Naomy Yackerson

On the correlation between wind speed, coarse aerosol concentration and the electrical state in the ground atmospheric layer in semi-arid areas

Our general work has been dedicated to the problems connected with the influence of short-term changes of the atmospheric state on some medically unexplained human responses. What are the meteorological stimuli eliciting the transition between health and disease? There are many reports on the impact of humidity, winds or pollution on feelings of disease or discomfort. We suppose that the main influencing climatic factor, which could excite multiform biological reactions, is atmospheric electricity, E, whose parameters depend strongly on the content of the air column and on the meteorological conditions in this volume, especially along its ground path. A clear connection between wind speed Vw and coarse aerosol concentration N(T) with electric field intensity E exists only for limited intervals of Vw, and N(T). In these ranges, the mean correlation coefficients p(E; Vw) and p(E; N(T)) are usually up to 0.45. In quiet weather, rho is significantly larger than in the equinox seasons or in transferred weather situations. Strong winds or a considerably increased pollution level lead to fast and deep fading of E and even to principal changes in the form of its diurnal distribution from what is usual for stable atmosphere conditions, while weak air streams or a clear atmosphere have almost no influence on electric state variations.

The influence of several changes in atmospheric states over semi-arid areas on the incidence of mental health disorders.

The incidence of suicide attempts [Deliberate Self Harm (DSH); ICD-10: X60–X84] and psychotic attacks (PsA; ICD-10, F20–F29) in association with atmospheric states, typical for areas close to big deserts, was analyzed. A retrospective study is based on the 4,325 cases of DSH and PsA registered in the Mental Health Center (MHC) of Ben-Gurion University (Be’er-Sheva, Israel) during 2001–2003. Pearson and Spearman test correlations were used; the statistical significance was tested at p < 0.1. The influence of temperature and humidity on suicide attempts (NSU) and psychotic attacks (NPS) was weakly pronounced (p > 0.1). Correlation coefficients between NSU and NPS and speed WS of westerly wind reaches 0.3 (p < 0.05), while their dependence on easterly WS was weaker (p > 0.09). Variations in easterly wind direction WD influence NSU and NPS values (p < 0.04), but no corresponding correlation with westerly winds was found (p > 0.3). Obviously ,in transition areas located between different regions ,the main role of air streams in meteorological–biological impact can scarcely be exaggerated. An unstable balance in the internal state of a weather-sensitive person is disturbed when the atmospheric state is changed by specific desert winds, which can provoke significant perturbations in meteorological parameters. Results indicate the importance of wind direction, defining mainly the atmospheric situation in semi-arid areas: changes in direction of the easterly wind influence NSU and NPS, while changes in WS are important for mental health under westerly air streams. Obviously, NSU and NPS are more affected by the disturbance of weather from its normal state, for a given season, to which the local population is accustomed, than by absolute values of meteorological parameters.

Dynamic nonoptogalvanic signal polarity and magnitude in prebreakdown gas discharges

Nitrogen laser pulse irradiation of prebreakdown discharges in Ne and Ar result in pulse responses strikingly similar to those reported for dynamic optogalvanic signals. For the latter, response polarity depends primarily upon atomic transition. Here, it depends primarily upon bias. Nevertheless, analysis of the results points to similar internal processes within the gas concerning metastable generation and destruction. Photoionization-assisted electron heating is an additional photon process relevant here which changes relative populations of excited states and plays a key role in reversing prebreakdown signal response polarity. It can also explain the mechanism of reported electron temperature increase in optogalvanic experiments which cannot be explained on the basis of atomic transitions.

Possible effects of changes in the meteorological state over semi-arid areas on the general well-being of weather-sensitive patients

BackgroundThe influence of the changes in atmospheric states, typical for areas close to big deserts, on general well-being of hypertensive persons was analyzed.MethodsUnder test was the group of 20 hypertensive weather-sensitive patients; their blood pressure, pulse rate and appearance of 4 symptoms of discomfort sensations: arthritic pain, unjustified anxiety, severe headache and inexplicable tiredness- were registered. Symptoms are classified in ICD-9 code (780–790) and scored on a 4-point scale. Results were defined as positive (no departure from the range of normal values) or problematic; the daily number of the latter results was collected under the name “pathological reactions” NPR if at least two of these 7 checked symptoms (of one patient) were outside the normal range. Comparison of the current weather conditions with their means, questioning of patients and repeated examinations are used to gain information. The data was analyzed employing the SAS statistical software. Pearson and Spearman correlations were used, applied on the best and worst days, when a minimum and a maximum of pathological changes NPR in the patients’ well-being were observed. The statistical significance was p < 0.05 in all cases.Results~1500 medical observations and verbal statements were registered in the Primary Care Clinic (Be’er-Sheva, Israel) during 2001–2002. No meaning correlation was found between NPR and absolute values of temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure. Variations in wind speed WS and direction were expressed in blood pressure changes and in exacerbation of discomfort of various degrees. Unfavorable conditions correspond to days with dominant desert air streams and to high WS, when NPR reaches 85.7%; during the days with prevalent sea breeze NPR was ≤22.9%. The role of wind direction in NPR occurrence is prevalent when WS > 4 m·s-1. The Spearman test gives higher correlation than Pearson test (ρ ~ 0.14, p < 0.03 against ρ ~ 0.1, p < 0.04).ConclusionsNPR is more affected by the air streams than by absolute values of meteorological parameters. The method of this study might give to family doctors some additional tools to predict deterioration in general feelings of chronic patients and could be related to other health problems influenced by the meteorological environment.

The role of solid aerosol in the ionization state of the lower atmospheric layer in coastal semi-arid areas

Abstract The electrical state and physical processes in the lower atmosphere, especially in desert regions, have not been sufficiently investigated. Here we provide the ground-work for further research where the different aspects of the main sources and variations of atmospheric electric fields are considered. Under discussion are the meteorological and climatic peculiarities of coastal semi-arid areas (like the Negev desert), their specific seasonal and diurnal variations and their influence on the atmospheric ground layer ionization. Approximately 95% of coarse solid aerosol grains are charged. The mean value of total ion concentration (of both polarities) accumulated on coarse grains is ∼ 10 3 – 3.10 3 ion · cm −3 , according to aerosol population. Non-symmetrical distribution leads to the occurence of a free unbalanced charge in the air volume. Such a space charge value and sign is very important not only for radio and communication engineers but also for physicians, due to the high sensitivity of biological systems, especially humans of ill health, to the atmospheric ionization state.

On the influence of several meteorological factors on polarization state of microwave signals, propagating in semi-arid terrestrial links

The cause for the changes in polarization state of microwave signals is searched after physical properties of the channel of propagation and their variations in accordance with atmospheric state. The characteristics of the air, as propagation medium, are determined by the content, concentration and physical properties of the suspended particulates; especially it is noticeable in the surface layer over the areas with high levels of aerosol concentration and humidity (urban, semi-arid, highways, etc.). The interaction between aerial water and solid particulates leads to the appearance of increased amounts of enlarged grains with changed dielectric permittivity /spl epsiv//spl tilde//sub g/, which value depends on the water fraction in the grain, particularly in the centimeter wave range. The formation of less or more dense volumes with various /spl epsiv//spl tilde//sub g/ entails displacement of the transmitted signal, while wind exerts control over the distribution of such irregularities in the air. Fairly high correlation (with coefficients |/spl rho/|>0.45) between temperature, humidity, concentration of suspended particles and winds, and the power P/sub r/ and cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) characteristics (XPD and /spl delta/) of microwave signals was observed under moderate weather conditions. During a quiet 24-h cycle the mean level of P/sub r/ and XPD changes in /spl sim/ 10% and 30%, correspondently; fastest variations in depolarization degree are obtained close to sunset and after sunrise, when the large gradients of meteorological parameters and maximum instability of air streams take place. Seasonal fluctuations of P/sub r/ and XPD are registered, too.

Nonresonant optogalvanic laser-induced signals in prebreakdown gas discharges. II. Time dependence of voltage response instantaneous value

For pt.I see ibid., vol.26, no.3, p.597-604 (1990). The optogalvanic laser-induced signals from gas discharges reflect the changes in excited and ionized particle balance. In prebreakdown stages of low-biased noble gases the lowest metastable levels are the most populated. Using the polynomial expression derived in Part I to describe metastable population change, an analytic solution for the laser-induced voltage across the gas cell is derived form the simple relationship between metastable atom density and such signal values. The solution has the form of a time-varying exponential polynomial series. Zero, positive, and negative degrees of these exponentials indicate three different processes: steady-state and generation and destruction of the metastable population, respectively. Various coefficients and signal peak values are related to discharge and irradiation conditions. This analysis of prebreakdown gas response to incident laser pulses, based on prior experiments, can be used to predict gas time response in various applications such as nonresonant optical detection, switching, spectroscopy, etc. >

Nonresonant optogalvanic laser-induced signals in prebreakdown gas discharges. I. Simplified model for time dependence of metastable atom density changes

Electrical responses of low-biased noble gases irradiated by medium-intensity, nonresonant, short laser pulses can be described by a limited number of internal processes. Simplified rate equations for the main processes are solved analytically. It is assumed that (1) a four-level model describes the gas energy states and (2) metastable levels (the most populated excited levels) are the principal source for free-electron concentration change. The solution in the form of a series of time-varying exponentials represents the behavior of the metastable atom density perturbed by laser pulse illumination. Although this polynomial type of representation of discharge behavior is typically assumed empirically, here it is derived analytically, and coefficients in such polynomials are related to actual quantum processes within the discharge and initial laser-induced perturbation. >