High frequency and large deposition of acid fog on high elevation forest

Challenges in moving towards fog's contribution to spatial patterns of atmospheric deposition fluxes on a national scale

Fog is an important environmental phenomenon affecting, among other things, geochemical cycles via atmospheric deposition pathways. It is generally accepted that fog contributes substantially to atmospheric deposition fluxes especially in mountain forests. Nevertheless, due to intrinsic constraints, fog pathway has thus far been neglected in the quantification of atmospheric deposition and fog pathway has not been accounted for in nation-wide spatial patterns of atmospheric deposition of air pollutants. In this review we explore the causes as to why it is so complex to create a spatial pattern of fog contribution to atmospheric ion deposition fluxes on a national scale. Physical and chemical principles of fog formation are presented and factors influencing the abrupt temporal and spatial changes in both fog occurrence and fog chemistry are elucidated. The focus is on both constituents essential for fog deposition flux quantification, i.e. (i) hydrological input on fog water and (ii) chemistry of fog water.

Cloud and fog deposition: Monitoring in high elevation and coastal ecosystems. The past, present, and future

Collection methods critical load values and total nitrogen budgets for high-elevation and fog-impacted sites requires reliable cloud and fog water deposition estimates. The cost and labor intensity of cloud/fog water sample collection have made it difficult to conduct long-term studies that would provide the data needed to develop accurate estimates. Current understanding of fog formation, transport, and the role of fog and cloud deposition in hydrogeological and biogeochemical cycles is incomplete due, in part, to lack of a concerted interdisciplinary approach to the problem. Historically, these obstacles have limited interest in and collection of cloud and fog water samples. In addition to measurements of cloud/fog chemical composition, documenting fog/cloud deposition fluxes of pollutant and nutrient species requires knowledge of cloud/fog physical properties, frequency and duration of fog/cloud interception with landscapes, properties of vegetation on those landscapes, and properties of the wind that drive droplet/vegetation interactions. Because drop deposition efficiency is dependent on drop size, it is also important to consider variations in fog/cloud drop composition with drop size as species enriched in larger/ smaller drops will experience enhanced/reduced deposition rates. This paper presents summary results from a small U.S. cloud water monitoring network that operated from the mid-nineties through 2011, as well as a brief qualitative review of other cloud and fog water studies conducted in the United States (including Puerto Rico), Europe, South America/Pacific, and Asia. Current collection methods are also reviewed. Recent scientific efforts by the National Atmospheric Deposition Program's (NADP) Total Deposition Science Committee and NADP's Critical Loads of Atmospheric Deposition Science Committee have identified occult (cloud/fog) deposition as a "need" in developing critical loads for ecosystems that experience.

Local fresh- and sea-water effects on fog occurrence

Fog is an important atmospheric phenomenon highly relevant to ecosystems and/or the environment. Two essential prerequisites of fog formation are the presence of fog condensation nuclei and water in the atmosphere. The aim of our study was to examine in detail how fog occurrence is influenced by water areas in the immediate vicinity of the fog observation site. We have used as input data long-term observations on fog occurrence measured at 56 professional meteorological stations in Romania in 1981-2017 and GIS-derived information on water areas and on two topographical indices, TWI and TPI, in the neighbourhood of these stations. We formulated three alternative models of different complexity based on a semiparametric generalised additive logistic model for the probability of fog occurrence with potentially nonlinear, smooth effects modelled via penalised splines. A radius of 9 km appeared to be the most influential when considering the water area in a circle around the fog observation station. Based on our results, we concluded that (i) the water area in the vicinity of the station is a factor influencing fog occurrence, (ii) the water's effect differs according to water type (freshwater or seawater proximity), and (iii) GIS-derived topographical indices are informative for the explanation of fog occurrence and their inclusion enhanced the fit of the models substantially. Our findings, based on a reliable long-term data set of fog occurrence and recent GIS-derived data, explored by a relevant statistical approach will enhance further considerations related to fog formation and its environmental consequences.

Terrain and its effects on fog occurrence

Fog is a very complex phenomenon, relevant to both atmospheric physics and chemistry, contributing to the atmospheric inputs of both nutrients and pollutants to the environment. Fog occurrence is affected by numerous factors. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of terrain on fog occurrence. Namely, we studied in detail how altitude, slope and landform influence the probability of fog occurrence using the generalized additive model. In particular, we investigated how different explanatory variables might modify (deform) the trend and the seasonal component of the probability of fog occurrence. We used long-term records of daily fog occurrence measured in 1981-2017 at 56 professional meteorological stations in Romania, reflecting different environments and geographical areas. The altitude of the sites under review ranged between 13 and 2504 m above sea level, the coverage of localities at different altitudes being highly uneven. Out of the terrain variables considered, the most decisive influence was found to be altitude. We have included information on slope and landform, which refined and bettered the basic model. Our model results indicated a significant decrease in the probability of fog occurrence over the examined period. The behaviour of fog differed according to the altitude, the most profound effects being observed for ground-level fog and fog above flat terrain. The probability of fog occurrence at different altitudes varied mostly in summer and autumn, whereas it was very similar in winter.

Altitude-dependent distribution of ambient gamma dose rates in a mountainous area of Japan caused by the fukushima nuclear accident

Large amounts of airborne radionuclides were deposited over a wide area in eastern Japan, including mountainous regions, during the devastating Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident. Altitudinal distributions of ambient gamma dose rate in air were measured in a mountainous area at the northern rim of the Kanto Plain, Japan, using a portable instrument carried along the mountain trails. In the Nikko Mountain area, located 120 km north of Tokyo, the altitudinal distribution exhibited a maxima at ∼900-2000 m above sea level (ASL). This area was not affected by precipitation until 2300 Japan Standard Time (JST) on March 15, 2011. By that time, a substantial amount of radionuclides had been transported from the damaged reactor, according to the numerical simulations using transport models. Meteorological sounding data indicated that the corresponding altitudes were within the cloud layer. A visual-range monitor deployed in an unmanned weather station at 1292 m ASL also recorded low visibility on the afternoon of March 15. From these findings, it was deduced that the altitude-dependent radioactive contamination was caused by the cloud/fog deposition process of the radionuclides contained in aerosols acting as cloud condensation nuclei.

Fog and precipitation chemistry at a mid-land forest in central Taiwan

We analyzed fog and bulk precipitation chemistry at a cloud forest in central Taiwan where mountain agriculture activities are highest. There were 320 foggy days (visibility <1000 m) recorded between April 2005 and March 2006. Fog was most frequent between April 2005 and July 2005 and in March 2006 (153/153 d) and least frequent in January 2006 (21/31 d). The total fog duration was 2415 h, representing 28% of the sampling period. Compared with bulk precipitation, fog was disproportionally enriched in NO(3)(-) and SO(4)(2-) relative to K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), and NH(4)(+), resulting in higher a content of nitric acid and sulfuric acid than weak acids or neutral salts and, therefore, higher acidity (median pH, 4.9) in fog than in bulk precipitation (median and mean pH, 5.5). The very high input of NH(4)(+) (47 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)) through bulk precipitation suggests that the use of fertilizer (ammonium sulfate and animal manure) associated with mountain agriculture has a major impact on atmospheric deposition at the surrounding forest ecosystems. The input of inorganic N reached 125 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) and likely exceeded the biological demand of the forest ecosystem. Sulfate is the most abundant anion in fog at Chi-tou and in precipitation at various forests throughout Taiwan, suggesting that the emission and transport of large quantities of SO(2,) the precursor of SO(4)(2-), is an island-wide environmental issue.

Leaching of cell wall components caused by acid deposition on fir needles and trees

Virgin fir forests have been declining since the 1960s at Mt. Oyama, which is located at the eastern edge of the Tanzawa Mountains and adjacent to the Kanto plain in Japan. An acid fog frequently occurs in the mountains. We collected throughfall and stemflow under fir trees and rainfall every week during January-December 2004 at Mt. Oyama to clarify the influence of acid fog on the decline of fir (Abies firma) needles. In relation to throughfall and stemflow, D-mannose, D-galactose, and D-glucose are the major neutral sugar components; only D-glucose is a major component of rainfall. The correlation coefficient between the total neutral sugars and uronic acid (as D-galacturonic acid), which is a key component of the cross-linking between pectic polysaccharides, was high except for rainfall. The leached amount of calcium ion, neutral sugars, uronic acid, and boron is related to the nitrate ion concentration in throughfall. Results of a laboratory exposure experiment using artificial fog water simulating the average composition of fog water observed at Mt. Oyama (simulated acid fog: SAF) on the fir seedling needles also shows a large leaching of these components from the cell walls of fir needles. The leaching amount increased concomitantly with decreasing pH of the SAF solution. We also observed that a dimeric rhamnogalacturonan II-borate complex (dRG-II-B) that exists in the cell wall as pectic polysaccharide was converted to monomeric RG-II (mRG-II) by the leaching of calcium ion and boron. Results not only of field observations but also those of laboratory experiments indicate a large effect of acid depositions on fir needles.

Fog simulation using a mesoscale model in and around the Yodo River Basin, Japan

In this study, fog simulations were conducted using the Fifth-Generation NCAR/Penn State Mesoscale Model (MM5) in and around the Yodo River Basin, Japan. The purpose is to investigate the MM5 performance of fog simulation for long-term periods. The simulations were performed for January, February, March, and July, 2005 with a coarse 3-km and a nested fine 1-km grid domains. Results of the simulations were compared with data from ten meteorological observatories, fog sampling site in Mt. Rokko, and visibility measurement sites along the Second Meishin Expressway. At the meteorological observatories, the MM5 predictions agreed well with the observed temperature and specific humidity. In the Mt. Rokko region, MM5 generally reproduced the occurrence of relatively thick fog events but tended to overestimate liquid water content (LWC) of fog (by factors of 2.2-3.3 in terms of monthly mean LWC). In the Second Meishin Expressway region, while MM5 identified the specific sites at which fog either frequently or seldom occurs, the model underestimated the monthly fog frequencies by factors of more than 1.5. Overall, MM5 reproduced the general trend of fog events, and the model performance may be improved by using more adequate land surface data and suitable physics options for our study.

Sampling of atmospheric precipitation and deposits for analysis of atmospheric pollution

This paper reviews techniques and equipment for collecting precipitation samples from the atmosphere (fog and cloud water) and from atmospheric deposits (dew, hoarfrost, and rime) that are suitable for the evaluation of atmospheric pollution. It discusses the storage and preparation of samples for analysis and also presents bibliographic information on the concentration ranges of inorganic and organic compounds in the precipitation and atmospheric deposit samples.

Evaluation of a new Aerodynamic Particle Sizer Spectrometer for size distribution measurements of solution metered dose inhalers

The ability of the Model 3320 and newer Model 3321 Aerodynamic Particle Sizer Spectrometer (APS) to make accurate mass-weighted size distribution measurements of solution metered dose inhalers (MDIs) was evaluated. Measurements of experimental HFA-134a beclomethasone dipropionate MDIs were made with both the APS 3320 and APS 3321 and compared to the Andersen Cascade Impactor (ACI). The mass-weighted size distribution measurements from the ACI and APS 3321 agreed well but were very different than the APS 3320 measurements. Evaluation of the APS 3320 size distribution measurements indicated that the presence of a few erroneous particle measurements caused a gross overestimation of the mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and geometric standard deviation (GSD). When a previously described technique was used to eliminate erroneous particle size measurements from the size distribution calculation, the MMAD and GSD from the APS 3320 agreed well with those from the ACI and APS 3321. The GSD from the APS 3321 and the APS 3320 after a mask was applied were slightly larger than from the ACI. It is believed that both APS instruments slightly underestimate the GSD while the ACI slightly overestimates the GSD. Further experiments were conducted using the APS 3321 to examine the influence of drug concentration and cosolvent level on the size distribution of solution formulation MDIs. The MMAD was shown experimentally and theoretically to be proportional to drug concentration to the one-third power. Cosolvent concentration had minimal influence on MMAD over the range examined. The measurements reported in this paper demonstrate that it is possible to obtain accurate mass-weighted size distribution measurements with the APS 3320 and APS 3321. These instruments allow for accurate size distribution measurements to be made in minutes as opposed to the hours required to conduct and analyze size distribution measurements from cascade impactors.

Balancing ethanol cosolvent concentration with product performance in 134a-based pressurized metered dose inhalers

The effects of formulation parameters on the product performance characteristics of solution metered dose inhalers (MDIs) were determined using ethanol as the cosolvent and HFA 134a as the propellant. Solubility of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) was determined in various blends of 134a and ethanol and was shown to increase with ethanol concentration. Product performance was assessed using the APS Model 3306 Impactor Inlet in conjunction with APS Model 3320 Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS). Nine solution formulations containing various BDP and ethanol concentrations were studied. Chemical analysis of the Impactor Inlet was performed in order to determine the "respirable" deposition of the MDI system. With increased ethanol concentration, the throat deposition and plate deposition increased and the respirable deposition decreased. The mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) increased with the increasing drug concentration, but did not show a significant increase with an increase in ethanol concentration. This indicates that the efficiency of solution MDIs decreases with increased ethanol concentration. A Maximum Respirable Mass (MRM) was calculated based on the drug solubility at a particular ethanol concentration and the respirable deposition for a 50mcl valve and QVAR actuator for that ethanol concentration. The MRM represents the maximum amount of a given drug that can be delivered to the lungs theoretically and is very sensitive to the solubility profile of the drug. The MRM increased with the increasing ethanol concentration in the formulation until a plateau was reached at an ethanol concentration of 10-15% w/w. The MRM initially increases with increase in ethanol concentration due to the increase in drug solubility. However, at higher ethanol concentrations the increase in drug solubility was negated by a decrease in the respirable deposition. This study illustrates the importance of considering both formulation properties and product performance characteristics when optimizing a metered dose inhaler drug delivery system.

Inferred effects of cloud deposition on forest floor nutrient cycling and microbial properties along a short elevation gradient

Cloud water deposition often increases with elevation, and it is widely accepted that this cloud water increases acid loading to upland forest ecosystems. A study was undertaken in south-eastern Quebec to determine if a 250 m elevation gradient (i.e. 420-665 m), along a uniform sugar-maple stand on the slope of Mount Orford, corresponded to a pH gradient in the forest floor and to predictable changes in soil nutrient availability and microbial properties. Precipitation data from a nearby study, and a photographic survey, provided presumptive evidence that this elevation gradient corresponded to a strong gradient in cloud water deposition. Forest floor temperature did not differ significantly across elevations. Forest floor moisture content was significantly higher, whereas pH and exchangeable Ca and Mg were significantly lower, at the higher elevations. Average seasonal net nitrification rates, determined by long-term laboratory incubations, did not differ significantly across elevations, whereas average seasonal net ammonification rates were significantly higher at higher elevations. Basal respiration rates and microbial biomass did not differ significantly across elevations, but metabolic quotient was significantly higher at higher elevations indicating possible environmental stress on forest floor microbial communities due to cloud water deposition. Anaerobic N mineralisation rates were significantly higher at higher elevations suggesting that N-limited microbial communities frequently exposed to cloud cover can be important short-term sinks for atmospheric N, thereby contributing to increase the active-N fraction of forest floors. We conclude that, where no significant changes in vegetation or temperature occur, elevation gradients can still be used to understand the spatial variability of nutrient cycles and microbial properties.