Robert Kalbarczyk

Ozone concentration at ground level depending on the content of NOx and meteorological conditions

Abstract This study analyzed the temporal variation of tropospheric ozone (O3) in Poznan (midwestern Poland) on the basis of data collected from a State Environmental Monitoring air quality assessment station. The aim was to investigate the distribution and variation of O3 levels and to assess the relationship with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and meteorological conditions. These relationships were assessed by multiple regression analysis and cluster analysis. The O3 levels showed a high annual, seasonal and daily volatility, and were significantly influenced by meteorological conditions and NOx levels. High O3 levels were accompanied by above-average levels of radiation (Rad), air temperature (Ta) and wind speed (Ws), together with below-average values of NOx and humidity (Rh). Atmospheric pressure (Ph) had an ambiguous effect on O3 levels.

Variability of the Course of Tomato Growth and Development in Poland as an Effect of Climate Change

The course of phenological phases play an important role in the shaping of yield quantity and quality (Mozny et al., 2009; Peiris et al., 1996; Tao et al., 2006). The length of the development stages is important for the proper formation of both vegetative and reproductive organs. The main meteorological factor affecting the rate of plant development is air temperature (Ahmed et al., 2004; Chmielewski et al., 2005; Popov et al., 2003; Schleip et al., 2009b; Sysoeva et al., 1997). Since the mid-20th century significant changes in temperature values have been observed in the growing season of crop plants. For instance, in the years 1961-2000, the average increase in air temperature in Germany, in the February-April period, amounted to 0.41oC/10 years (Chmielewski et al., 2004). In Poland, an increase in average air temperature during each April-October period in 1973-2002, on average, amounted to 0.54oC/10 years (Kalbarczyk E. & Kalbarczyk R., 2010). Similarly, positive temperature trends have been confirmed for the growing seasons of, e.g., onions and cucumber (Kalbarczyk, 2009a, 2009b, 2010a). Positive trends of air temperature in the growing seasons of crop plants have also been confirmed in other parts of the world (Bonofiglio et al., 2009; Matsumoto, 2010; Parey, 2008; Peng et al., 2004). Since the mid-20th century changes in air temperature values have had influence on the course of the growth and development of plants. All over the world research studies focused on the reactions of fruit trees (Chmielewski et al., 2004; Fujisawa & Kobayashi, 2010), wild-growing plants (Gordo & Sanz, 2009; Kalvāne et al., 2009; Moiseev et al., 2010; Yoshie, 2010), and crop plants (Ahas et al., 2002; Dalezios et al., 2002; Kalbarczyk, 2009a; Mazurczyk et al., 2003; Menzel, 2000) have been conducted. Changes in temperature values lead to changes in duration of particular stages and the whole growing season of plants (Peiris et al., 1996; Song et al., 2008; Tao et al., 2006). Shifts in the course of the phenological phases may be radically different. The phenological phases are influenced by climate change, and depend on the species and a region of the world. Differences include acceleration to time delay of the date of a phenophase (Chmielewski et al., 2004; Jorquera-

THE ADVERSE EFFECT OF THE LONG-TERM TREND OF THE AIR TEMPERATURE IN POLAND ON THE YIELD OF ONION

The yield of onion in Poland is highly variable. The year-on-year variability depends mainly weather conditions, including the air temperature conditions. This research aimed to determine the effect of air temperature on the total yield of onion grown in arable farmland. Using multiple curvilinear regression analysis, the variability of yield was explained in 56% by the air temperature in the period ‘end of emergence - beginning of leaf bending’ and the linear trend (consecutive years in the 1966-2005 period). Based on this equation, the critical average temperature during the end of emergence-beginning of leaf bending (Ee-Blb) period was determined at 16.7oC, i.e. temperature followed by a reduction in the yield of onion by 5% compared to the long-term average. This decrease in the yield of onion caused by the occurrence of excessive air temperature also demonstrated spatial variability. In addition to high temperatures, the inclusion of the incidence of critical temperatures increased the diversity in the reduction in the yield of onions in Poland to 15%.

Ozone concentration in ground-level air layer in north-western Poland - The role of meteorological elements

Ozone concentration in ground-level air layer in north-western Poland - The role of meteorological elements The research aimed at recognising time structure and variability of tropospheric ozone as a function of daytime and nocturnal meteorological conditions, particularly in the spring season (March-May), as well as finding a weather cluster at which the highest O3 concentration occurs. Ozone concentrations recorded every hour during the two years and data on five other meteorological elements: total solar radiation, air temperature, relative air humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind direction and speed provided the input data for the analysis. The data were collected at Widuchowa weather station, north-western Poland, near the Polish-German border. The highest ozone concentration was observed at daytime day, under conditions of eastern wind, low relative air humidity (about 35%), high values of total solar radiation (about 209 W·m-2), air temperature (17.0°C), atmospheric pressure (1016 hPa) and high wind speed (2.7 m·s-1). It is concluded that the magnitude of tropospheric ozone concentration recorded at Widuchowa is influenced by gaseous pollutants originating not only from the territory of Poland but also from Germany. Stężenie ozonu w przyziemnej warstwie powietrza w północno-zachodniej Polsce - rola elementów meteorologicznych. Celem pracy było poznanie struktury czasowej oraz zmienności ozonu troposferycznego w powiązaniu z przebiegiem warunków meteorologicznych dnia i nocy, zwłaszcza w sezonie wiosennym (marzec-maj) oraz wydzielenie kompleksu pogodowego, któremu towarzyszyło najwyższe stężenie O3. Podstawę opracowania stanowiły wartości godzinne stężenia O3 oraz godzinne dane pięciu elementów meteorologicznych (całkowite promieniowanie słoneczne, temperatura powietrza, wilgotność względna powietrza, ciśnienie atmosferyczne oraz kierunek i prędkość wiatru) w okresie od 01.11.2005 r. do 31.10.2007 r., pochodzące ze stacji Widuchowa zlokalizowanej przy granicy polsko-niemieckiej w północno-zachodniej Polsce. Najwyższe średnie stężenie ozonu notowano w dzień przy wietrze wiejącym z kierunku wschodniego, w warunkach niskiej wilgotności względnej powietrza (około 35%) oraz wysokich wartości całkowitego promieniowania słonecznego (około 209 W·m-2), temperatury powietrza (17,00°C), ciśnienia atmosferycznego (około 1016 hPa), prędkości wiatru (2,7 m·s-1). Stwierdzono, że o wielkości stężenia ozonu troposferycznego rejestrowanego w stacji Widuchowa decydują zanieczyszczenia gazowe pochodzące nie tylko z terytorium Polski, ale również z Niemiec.

Influence of meteorological conditions on the concentration of NO2 and NOx in northwest Poland in relation to wind direction

Influence of meteorological conditions on the concentration of NO2 and NOx in northwest Poland in relation to wind direction The aim of the work was to assess the temporal distribution of NO2 and NOx concentration in relation to wind direction and to determine the effect of major meteorological elements on the size of NO2 and NOx concentration in northwest Poland. In the area of the research, in the period from 1st May 2005 to 30th April 2007 the highest average concentration of NO2 and NOx, both during cold and warm half-years, occurred with southeasterly wind, and the lowest with south-westerly wind for NO2 and with north-easterly wind for NOx. The highest determination coefficients and, at the same time, the smallest estimation errors for multiple regression equations, describing the dependence of the concentration of NO2 and NOx from meteorological elements, were obtained with westerly wind in the cold half-year and with south-westerly wind in the warm half-year. Wpływ warunków meteorologicznych na stężenie NO2 i NOx w północno-zachodniej Polsce w zależności od kierunków wiatru Celem pracy była ocena czasowego rozkładu stężenia NO2 i NOx w zależności od kierunku wiatrów oraz określenie wpływu głównych elementów meteorologicznych na wielkość stężenia NO2 i NOx w północno-zachodniej Polsce. Na obszarze badań w okresie od 01.05.2005 r. do 30.04.2007 r. największe średnie stężenie NO2 i NOx zarówno w półroczu chłodnym, jak ciepłym, występowało przy wietrze wiejącym z kierunku SE, a najmniejsze - z kierunku SW dla NO2 i z kierunku NE dla NOx. Największe współczynniki determinacji i zarazem najmniejsze błędy estymacji dla równań regresji wielokrotnej, opisującej zależność stężenia NO2 i NOx od elementów meteorologicznych, uzyskano przy wietrze wiejącym z kierunku W - w półroczu chłodnym i z kierunku SW - w półroczu ciepłym.

Assessment of Ground Ozone Level under the Physiological Strain Conditions

Urban areas are characterised by the impact of negative environmental factors, such as: stress connected with extreme bio-thermal conditions or the presence of high concentrations of air pollutants. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the hours of O3 concentrations and the levels of physiological strain (PhS) in Legnica, during the period from December 2013 to November 2014. The hourly concentrations of O3, NO2 and meteorological elements used in the study were obtained from the State Environmental Monitoring station in Legnica (Lower Silesia). The evaluation of the bio-thermal conditions was carried out by means of the physiological strain indicator (PhS). The basic statistics were subject to analysis, the frequency of hourly pollution concentrations and the thermal strain were evaluated, as was the Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression between O3 and PhS. A detailed analysis was carried out for the summer months (June-August). The most adverse conditions in terms of pollution with tropospheric ozone and heat strain were noted in July. The strongest relations between O3 and PhS were observed in June. In winter months (December-February) no significant dependencies were noted between the tested variables. These tests will help to contribute to increasing the current knowledge on evaluating the thermal comfort of urbanised areas and the accompanying aero-sanitary conditions.

Variability and Time Course of Nitrogen Oxides Concentration in Poznan (Middle-Western Poland) and Their Dependence on Wind Direction

The aim of the work was to determine the variability of nitrogen oxides concentration in the years 2005-2014 in Poznan in relation to variable meteorological elements. The study material was the values of mean hourly concentrations of NO and NO2 in 2005 2014, and also the results of hourly measurements of the meteorological elements: solar radiation, air temperature, relative air humidity, direction and speed of wind and atmospheric pressure, from the station of State Environmental Monitoring in Poznan. In the years of study the mean level of NO2 concentration in Poznan was 2 3 times higher than that of NO, and its time course exhibited clear seasonal character. The largest mean level of pollution was usually observed in the autumn-winter season and in early morning and evening hours. Of the meteorological elements considered, the variability of NO and NO2 was modified the most by the wind direction, and then by its velocity and air temperature.

Risk of field cultivation of pickling cucumber caused by unfavorable sunshine duration conditions

Solar energy, accessible to plants during sunshine from the sunrise to the sunset is of key importance in productivity of agrocenoses. The aim of the work was to determine risk of pickling cucumber cultivation caused by an unfavorable course of sunshine duration in Poland on the basis of a 40-year research period 1966- 2005. The research into the subject was undertaken due to frequent occurrence of sunshine deficiency in Poland and its high temporal and spatial variability. Effect of solar conditions described by sunshine duration in the five development stages on the quantity of the total and marketable yield of cucumber with consideration of a linear trend of an independent variable was determined by means of multiple regression analysis. The accuracy of the equations was evaluated on the basis of, among other things, determination coefficient, average relative forecast error and the indexes: mean bias error (MBE), mean absolute bias error (MABE) and root mean square error (RMSE). Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) yield was confirmed for the period from the end of emergence to the beginning of flowering and from the beginning of harvesting to the end of harvesting. Cucumber yield was lower by 18% than the multiannual average in the years 1966-2005 every 1.5-2 years - in the case of the occurrence of the shortage in the period from the end of emergence to the beginning of flowering and by 12-15% every 2-3 years in the period from the beginning of harvesting to the end of harvesting. In four years, out of the 40 considered ones, simultaneously in both cucumber development stages, unfavorable solar conditions occurred, causing reduction by at least 5% in the total yield of the plant in Poland, and in three years - the marketable yield.