Fall Peak Research Articles

Detecting the subtle shape differences in hemodynamic responses at the group level.

The nature of the hemodynamic response (HDR) is still not fully understood due to the multifaceted processes involved. Aside from the overall amplitude, the response may vary across cognitive states, tasks, brain regions, and subjects with respect to characteristics such as rise and fall speed, peak duration, undershoot shape, and overall duration. Here we demonstrate that the fixed-shape (FSM) or adjusted-shape (ASM) methods may fail to detect some shape subtleties (e.g., speed of rise or recovery, or undershoot). In contrast, the estimated-shape method (ESM) through multiple basis functions can provide the opportunity to identify some subtle shape differences and achieve higher statistical power at both individual and group levels. Previously, some dimension reduction approaches focused on the peak magnitude, or made inferences based on the area under the curve (AUC) or interaction, which can lead to potential misidentifications. By adopting a generic framework of multivariate modeling (MVM), we showcase a hybrid approach that is validated by simulations and real data. With the whole HDR shape integrity maintained as input at the group level, the approach allows the investigator to substantiate these more nuanced effects through the unique HDR shape features. Unlike the few analyses that were limited to main effect, two- or three-way interactions, we extend the modeling approach to an inclusive platform that is more adaptable than the conventional GLM. With multiple effect estimates from ESM for each condition, linear mixed-effects (LME) modeling should be used at the group level when there is only one group of subjects without any other explanatory variables. Under other situations, an approximate approach through dimension reduction within the MVM framework can be adopted to achieve a practical equipoise among representation, false positive control, statistical power, and modeling flexibility. The associated program 3dMVM is publicly available as part of the AFNI suite.

THE INTERSTELLAR NEUTRAL He HAZE IN THE HELIOSPHERE: WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

Neutral interstellar helium has been observed by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) since 2009 with a signal-to-noise ratio well above 1000. Because of the geometry of the observations, the signal observed from January to March each year is the easiest to identify. However, as we show via simulations, the portion of the signal in the range of intensities from 10^{-3} to 10^{-2} of the peak value, previously mostly left out from the analysis, may bring important information about the details of the distribution function of interstellar He gas in front of the heliosphere. In particular, these observations may inform us about possible departures of the parent interstellar He population from equilibrium. We compare the expected distribution of the signal for the canonical assumption of a single Maxwell-Boltzmann population with the distributions for a superposition of the Maxwell-Boltzmann primary population and the recently discovered Warm Breeze, and for a single primary population given by a kappa function. We identify the regions on the sky where the differences between those cases are expected to be the most visible against the background. We discuss the diagnostic potential of the fall peak of the interstellar signal, reduced by a factor of 50 due to the Compton-Getting effect but still above the detection limit of IBEX. We point out the strong energy dependence of the fall signal and suggest that searching for this signal in the data could bring an independent assessment of the low-energy measurement threshold of the IBEX-Lo sensor.

Fungal infections of grapevine roots in phylloxera-infested vineyards

Wounds caused by feeding of grape phylloxera on grape roots can become infected with a variety of fungi. Fusarium roseum, F. oxysporum and Pythium ultimum are important in Vitis vinifera Chardonnay wounds whereas F. oxysporum and Cephalosporium sp. are important for the moderately tolerant rootstock AXR#1. Proportion of root lengths infected in the phloem parenchyma were measured in two vineyards through the 1996 growing season and into the winter. Infection rates were highest in spring (as measured in May) but decreased to a low level by the end of summer. There was a second infection peak in fall. We suggest that the decline in fungal infections was due to death of highly infected roots and their removal from the sampled pool of roots. Loss of roots is a logical cause of vine decline and explains why there have been poor correlations between phylloxera populations and vine damage symptoms.

Overwintering of the parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium perezi in dredged blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) from Wachapreague Creek, Virginia

Parasitic dinoflagellates in the genus Hematodinium cause disease and mortality in several commercially important marine decapod crustaceans. One species, Hematodinium perezi, occurs in blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, along the eastern seaboard and Gulf coast of the USA. The parasite infects blue crabs, other decapods, and amphipods in the high salinity waters of coastal bays. Epizootics of the parasite often reach prevalence levels of 75–80% during outbreaks with diseased crabs dying from the infection. Prevalence of the parasite is bimodal, with a minor peak in late spring or summer, and a major peak in fall, and declining rapidly to nearly zero in late November and December. The rapid decline in infections in the late fall brings up the question of whether the parasite overwinters in crabs or whether it uses an unidentified resting stage, such as a cyst. We report observations on the prevalence of the parasite from winter dredge surveys undertaken in 2011 and 2012. Crabs were examined via hemolymph smears, histology, and PCR diagnosis for the presence of H. perezi and other pathogens. Active infections were observed from January through March in 2011 and 2012, indicating the parasite can overwinter in blue crabs. However, several crabs that were positive by PCR had presumptive effete infections that were difficult to diagnose in histological slides and hemolymph smears. These infections did not appear to be active and may have been in subsidence. Dredged crabs with light and moderate active infections were held at 15°C to determine if the parasite was capable of rapid progression. In 8 cases, infections exhibited logarithmic growth progressing rapidly over 8–12days. We present evidence that overwintering of H. perezi occurs in the blue crab hosts, that infections are capable of responding rapidly to increases in temperatures, and that overwintering provides a reservoir of infected animals for transmission to occur in the spring.

Secular trends in seasonal variation in birth weight

BackgroundMany environmental factors have been shown to influence birth weight (BW) and one of these are season of birth. AimThe aim of the present study was to investigate the seasonal variation in BW in Denmark during 1936–1989, and to see if the variation could be explained by sunshine exposure during pregnancy. MethodsThe study population was selected from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register and included 276 339 children born between 1936 and 1989. Seasonal variation was modeled using a non-stationary sinusoidal model that allowed the underlying trend in BW and the amplitude and phase of the yearly cycles to change. ResultsThere was a clear seasonal pattern in BW which, however, changed gradually across the study period. The highest BWs were seen during fall (September – October) from 1936 to 1963, but a new peak gradually grew from the early 1940s during early summer (May – June) and became the highest from 1964 to 1989. The amplitude of the fall peak started at 25.5 (95%CI 24.6; 25.9) grams and gradually disappeared. The amplitude of the early summer peak gradually arose from nothing to a peak of 18.6 (95%CI 17.7; 19.6) grams in the mid 1980s where it started to decrease again. Sunshine did not explain the seasonal variation in BW. ConclusionThere was a clear seasonal pattern in BW in Denmark 1936–1989, which however changed across the study period. Throughout the study period we observed a peak in BW during the fall, but gradually, starting in the early 1940s, an additional early summer peak emerged and became the highest from 1964 and onwards.

Three Types of Indian Ocean Dipoles

AbstractUsing observational data and phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) model outputs [the preindustrial (PI) control run of the Community Climate System Model, version 4 (CCSM4) and historical simulations of 17 CMIP5 models], Indian Ocean dipoles (IODs) with a peak in fall are categorized into three types. The first type is closely related to the development phase of El Niño/La Niña. The second type evolves from the basinwide warming (cooling) in the tropical Indian Ocean (IO), usually occurring in the year following El Niño (La Niña). The third type is independent of El Niño and La Niña. The dominant trigger condition for the first (third) type of IOD is the anomalous Walker circulation (anomalous cross-equatorial flow); the anomalous zonal sea surface temperature (SST) gradient in the tropical IO is the trigger condition for the second type. The occurrence of anomalous ocean Rossby waves during the forming stage of IO basinwide mode and their effect on SST in the southwestern IO during winter and spring are critical for early development of the second type of IOD. Although most models simulate a stronger El Niño–Southern Oscillation and IOD compared to the observations, this does not influence the phase-locking and classification of the IOD peaking in the fall.

Nonproteinogenic D-amino acids at millimolar concentrations are a toxin for anaerobic microorganisms relevant to early Earth and other anoxic planets.

The delivery of extraterrestrial organics to early Earth provided a potentially important source of carbon and energy for microbial life. Optically active organic compounds of extraterrestrial origin exist in racemic form, yet life on Earth has almost exclusively selected for L- over D-enantiomers of amino acids. Although D-enantiomers of proteinogenic amino acids are known to inhibit aerobic microorganisms, the role of concentrated nonproteinogenic meteoritic D-amino acids on anaerobic metabolisms relevant to early Earth and other anoxic planets such as Mars is unknown. Here, we test the inhibitory effect of D-enantiomers of two nonproteinogenic amino acids common to carbonaceous chondrites, norvaline and α-aminobutyric acid, on microbial iron reduction. Three pure strains (Geobacter bemidjiensis, Geobacter metallireducens, Geopsychrobacter electrodiphilus) and an iron-reducing enrichment culture were grown in the presence of 10 mM D-enantiomers of both amino acids. Further tests were conducted to assess the inhibitory effect of these D-amino acids at 1 and 0.1 mM. The presence of 10 mM D-norvaline and D-α-aminobutyric acid inhibited microbial iron reduction by all pure strains and the enrichment. G. bemidjiensis was not inhibited by either amino acid at 0.1 mM, but D-α-aminobutyric acid still inhibited at 1 mM. Calculations using published meteorite accumulation rates to the martian surface indicate D-α-aminobutyric acid may have reached inhibitory concentrations in little over 1000 years during peak infall. These data show that, on a young anoxic planet, the use of one enantiomer over another may render the nonbiological enantiomer an environmental toxin. Processes that generate racemic amino acids in the environment, such as meteoritic infall or impact synthesis, would have been toxic processes and could have been a selection pressure for the evolution of early racemases.

Association between respiratory viruses and asthma exacerbations

Association between respiratory viruses and asthma exacerbations

Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) in the urban atmosphere

Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) in air has been well known as the indicator of photochemical smog due to its frequent occurrences in Seoul metropolitan area. This study was implemented to assess the distribution characteristics of atmospheric PAN in association with relevant parameters measured concurrently. During a full year period in 2011, PAN was continuously measured at hourly intervals at two monitoring sites, Gwang Jin (GJ) and Gang Seo (GS) in the megacity of Seoul, South Korea. The annual mean concentrations of PAN during the study period were 0.64±0.49 and 0.57±0.46ppb, respectively. The seasonal trends of PAN generally exhibited dual peaks in both early spring and fall, regardless of sites. Their diurnal trends were fairly comparable to each other. There was a slight time lag (e.g., 1h) in the peak occurrence pattern between O3 and PAN, as the latter trended to peak after the maximum UV irradiance period (16:00 (GJ) and 17:00 (GS)). The concentrations of PAN generally exhibited strong correlations with particulates. The results of this study suggest that PAN concentrations were affected sensitively by atmospheric stability, the wet deposition of NO2, wind direction, and other factors.

Identification, distribution, and adult phenology of the carrion beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) of Texas.

The carrion beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) of Texas are surveyed. Thirteen of the 14 species, and five of the six genera, of this ecologically and forensically important group of scavengers that have previously been reported from Texas are confirmed here based on a study of 3,732 adult specimens. The one reported, but unconfirmed, species, Oxelytrum discicolle, was probably based on erroneous label data and is excluded from the Texas fauna. Two additional species, Nicrophorus sayi and N. investigator are discussed as possible, but unconfirmed, components of the fauna. Taxonomic diagnoses, Texas distribution range maps, seasonality profiles, and biological notes are presented for each confirmed species. The confirmed Texas silphid fauna of 13 species comprises 43% of the 30 species of this family that are known from America north of Mexico. The highest richness (11 species) is found in the combined Austroriparian and Texan biotic provinces of eastern Texas. Phenologically, three species (Necrophila americana, O. rugulosum and Nicrophorus tomentosus) exhibit bimodal adult temporal occurrence patterns with peaks in the spring and late summer or fall; four species (Oiceoptoma noveboracense, Necrodes surinamensis, Nicrophorus carolinus, and N. orbicollis) exhibit unimodal occurrence patterns with a single peak in late spring or early summer; one species (Oiceoptonia inaequale) exhibits a unimodal occurrence pattern with a single peak in early spring; and five species (Thanatophilus truncatus, Nicrophorus americanus, N. marginatus, N. mexicanus and N. pustulatus) display unimodal occurrence patterns with peaks in late summer or early fall.

Evaluation and optimization of bio‐optical inversion algorithms for remote sensing of Lake Superior's optical properties

Satellite remote sensing offers one of the best spatial and temporal observational approaches. However, well‐validated satellite imagery has remained elusive for Lake Superior. Lake Superior's optical properties are highly influenced by colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), which has hindered the retrieval of chlorophyll concentration through band‐ratio algorithms. This study evaluated seven existing inversion algorithms. The top‐performing inversion algorithm was tuned to a Lake Superior optical data set and applied to satellite imagery. The retrieval of chlorophyll concentration via inversion algorithms was not possible due to errors in derived CDOM absorption being greater than phytoplankton absorption values and the very small contribution of phytoplankton absorption to the overall absorption budget. However, the retrieval of absorption due to CDOM from satellite imagery was encouraging. To ensure that the best satellite remotely sensed reflectance estimates were used in the retrieval of absorption due to CDOM, several atmospheric correction schemes were evaluated. The absorption due to CDOM was greatest in the western arm of Lake Superior and near river mouths and decreased with distance offshore. The absorption due to CDOM had a bimodal distribution over the annual cycle with the greatest peak in fall and a smaller peak in spring.

Nosema ceranae infection intensity highly correlates with temperature

Nosema ceranae, a microsporidian entomopathogen, was first reported from honey bees, Apis mellifera, in 2005 in Taiwan (Huang et al., 2007) and has become a major concern in apiculture worldwide. In Taiwan, we found one infection peak for N. ceranae during the winter months, compared to two peaks in spring and fall reported in 1980 for Nosema apis. N. ceranae infection intensity in apiaries reached a high level earlier than N. apis, a possible factor in replacement. We found a significant negative correlation of N. ceranae pathogen load with temperature; the highest spore counts were recorded at an average temperature of approximately 15°C and infection intensity equaled the annual average at 23.8°C. This model corresponds with published results but is most reliable for subtropical to tropical climates.

The Effectiveness of U.S. Public Health Surveillance Systems for Situational Awareness during the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic: A Retrospective Analysis

BackgroundThe 2009 H1N1 outbreak provides an opportunity to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of current U.S. public health surveillance systems and to identify implications for measuring public health emergency preparedness.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe adopted a “triangulation” approach in which multiple contemporary data sources, each with different expected biases, are compared to identify time patterns that are likely to reflect biases versus those that are more likely to be indicative of actual infection rates. This approach is grounded in the understanding that surveillance data are the result of a series of decisions made by patients, health care providers, and public health professionals about seeking and providing health care and about reporting cases to health authorities. Although limited by the lack of a gold standard, this analysis suggests that children and young adults are over-represented in many pH1N1 surveillance systems, especially in the spring wave. In addition, the nearly two-month delay between the Northeast and the South in the Fall peak in some surveillance data seems to at least partially reflect regional differences in concerns about pH1N1rather than real differences in pH1N1 infection rates.Conclusions/SignificanceAlthough the extent of the biases suggested by this analysis cannot be known precisely, the analysis identifies underlying problems with surveillance systems – in particular their dependence on patient and provider behavior, which is influenced by a changing information environment – that could limit situational awareness in future public health emergencies. To improve situational awareness in future health emergencies, population-based surveillance systems such as telephone surveys of representative population samples and seroprevalence surveys in well-defined population cohorts are needed.

Seasonal patterns of litterfall in the floodplain forest of a large Mediterranean river

Litterfall is a key process controlling trophic and nutrient dynamics in coupled river-floodplain ecosystems. Litterfall quantity, quality and timing may be partly controlled by the local hydrology and forest structure. In the Middle Ebro (a large Mediterranean river in NE Spain), the importance of those factors has recently been assessed for litterfall quantity and quality but never for litterfall timing. In this study, the litterfall seasonal patterns (i.e., the intra-annual phenology of total vertical litterfall, the contribution of different species as well as the litter fractions and their nutrient concentration) in the floodplain forest of the Middle Ebro in 2007 were described to assess the role of their controlling factors. To that end, litterfall was collected monthly in a series of 12 plots representing the variety (in terms of forest structure and hydroperiod) of forest patches existing in the floodplain. The sampled material was sorted by litter fractions and species, and their C, N and P concentrations were analysed. The results showed that, as in most deciduous temperate forests, the bulk of litterfall occurred in autumn (42 % of total) with leaf fall (57 % of all litter fractions) for the 6 dominant tree species. However, the amount of litterfall collected during the rest of the year (especially in spring = 25 % and summer = 20 %) and from other litter components (woody = 22 % and reproductive = 10 %, with significantly higher N and P concentrations) was not negligible. This litterfall leads to seasonal imbalances in the quantity and quality of litter inputs to the riparian system throughout the year, which consequently might control the detritus-based community structure, food webs and nutrient cycling. Two species of Populus (P nigra and P alba) exhibited a second leaf fall peak in the summer. However, cross correlation analyses showed that the temporal dynamics of litter and leaf fall were similar between plots and dominant tree species. This result suggests that, unlike litterfall quantity and quality, litterfall phenology was not controlled by the differences in forest structure and hydrology at the patch level but rather by some other factors operating at a broader spatial scale, such as the regional climate.

Hydroclimatology of dual‐peak annual cholera incidence: Insights from a spatially explicit model

Cholera incidence in some regions of the Indian subcontinent may exhibit two annual peaks although the main environmental drivers that have been linked to the disease (e.g., sea surface temperature, zooplankton abundance, river discharge) peak once per year during the summer. An empirical hydroclimatological explanation relating cholera transmission to river flows and to the disease spatial spreading has been recently proposed. We specifically support and substantiate mechanistically such hypothesis by means of a spatially explicit model of cholera transmission. Our framework directly accounts for the role of a model river network in transporting and redistributing cholera bacteria among human communities as well as for spatial and temporal annual fluctuations of river flows. The model is forced by seasonal environmental drivers, namely river flow, temperature and chlorophyll concentration in the coastal environment, a proxy for Vibrio choleraeconcentration. Our results show that these drivers may suffice to generate dual‐peak cholera prevalence patterns for proper combinations of timescales involved in pathogen transport, hydrologic variability and disease unfolding. The model explains the possible occurrence of spatial patterns of cholera incidence characterized by a spring peak confined to coastal areas and a fall peak involving inland regions. Our modeling framework suggests insights on how environmental drivers concert the generation of complex spatiotemporal infections and proposes an explanation for the different cholera patterns (dual or single annual peaks) exhibited by regions that share similar hydroclimatological forcings.

Spatial and temporal trends of the toxic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia in the Southeastern Atlantic United States

Data collected by NOAA Phytoplankton Monitoring Network volunteers, from the beginning of the program (2001) through 2010, was used to assess the spatial and temporal trends of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. from North Carolina through northern Florida along the southeastern US coastline. Pseudo-nitzschia spp. was present from North Carolina to Florida, and was most common in North and South Carolina. Across the majority of the Atlantic southeast US, the highest rates of occurrence were observed in late summer, early fall, with most areas experiencing the lowest rate of occurrence in the spring. The Outer Banks of North Carolina, however, experienced a peak of occurrence in late winter to early spring in addition to a late summer, early fall peak. Pseudo-nitzschia was found in temperatures ranging from less than 5°C to 35°C and salinities from 5 to 37. Six unique bloom events were documented during this period of nine years, three of which contained detectable levels of domoic acid. The majority of these bloom events and all of the toxic events occurred in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Given the extent and intensity of coverage afforded by the NOAA PMN, this program provides the optimal approach to not only assess past trends but to monitor environmental changes and emerging trends in the dynamics of this toxigenic species. Understanding the dynamics of this species allows resource managers to better predict the threats associated with domoic acid.

The Effect of Geographic Location, Breed, and Pituitary Dysfunction on Seasonal Adrenocorticotropin and α‐Melanocyte‐Stimulating Hormone Plasma Concentrations in Horses

Plasma α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) concentrations in horses vary with season, confounding diagnostic testing for pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). The goals of this study were to determine whether seasonal variation in plasma α-MSH and ACTH concentrations in horses is influenced by geographic location, breed, or PPID. Healthy light breed horses residing in Florida, Massachusetts, and Finland (n = 12 per group); healthy Morgan horses (n = 13); healthy ponies (n = 9) and horses with PPID (n = 8). Monthly plasma α-MSH and ACTH concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Nonlinear regression analysis was used to estimate the time of peak hormone concentrations. Mean hormone concentrations in fall and nonfall months were compared. The fall peak plasma α-MSH concentration occurred earlier in horses residing at more northern locations. Mean seasonal α-MSH concentrations were similar in all healthy groups at all locations, but in the fall, plasma ACTH concentrations were higher in horses living in more southern locations. Plasma ACTH but not α-MSH concentrations were higher in Morgan horses compared with light breed horses from the same location. Hormone concentrations of ponies did not differ from those of horses during either season. Concentrations of both hormones were high in the fall compared with the spring in horses with PPID. These findings suggest geographic location of residence and breed may affect the onset, amplitude, or both of the seasonal peak of pars intermedia (PI) hormones and should be considered when performing diagnostic testing for PPID. Horses with PPID maintain seasonal regulation of PI hormone output.

Epidemiological Study of Hospitalization Associated With Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Taiwanese Children Between 2004 and 2007

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of hospitalization in young children. The population-based burden of RSV hospitalization and the effect of potential risk factors on the severity of illness were evaluated in Taiwanese children. We analyzed the annual population-based incidence, underlying diseases and characteristics of hospitalizations due to RSV in Taiwanese children under 5 years of age from 2004 to 2007 by using Taiwan's National Health Insurance database. A total of 11,081 children with RSV-associated hospitalization were studied. Average annual population-based hospitalization incidence was 1,077 and 232 per 100,000 children-year in children under 6 months and under 5 years of age, respectively. The peak incidence occurred between 1 and 2 months of age. The male-to-female incidence risk ratio was 1.4:1 (p < 0.001). There was a significant seasonal distribution with consistent peaks in the spring and autumn every year (p < 0.001). A total of 373 patients (3.3%) had repeated RSV infection. The 943 children (8.5%) with underlying diseases were older (p = 0.001), required longer intensive care unit (ICU) stays (p < 0.001), had a higher rate of endotracheal intubation (p < 0.05), and incurred higher medical costs (p < 0.001). A total of 888 patients (8%) required ICU care. Younger age (p < 0.001), prematurity (p < 0.001), cerebral palsy (p < 0.001) and congenital heart disease (p < 0.001) were independent predictors of requiring ICU care. RSV infection occurs biennially with peaks in spring and fall in Taiwan. Patients with underlying diseases need longer hospital and ICU stays and incur higher medical costs. Younger age, prematurity, congenital heart disease and cerebral palsy are predictors of ICU care.

Association between Tree Pollen Counts and Asthma ED Visits in a High-Density Urban Center

Background. Asthma exacerbation patterns are cyclic in nature and often correlate with air particle concentrations. Objective. To examine the relationship between asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits and outdoor air quality for pediatric and adult patients in a high asthma prevalence area, the New York City borough of the Bronx. Methods. Numbers of daily asthma-related adult and pediatric ED visits during one complete year (1999) were obtained from the seven major Bronx hospitals. Daily values of nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and pollen counts were acquired. Results. Asthma-related ED visit numbers were highest in December–January and lowest in July. There were three distinct peaks of increased asthma ED visits: winter (December–January), spring (late April–May), and fall (October). The spring peak was the most striking and coincided with high tree pollen counts (tree pollen: r = 0.90, p = .03). We observed a positive correlation between asthma ED visits in the winter and SO2 and NOx levels. Winter peaks of SO2 and NOx in early December appeared to precede the winter asthma peak. Conclusions. The spring asthma peak is closely associated with increased tree pollen counts, and the asthma increase at this time is likely due to allergic reactions to pollen. No significant associations could be established with the fall peak. The winter peak correlates with elevated SO2 and NOx levels.

Assessment of the environmental persistence and long-range transport of endosulfan

Concentrations of the insecticide endosulfan (α- and β-isomer) and its degradation product endosulfan sulfate in air, seawater and soil are calculated with the global environmental fate model CliMoChem. As model input, physicochemical properties of all three compounds were assembled and a latitudinally and temporally resolved emission inventory was generated. For concentrations in air, model and measurements are in good agreement; a bimodal seasonality with two peaks in spring and fall as it is observed in Arctic air is reproduced by the model. For seawater, the agreement of model and measurements depends on the values of the hydrolysis activation energy of endosulfan used in the model; with relatively high values around 100 kJ/mol, model results match field data well. The results of this assessment of the levels, persistence, and global distribution of endosulfan are also relevant for the evaluation of endosulfan as a Persistent Organic Pollutant under the Stockholm Convention.