Pico-Light H2O: intercomparison of in situ water vapour measurements during the AsA 2022 campaign
Mélanie Ghysels, Georges Durry, Nadir Amarouche, Dale Hurst, Emrys Hall, Kensy Xiong, Jean-Charles Dupont, Jean-Christophe Samake, Fabien Frérot, Raghed Bejjani, and Emmanuel D. Riviere
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 3495–3513, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-3495-2024, 2024
A tunable diode laser hygrometer, “Pico-Light H2O”, is presented and its performances are evaluated during the AsA 2022 balloon-borne intercomparison campaign from Aire-sur-l'Adour (France) in September 2022. A total of 15 balloons were launched within the framework of the EU-funded HEMERA project. Pico-Light H2O has been compared in situ with the NOAA Frost Point Hygrometer in the upper troposphere and stratosphere, as well as with meteorological sondes (iMet-4 and M20) in the troposphere.
A new method for estimating megacity NOx emissions and lifetimes from satellite observations
Steffen Beirle and Thomas Wagner
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 3439–3453, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-3439-2024, 2024
We present a new method for estimating emissions and lifetimes for nitrogen oxides emitted from large cities by using satellite NO2 observations combined with wind fields. The estimate is based on the simultaneous evaluation of the downwind plumes for opposing wind directions. This allows us to derive seasonal mean emissions and lifetimes for 100 cities around the globe.
Using a portable FTIR spectrometer to evaluate the consistency of Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) measurements on a global scale: the Collaborative Carbon Column Observing Network (COCCON) travel standard
Benedikt Herkommer, Carlos Alberti, Paolo Castracane, Jia Chen, Angelika Dehn, Florian Dietrich, Nicholas M. Deutscher, Matthias Max Frey, Jochen Groß, Lawson Gillespie, Frank Hase, Isamu Morino, Nasrin Mostafavi Pak, Brittany Walker, and Debra Wunch
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 17, 3467–3494, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-17-3467-2024, 2024
The Total Carbon Column Observing Network is a network of ground-based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers used mainly for satellite validation. To ensure the highest-quality validation data, the network needs to be highly consistent. This is a major challenge, which so far is solved by site comparisons with airborne in situ measurements. In this work, we describe the use of a portable FTIR spectrometer as a travel standard for evaluating the consistency of TCCON sites.
A perspective on the next generation of Earth system model scenarios: towards representative emission pathways (REPs)
Malte Meinshausen, Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, Kathleen Beyer, Greg Bodeker, Olivier Boucher, Josep G. Canadell, John S. Daniel, Aïda Diongue-Niang, Fatima Driouech, Erich Fischer, Piers Forster, Michael Grose, Gerrit Hansen, Zeke Hausfather, Tatiana Ilyina, Jarmo S. Kikstra, Joyce Kimutai, Andrew D. King, June-Yi Lee, Chris Lennard, Tabea Lissner, Alexander Nauels, Glen P. Peters, Anna Pirani, Gian-Kasper Plattner, Hans Pörtner, Joeri Rogelj, Maisa Rojas, Joyashree Roy, Bjørn H. Samset, Benjamin M. Sanderson, Roland Séférian, Sonia Seneviratne, Christopher J. Smith, Sophie Szopa, Adelle Thomas, Diana Urge-Vorsatz, Guus J. M. Velders, Tokuta Yokohata, Tilo Ziehn, and Zebedee Nicholls
Geosci. Model Dev., 17, 4533–4559, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-17-4533-2024, 2024
The scientific community is considering new scenarios to succeed RCPs and SSPs for the next generation of Earth system model runs to project future climate change. To contribute to that effort, we reflect on relevant policy and scientific research questions and suggest categories for representative emission pathways. These categories are tailored to the Paris Agreement long-term temperature goal, high-risk outcomes in the absence of further climate policy and worlds “that could have been”.
Remote sensing-based high-resolution mapping of the forest canopy height: some models are useful, but might they be even more if combined?
Nikola Besic, Nicolas Picard, Cédric Vega, Lionel Hertzog, Jean-Pierre Renaud, Fajwel Fogel, Agnès Pellissier-Tanon, Gabriel Destouet, Milena Planells-Rodriguez, and Philippe Ciais
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https//doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-95,2024
Preprint under review for GMD (discussion: open, 0 comments)
The creation of advanced mapping models for forest attributes, utilizing remote sensing data and incorporating machine or deep learning methods, has become a key area of interest in the domain of forest observation and monitoring. This paper introduces a method where we blend and collectively interpret five models dedicated to estimating forest canopy height. We achieve this through Bayesian model averaging, offering a comprehensive approach to height estimation in forest ecosystems.
Abstract
Fungal aerosols, as significant biocomponents of inhalable particulate matter, encompass a variety of allergens and pathogens. However, comprehensive knowledge regarding their composition, sources, and opportunistic pathogens present in severe air pollution remains limited. In this study, PM2.5 samples were collected from January to March 2018 in a northern Chinese city, during the winter heating and spring sandstorm seasons. The fungal community characteristics within three distinct haze and haze-dust composite pollution were examined. The concentration of fungal aerosols was found to be significantly higher in dust samples. This was evidenced by a strong positive correlation with Ca2+, temperature, and wind speed (p < 0.05). Human and animal pathogens, such as Candida, were more prevalent in haze samples. Conversely, allergens and plant pathogens, like Alternaria, were found in higher concentration in dust samples. The primary ecological function shifted from being saprophytic to becoming human-animal pathogenic or plant-animal pathogenic. This shift was observed from non-pollution, haze, to haze-dust composite pollution. The dispersion of fungal aerosols was influenced by factors such as dust events and meteorological conditions, including increased temperature and wind speed. In the spring dust episodes, dust-related pollutants, such as soil Ca2+ and PM10, accounted for 51.39% of the variation in the fungal community. This research explored the dynamics of fungal communities, potential pathogens, and factors influencing fungal communities in regional air pollution. The insights garnered from this research provide a robust foundation for subsequent human health exposure assessments.
Abstract
The formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is inextricably linked to the photo-oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons. However, models still exhibit biases in representing SOA mass and chemical composition. We implemented a box model coupled with a near-explicit photochemical mechanism, the Master Chemical Mechanism (MCMv3.3.1), to simulate a series of chamber studies and assess model biases in simulating SOA from representative monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, that is, toluene and three xylene isomers (TX SOA). The box model underpredicted SOA yields of toluene and xylenes by 4.7%–100%, which could be improved by adjusting the saturation vapor pressure (SVP) of their oxidation products. After updating the SVP values, the mass concentration of TX SOA in the Yangtze River Delta region during summer doubled, and there was also an approximate 3% enhancement in the total SOA. Compared to a lumped mechanism used for simulating TX SOA, MCM predicted comparable mass concentrations but exhibited different volatility distributions and oxidation states.
Software sustainability of global impact models
Emmanuel Nyenah, Petra Döll, Daniel S. Katz, and Robert Reinecke
Geosci. Model Dev. Discuss., https//doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2024-97,2024
Preprint under review for GMD (discussion: open, 1 comment)
Research software is crucial for scientific progress but is often developed by scientists with limited training, time, and funding, leading to software that is hard to understand, (re)use, modify, and maintain. Our study across 10 research sectors highlights strengths in version control, open-source licensing, and documentation while emphasizing the need for containerization and code quality. Recommendations include workshops, code quality metrics, funding, and adherence to FAIR standards.
