Michael Cusack

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

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Xavier Querol

Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research

Andrés Alástuey

Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research

Jorge Pey

Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología

Carlos M. Duarte

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Noemí Pérez

Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research

Cristina Reche

Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research

Marco Pandolfi

Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research

Fúlvio Amato

Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research

Vincent Saderne

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Lotfi Rabaoui

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Cooperative Institutions

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

University of the West of Scotland

Paul Scherrer Institute

Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

FC Barcelona

Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals

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Variability in regional background aerosols within the Mediterranean

Atmospheric chemistry and physics (2009)

Xavier Querol A. Alastuey Jorge Pey Michael Cusack Noemí Pérez

Abstract. The main objective of this study is the identification of major factors controlling levels and chemical composition of aerosols in the regional background (RB) along the Mediterranean Basin (MB). To this end, data on PM levels and speciation from Montseny (MSY, NE Spain), Finokalia (FKL, Southern Greece) and Erdemli (ERL, Southern Turkey) for the period 2001 to 2008 are evaluated. Important differences on PM levels and composition are evident when comparing the Western and Eastern MBs. The results manifest W-E and N-S PM10 and PM2.5 gradients along the MB, attributed to the higher frequency and intensity of African dust outbreaks in the EMB, while for PM1 very similar levels are encountered. PM in the EMB is characterized by higher levels of crustal material and sulphate as compared to WMB (and central European sites), however, RB nitrate and OC + EC levels are relatively constant across the Mediterranean and lower than other European sites. Marked seasonal trends are evidenced for PM levels, nitrate (WMB), ammonium and sulphate. Also relatively higher levels of V and Ni (WMB) are measured in the Mediterranean basin, probably as a consequence of high emissions from fuel-oil combustion (power generation, industrial and shipping emissions). Enhanced sulphate levels in EMB compared to WMB were measured. The high levels of sulphate in the EMB may deplete the available gas-phase NH3 so that little ammonium nitrate can form due to the low NH3 levels. This study illustrates the existence of three very important features within the Mediterranean that need to be accounted for when modeling climate effects of aerosols in the area, namely: a) the increasing gradient of dust from WMB to EMB; b) the change of hygroscopic behavior of mineral aerosols (dust) via nitration and sulfation; and c) the abundance of highly hygroscopic aerosols during high insolation (low cloud formation) periods.

Mediterranean Basin

Ammonium nitrate

10.5194/acp-9-4575-2009

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Citations (235)

Physical and chemical processes affecting atmospheric aerosols in the Western Mediterranean regional background

TDX (Tesis Doctorals en Xarxa) (2013)

Michael Cusack

En este trabajo se muestra un estudio detallado de las fuentes de emision y de los procesos fisico-quimicos que afectan a los aerosoles atmosfericos en el entorno regional de Montseny, situado en el Mediterraneo Occidental, una region relativamente poco estudiada en cuanto a calidad del aire. En el marco de calidad del aire, el estudio de los aerosoles atmosfericos esta siendo de gran y creciente interes en la actualidad debido tanto a los potenciales efectos perjudiciales en la salud derivados de la exposicion a estos contaminantes, como a sus efectos en el clima. Se ha llevado a cabo el analisis de una extensa serie temporal (2002-2010) de niveles de PM2.5 (material particulado de diametro menor de 2.5 µm) y de su composicion quimica, con el objetivo de describir las tendencias y fluctuaciones en las concentraciones, asi como de identificar las posibles causas de estas variaciones. El analisis de la tendencia temporal de PM2.5 mostro una disminucion estadisticamente significativa, generalizada a lo largo de Europa. Esta tendencia de disminucion se atribuye a la eficacia de estrategias de reduccion de la contaminacion aplicadas por los paises miembros de la UE, dado que muchos de los compuestos asociados a actividades antropogenicos, como el sulfato, el carbono organico y muchos metales traza, muestran un descenso gradual. Por otro lado, tambien se demostro que parametros meteorologicos a escala global, como la Oscilacion del Atlantico Norte (NAO), pueden regir las tendencias en las concentraciones de PM a traves de Europa. En ciertos paises, la recesion economica de los ultimos anos tambien parece haber afectado a los niveles de contaminantes antropogenicos. Este trabajo incluye la identificacion y caracterizacion de las variaciones diarias y estacionales, asi como de las fuentes de emision, de PM1 (material particulado de diametro menor de 1 µm) y de particulas sub-micronicas. Las principales fuentes de emision incluyen sulfato secundario, aerosol organico secundario, combustion de fuel oil, trafico rodado, quema de biomasa, emisiones industriales y nitrato. La formacion de nuevas particulas y su posterior crecimiento se identifico como una fuente importante de particulas ultrafinas (particulas menores de 100 nm de diametro). Durantes lo meses mas calidos las concentraciones de particulas muestran un aumento debido a que los procesos fotoquimicos de formacion de particulas se ven favorecidos, las concentraciones de materia mineral son tambien mas elevadas, hecho asociado a procesos de resuspension del suelo y a intrusiones Saharianas mas frecuentes, se registran niveles mas altos de sulfato y de compuestos procedentes del trafico maritimo como consecuencia de brisas marinas mas pronunciadas, y las condiciones son mas propicias para la generacion de emisiones biogenicas.. Por otro lado, durante los meses mas frios se describen episodios de contaminacion intensos a consecuencia de condiciones anticiclonicas que causan el estancamiento de las masas de aire y la acumulacion de contaminantes atmosfericos a traves de la region. Estos episodios se caracterizan especialmente por niveles elevados de nitrato. La meteorologia local, y especificamente la accion de brisas de mar y montana, se identifican como un agente que controla el transporte de masas de aire contaminadas desde zonas urbanas a zonas rurales, y que rige la variabilidad diaria de aerosoles atmosfericos. Durante los meses frios, la formacion de nuevas particulas se observa en ausencia de una atmosfera contaminada, siempre que exista suficiente radiacion solar y los gases precursores necesarios (acido sulfurico, vapores organicos semi-volatiles). Durante los meses calidos, la formacion de nuevas particulas se observa con mucha mas frecuencia debido a una radiacion solar mas intensa y a concentraciones mas elevadas de gases precursores procedentes de emisiones biogenicas, dandose incluso en atmosferas contaminadas. Ademas, en este trabajo se describe la posibilidad de evaporacion de particulas, que parece verse favorecida bajo condiciones de altas temperaturas, intensa radiacion solar, baja humedad relativa y de dilucion atmosferica.

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Intense winter atmospheric pollution episodes affecting the Western Mediterranean

The Science of The Total Environment (2010)

Jorge Pey Noemí Pérez Xavier Querol Andrés Alástuey Michael Cusack

Atmospheric pollution

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.01.052

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Citations (89)

Variations in time and space of trace metal aerosol concentrations in urban areas and their surroundings

Teresa Moreno Xavier Querol Andrés Alástuey Cristina Reche Michael Cusack

Abstract. Using an unprecedentedly large geochemical database, we compare temporal and spatial variations in inhalable trace metal background concentrations in a major city (Barcelona, Spain) and at a nearby mountainous site (Montseny) affected by the urban plume. Both sites are contaminated by technogenic metals, with V, Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn, Sn, Bi, Sb and Cd all showing upper continental crust (UCC) normalised values >1 in broadly increasing order. The highest metal concentrations usually occur during winter at Barcelona and summer in Montseny. This seasonal difference was especially marked at the remote mountain site in several elements such as Ti and Rare Earth Elements, which recorded campaign maxima, exceeding PM10 concentrations seen in Barcelona. The most common metals were Zn, Ti, Cu, Mn, Pb and V. Both V and Ni show highest concentrations in summer, and preferentially fractionate into the finest PM sizes (PM1/PM10 > 0.5) especially in Barcelona, this being attributed to regionally dispersed contamination from fuel oil combustion point sources. Within the city, hourly metal concentrations are controlled either by traffic (rush hour double peak for Cu, Sb, Sn, Ba) or industrial plumes (morning peak of Ni, Mn, Cr generated outside the city overnight), whereas at Montseny metal concentrations rise during the morning to a single, prolonged afternoon peak as contaminated air transported by the sea breeze moves into the mountains. Our exceptional database, which includes hourly measurements of chemical concentrations, demonstrates in more detail than previous studies the spatial and temporal variability of urban pollution by trace metals in a given city. Technogenic metalliferous aerosols are commonly fine in size and therefore potentially bioavailable, emphasising the case for basing urban background PM characterisation not only on physical parameters such as mass but also on sample chemistry and with special emphasis on trace metal content.

10.5194/acpd-11-14747-2011

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Citations (4)

Anthropogenic-induced acceleration of elemental burial rates in blue carbon repositories of the Arabian Gulf

The Science of The Total Environment (2019)

Lotfi Rabaoui Michael Cusack Vincent Saderne P K Krishnakumar Yu‐Jia Lin

Blue carbon

Deposition

Salt marsh

Trace element

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135177

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Citations (24)

PM2.5 chemical composition at a rural background site in Central Europe, including correlation and air mass back trajectory analysis

Atmospheric Research (2016)

Jaroslav Schwarz Michael Cusack Jindřich Karban Eva Chalupníčková V. Havránek

Atmospheric Composition

10.1016/j.atmosres.2016.02.017

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Citations (101)

Aerosol particle shrinkage event phenomenology in a South European suburban area during 2009–2015

Atmospheric Environment (2017)

Elisabeth Alonso‐Blanco Francisco J. Gómez‐Moreno L. Núñez Manuel Pujadas Michael Cusack

Shrinkage

Dilution

Particle (ecology)

10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.04.013

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Citations (28)

Business Nonprofits: Helping Small Businesses in New Orleans Survive Katrina

The entrepreneurial executive (2006)

Kenneth J. Lacho Don B. Bradley Michael Cusack

ABSTRACT The research gathered for this paper examined how business nonprofits helped small businesses in New Orleans, Louisiana survive the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The research chronicles the various aspects of the help provided by business nonprofits and associations to not only its members but to the community at large. The importance of networking and the use of the Internet became vital to the success of these organizations in trying to help the small business community. These organizations help small businesses find contractors, health permits to reopen their business, small business loan information, as well as trying to help businesses find places for their workers to live or stay. The largest obstacles for small businesses were lack of employees, insurance and proof of loss. Many of the individuals who needed help could not prove credit worthy for SBA loans. Or, because of lack of proof of loss, were unable to receive insurance settlements if they had any insurance at all. These organizations not only had to provide opportunities for creative financing, but psychological help for the individual small businesses affected. In many cases it was showing that someone cared and was trying to help that made the situation bearable in an almost unbearable situation. Another problem that the nonprofits and associations had to face was the price for nearly everything skyrocketed and there were few signs that things were about to get better. This created a need to reassure the small businesses owners that everything would be all right. In times of crisis, this research chronicles the need for small businesses to help each other in a common cause of bringing the community back to economic health. INTRODUCTION This paper investigates the role of business nonprofit organizations in helping with the survival and recovery of small businesses in the New Orleans Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) from hurricane Katrina. On August 29, 2005, the most destructive hurricane (Katrina) in the history of the United States hit the City of New Orleans, surrounding parishes and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Starting as a small easterly wave off the coast of West Africa it developed during late August, the peak of hurricane season. The disturbance became a tropical depression on August 23 and then Tropical Storm Katrina. On August 25, Katrina became a hurricane, passed over South Florida and headed northwest into the Gulf of Mexico. Katrina quickly mushroomed into a Category 4 hurricane. On Sunday August 28 it reached Category 5, packing winds up to 175 mph. Within 72 hours Katrina had become a monster storm capable of mass destruction as it headed for the Mississippi Coast and New Orleans, a city below sea level. The Big Easy's aging levee system and the loss of protective wetlands made it extremely vulnerable. When Katrina landed just east of New Orleans it was a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph (CNN Reports, 2005). Katrina claimed over 1 ,300 victims. The official cost of damage to the entire Gulf Coast region is estimated to be over $200 billion. Over a million people evacuated inland (CNN Reports, 2005). The impact was great on the City of New Orleans and the nearby parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines and East St. Tammany, all in the New Orleans MSA. Damage from wind and flood waters impacted 434,216 homes; 207,000 so badly they were uninhabitable (Scott & Richardson, 2005; Scott, 2006). Nearby St. Bernard parish sustained a loss of 23,000 homes and 4,000 businesses (Brown, 2005). Employment remains 32 percent (1 98 , 1 00 jobs) below the pre- Katrina peak. Many schools (especially public schools in Orleans parish) and hospitals remain closed (Scott, 2006). In New Orleans, the small business community was devastated. Some 20,500 small businesses were destroyed, 18,752 of those suffering catastrophic damage (Joyner, et. al., 2006). …

Small Business

Hurricane katrina

Human settlement

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Citations (7)

Variations in time and space of trace metal aerosol concentrations in urban areas and their surroundings

Atmospheric chemistry and physics (2011)

Teresa Moreno Xavier Querol Andrés Alástuey Cristina Reche Michael Cusack

10.5194/acp-11-9415-2011

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Citations (101)

Ozone Decontamination of Medical and Nonmedical Devices: An Assessment of Design and Implementation Considerations

Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (2023)

Emmanuel I. Epelle Andrew Macfarlane Michael Cusack Anthony Burns Jude A. Okolie

The control of infectious diseases can be improved via carefully designed decontamination equipment and systems. Research interest in ozone (a powerful antimicrobial agent) has significantly increased over the past decade. The COVID-19 pandemic has also instigated the development of new ozone-based technologies for the decontamination of personal protective equipment, surfaces, materials, and indoor environments. As this interest continues to grow, it is necessary to consider key factors affecting the applicability of lab-based findings to large-scale systems utilizing ozone. In this review, we present recent developments on the critical factors affecting the successful deployments of industrial ozone technologies. Some of these include the medium of application (air or water), material compatibility, efficient circulation and extraction, measurement and control, automation, scalability, and process economics. We also provide a comparative assessment of ozone relative to other decontamination methods/sterilization technologies and further substantiate the necessity for increased developments in gaseous and aqueous ozonation. Modeling methodologies, which can be applied for the design and implementation of ozone contacting systems, are also presented in this review. Key knowledge gaps and open research problems/opportunities are extensively covered including our recommendations for the development of novel solutions with industrial importance.

Human decontamination

10.1021/acs.iecr.2c03754

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Citations (13)