scholarly journals Spread of COVID-19, Meteorological Conditions and Air Quality in the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina: Two Facets Observed during Its Pandemic Lockdown

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomás R. Bolaño-Ortiz ◽  
Romina M. Pascual-Flores ◽  
S. Enrique Puliafito ◽  
Yiniva Camargo-Caicedo ◽  
Lucas L. Berná-Peña ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Human Mobility ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Temperature Correlation ◽  
Daily Data ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Average Relative Humidity ◽  
The City

This work studied the spread of COVID-19, the meteorological conditions and the air quality in a megacity from two viewpoints: (1) the correlation between meteorological and air quality (PM10 and NO2) variables with infections and deaths due COVID-19, and (2) the improvement in air quality. Both analyses were performed for the pandemic lockdown due to COVID-19 in the City of Buenos Aires (CABA), the capital and the largest city in Argentina. Daily data from temperature, rainfall, average relative humidity, wind speed, PM10, NO2, new cases and deaths due COVID-19 were analyzed. Our findings showed a significant correlation of meteorological and air quality variables with COVID-19 cases. The highest temperature correlation occurred before the confirmation day of new cases. PM10 presented the highest correlation within 13 to 15 days lag, while NO2 within 3 to 6 days lag. Also, reductions in PM10 and NO2 were observed. This study shows that exposure to air pollution was significantly correlated with an increased risk of becoming infected and dying due to COVID-19. Thus, these results show that the NO2 and PM10 levels in CABA can serve as one of the indicators to assess vulnerability to COVID-19. In addition, decision-makers can use this information to adopt strategies to restrict human mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic and future outbreaks of similar diseases in CABA.

NESTED HIGH-RESOLUTION NOx AND PM SIMULATIONS OVER ZÜRICH

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivo Suter ◽  
Lukas Emmenegger ◽  
Dominik Brunner
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City ◽  
Concentration Levels

<p>Reducing air pollution, which is the world's largest single environmental health risk, demands better-informed air quality policies. Consequently, multi-scale air quality models are being developed with the goal to resolve cities. One of the major challenges in such model systems is to accurately represent all large- and regional-scale processes that may critically determine the background concentration levels over a given city. This is particularly true for longer-lived species such as aerosols, for which background levels often dominate the concentration levels, even within the city. Furthermore, the heterogeneous local emissions, and complex dispersion in the city have to be considered carefully.</p><p>In this study, the impact of processes across a wide range of scales on background concentrations over Switzerland and the city of Zurich was modelled by performing one year of nested European and Swiss national COSMO-ART simulations to obtain adequate boundary conditions for gas-phase chemical, aerosol and meteorological conditions for city-resolving simulations. The regional climate chemistry model COSMO-ART (Vogel et al. 2009) was used in a 1-way coupled mode. The outer, European, domain, which was driven by chemical boundary conditions from the global MOZART model, had a 6.6 km horizontal resolution and the inner, Swiss, domain one of 2.2 km. For the city scale, a catalogue of more than 1000 mesoscale flow patterns with 100 m resolution was created with the model GRAMM, based on a discrete set of atmospheric stabilities, wind speeds and directions, accounting for the influence of land-use and topography. Finally, the flow around buildings was solved with the CFD model GRAL forced at the boundaries by GRAMM. Subsequently, Lagrangian dispersion simulations for a set of air pollutants and emission sectors (traffic, industry, ...) based on extremely detailed building and emission data was performed in GRAL. The result of this nested procedure is a library of 3-dimensional air pollution maps representative of hourly situations in Zurich (Berchet et al. 2017). From these pre-computed situations, time-series and concentration maps can be obtained by selecting situations according to observed or modelled meteorological conditions.</p><p>The results were compared to measurements from air quality monitoring network stations. Modelled concentrations of NO<sub>x</sub> and PM compared well to measurements across multiple locations, provided background conditions were considered carefully. The nested multi-scale modelling system COSMO-ART/GRAMM/GRAL can adequately reproduce local air quality and help understanding the relative contributions of local versus distant emissions, as well as fill the space between precise point measurements from monitoring sites. This information is useful for research, policy-making, and epidemiological studies particularly under the assumption that exceedingly high concentrations become more and more localised phenomenon in the future.</p>

scholarly journals Analyzing the Contribution of Human Mobility to Changes in Air Pollutants: Insights from the COVID-19 Lockdown in Wuhan

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 836
Author(s):  
Jiansheng Wu ◽  
Yun Qian ◽  
Yuan Wang ◽  
Na Wang
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Random Forest ◽  
Scenario Analysis ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Human Mobility ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Sensitivity Experiments ◽  
Scenario Analyses ◽  
The City

During the COVID-19 lockdown in Wuhan, transportation, industrial production and other human activities declined significantly, as did the NO2 concentration. In order to assess the relative contributions of different factors to reductions in air pollutants, we implemented sensitivity experiments by Random Forest (RF) models, with the comparison of the contributions of meteorological conditions, human mobility, and emissions from industry and households between different periods. In addition, we conducted scenario analyses to suggest an appropriate limit for control of human mobility. Different mechanisms for air pollutants were shown in the pre-pandemic, pre-lockdown, lockdown, and post-pandemic periods. Wind speed and the Within-city Migration index, representing intra-city mobility intensity, were excluded from stepwise multiple linear models in the pre-lockdown and lockdown periods. The results of sensitivity experiments show that, in the COVID-19 lockdown period, 73.3% of the reduction can be attributed to decreased human mobility. In the post-pandemic period, meteorological conditions control about 42.2% of the decrease, and emissions from industry and households control 40.0%, while human mobility only contributes 17.8%. The results of the scenario analysis suggest that the priority of restriction should be given to human mobility within the city than other kinds of human mobility. The reduction in the NO2 concentration tends to be smaller when human mobility within the city decreases by more than 70%. A limit of less than 40% on the control of the human mobility can achieve a better effect, especially in cities with severe traffic pollution.

scholarly journals High PM10 concentrations in the city of Buenos Aires and their relationship with meteorological conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 241 ◽  
pp. 117773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L. Pineda Rojas ◽  
Rafael Borge ◽  
Nicolás A. Mazzeo ◽  
Ramiro I. Saurral ◽  
Bruno N. Matarazzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
The City

scholarly journals Distinct wind convergence patterns due to thermal and momentum forcing of the low level jet into the Mexico City basin

2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 11055-11090
Author(s):  
B. de Foy ◽  
A. Clappier ◽  
L. T. Molina ◽  
M. J. Molina
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Mexico City ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Convergence Line ◽  
Early Afternoon ◽  
Low Level Jet ◽  
The City

Abstract. Mexico City lies in a high altitude basin where air quality and pollutant fate is strongly influenced by local winds. The combination of high terrain with weak synoptic forcing leads to weak and variable winds with complex circulation patterns. A low level jet entering the basin in the afternoon leads to very different wind convergence lines over the city depending on the meteorological conditions. Surface and upper-air meteorological observations are analysed during the MCMA-2003 field campaign to establish the meteorological conditions and obtain an index of the strength and timing of the jet. A mesoscale meteorological model (MM5) is used in combination with high-resolution satellite data for the land surface parameters and soil moisture maps derived from diurnal ground temperature range. A simple method to map the lines of wind convergence both in the basin and on the regional scale is used to show the different convergence patterns according to episode types. The low level jet is found to occur on most days of the campaign and is primarily due to thermal forcing which is very similar from day to day. Momentum mixing from winds aloft into the surface layer is much more variable and can determine both the strength of the jet and the pattern of the convergence zones. Northerly flows aloft lead to a weak jet with an east-west convergence line that progresses northwards in the late afternoon and early evening. Westerlies aloft lead to stronger jets and a north-south convergence line through the middle of the basin starting in the early afternoon. Improved understanding of basin meteorology will lead to better air quality forecasts for the city and better understanding of the chemical regimes in the urban atmosphere.

scholarly journals Distinct wind convergence patterns in the Mexico City basin due to the interaction of the gap winds with the synoptic flow

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 1249-1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. de Foy ◽  
A. Clappier ◽  
L. T. Molina ◽  
M. J. Molina
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Mexico City ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Urban Atmosphere ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Convergence Line ◽  
Early Afternoon ◽  
The City

Abstract. Mexico City lies in a high altitude basin where air quality and pollutant fate is strongly influenced by local winds. The combination of high terrain with weak synoptic forcing leads to weak and variable winds with complex circulation patterns. A gap wind entering the basin in the afternoon leads to very different wind convergence lines over the city depending on the meteorological conditions. Surface and upper-air meteorological observations are analysed during the MCMA-2003 field campaign to establish the meteorological conditions and obtain an index of the strength and timing of the gap wind. A mesoscale meteorological model (MM5) is used in combination with high-resolution satellite data for the land surface parameters and soil moisture maps derived from diurnal ground temperature range. A simple method to map the lines of wind convergence both in the basin and on the regional scale is used to show the different convergence patterns according to episode types. The gap wind is found to occur on most days of the campaign and is the result of a temperature gradient across the southern basin rim which is very similar from day to day. Momentum mixing from winds aloft into the surface layer is much more variable and can determine both the strength of the flow and the pattern of the convergence zones. Northerly flows aloft lead to a weak jet with an east-west convergence line that progresses northwards in the late afternoon and early evening. Westerlies aloft lead to both stronger gap flows due to channelling and winds over the southern and western basin rim. This results in a north-south convergence line through the middle of the basin starting in the early afternoon. Improved understanding of basin meteorology will lead to better air quality forecasts for the city and better understanding of the chemical regimes in the urban atmosphere.

scholarly journals Aerosol properties and meteorological conditions in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, during the resuspension of volcanic ash from the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle eruption

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 2159-2175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Graciela Ulke ◽  
Marcela M. Torres Brizuela ◽  
Graciela B. Raga ◽  
Darrel Baumgardner
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Volcanic Ash ◽  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Cloud Base ◽  
Volcanic Complex ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
The City ◽  
Aerosol Properties

Abstract. The eruption in June 2011 of the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcanic Complex in Chile impacted air traffic around the Southern Hemisphere for several months after the initial ash emissions. The ash deposited in vast areas of the Patagonian Steppe was subjected to the strong wind conditions prevalent during the austral winter and spring experiencing resuspension over various regions of Argentina. In this study we analyze the meteorological conditions that led to the episode of volcanic ash resuspension which impacted the city of Buenos Aires and resulted in the closure of the two main airports in Buenos Aires area (Ezeiza and Aeroparque) on 16 October 2011. A relevant result is that resuspended material (volcanic ash plus dust) imprints a distinguishable feature within the atmospheric thermodynamic vertical profiles. The thermodynamic soundings show the signature of "pulses of drying" in layers associated with the presence of hygroscopic ash in the atmosphere that has already been reported in similar episodes after volcanic eruptions in other parts of the world. This particular footprint can be used to detect the probable existence of volcanic ash layers. This study also illustrates the utility of ceilometers to detect not only cloud base at airports but also volcanic ash plumes at the boundary layer and up to 7 km altitude. Aerosol properties measured in the city during the resuspension episode indicate the presence of enhanced concentrations of aerosol particles in the boundary layer along with spectral signatures in the measurements at the Buenos Aires AERONET site typical of ash plus dust advected towards the city. The mandatory aviation reports from the National Weather Service about airborne and deposited volcanic ash at the airport near the measurement site (Aeroparque) correlate in time with the enhanced concentrations. The presence of the resuspended material was detected by the CALIOP lidar overpassing the region. Since the dynamics of ash resuspension and recirculation are similar to the dynamics of dust storms, we use the HYSPLIT model with the dust storm module to simulate the episode that affected Buenos Aires. The results of the modeling agree qualitatively with satellite lidar measurements.

scholarly journals Aerosol properties and meteorological conditions in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina during the resuspension of volcanic ash from the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle eruption

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Ulke ◽  
M. M. Torres Brizuela ◽  
G. B. Raga ◽  
D. Baumgardner
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Ash ◽  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Volcanic Eruptions ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Volcanic Complex ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Hysplit Model ◽  
The City ◽  
Aerosol Properties

Abstract. The eruption in June 2011 of the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcanic Complex in Chile impacted air traffic around the Southern Hemisphere for several months after the initial ash emissions. The ash deposited in vast areas of the Patagonian steppe was subjected to the strong wind conditions prevalent during the austral winter and spring, experiencing resuspension over various regions of Argentina. In this study we analyze the meteorological conditions that led to the episode of volcanic ash resuspension, which impacted the city of Buenos Aires and resulted in the closure of both airports on 16 October 2011. The thermodynamic soundings show the signature of "pulses of drying" associated with the presence of hygroscopic ash in the atmosphere that has been reported in similar episodes after volcanic eruptions in other parts of the world. Measurements of aerosol properties that were being carried out in the city during the resuspension episode indicate the presence of an enhanced concentration of aerosol particles in the boundary layer. Reports of ash on the runway at the airport near the measurement site correlate in time with the enhanced concentrations. Since the dynamics of ash resuspension and recirculation is similar to the dynamics of dust storms, we use the HYSPLIT model with the dust storm module to simulate the episode that affected Buenos Aires. The results of the modeling agree qualitatively with satellite lidar measurements.

scholarly journals Relative humidity predicts day-to-day variations in COVID-19 cases in the city of Buenos Aires

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L. Pineda Rojas ◽  
Sandra M. Cordo ◽  
Ramiro I. Saurral ◽  
Jose L. Jimenez ◽  
Linsey C. Marr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Negative Slope ◽  
Meteorological Observation ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Low Humidity ◽  
The City

ABSTRACTPossible links between the transmission of COVID-19 and meteorology have been investigated by comparing positive cases across geographical regions. Little is known, however, about the degree to which meteorological conditions drive the daily dynamics of COVID-19 spread at a given location. The main limitation is that individual waves of the disease are typically abrupt and eventful, making correlations somewhat anecdotal. In contrast, we here present a long-term case study for the city of Buenos Aires, which has suffered a single prolonged wave of spread during 2020, with most significant changes in policy and population behavior taking place before the main local outbreak. We found that humidity plays a prominent role in modulating the variation of COVID-19 positive cases through a negative-slope linear relationship, with an optimal lag of 9 days between the meteorological observation and the positive case report. This relationship is specific to winter months, when relative humidity predicts up to half of the variance in positive cases. Our results provide a tool to anticipate local surges in COVID-19 cases after events of low humidity. More generally, they add to accumulating evidence pointing to dry air as an important driver of global COVID-19 transmission.

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