbulence even in the optically thick inner regions of PPDs in our two- and three-dimensional simulations. The collisional decoupling of dust and gas particles in the upper atmosphere and the correspondingly inefficient thermal relaxation rates lead to the damping of the VSI turbulence. Long-lived anticyclonic vortices form in our three-dimensional simulation. These structures emerge from the turbulence in the VSI-active layer, persist over hundreds of orbits and extend vertically over the whole extent of the turbulent region. We conclude that the VSI leads to turbulence and the formation of long-lived dust traps within ±3 pressure scale heights distance from the disk midplane.

Image and Video Dehazing based on Gamma Correction Method Contrast Enhancement

As the revolution in computational photography and computer vision applications facilitates fast and reliable information, quality of the scene and visual perception and is being increasingly used in various fields like public safety, traffic accident analysis, crime forensics, remote sensing area and military surveillance. We make an investigation of the dehazing effect of scenes affected by weather phenomena. ‘Dehazing’ has emerged as a promising technology to recover the clear image and video from an input hazy scene, such that the quality can be significantly enhanced. A scene captured in the outdoor environment affected by haze like fog mist and dust particles in the atmosphere. We are utilizing a ‘Dehazing algorithm, to remove this unwanted haze from videos and Real-time video. Also, remove haze from images, for this, we use a novel method of video dehazing based on contrast enhancement. From our observation, it is concluded that hazy image and video has low contrast, so we estimate transmission map to maximize the contrast of output scene. And we use the depth estimation process to detect or identify hidden parameters from the scene, and also creates a corresponding haze scene with high fidelity. Finally, we reconstruct or restore the seen without changing its originality. Hence dehazing performance with fewer artifacts and better coding efficiency and demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can remove haze efficiently and recover the parameters of the original scene.