Science Collected Works - Research Publications
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 3 of 3
-
ItemCharacterization of aerosols over the Great Barrier Reef: The influence of transported continental sources(ELSEVIER, 2019-11-10)The rapid environmental changes in Australia prompt a more thorough investigation of the influence of transportation, local emissions, and optical-chemical properties on aerosol production across the region. A month-long intensive measurement campaign was conducted during spring 2016 at Mission Beach, a remote coastal site west of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) on the north-east coast of Australia. One aerosol pollution episode was investigated in early October. This event was governed by meteorological conditions and characterized by the increase in black carbon (BC) mass concentration (averaged value of 0.35 ± 0.20 μg m-3). Under the influence of the continental transportation, a new layer of nucleation-mode aerosols with an initial size diameter of 20 nm was observed and aerosol number concentrations reached the peak of 6733 cm-3 at a diameter of 29 nm. The averaged aerosol extinction coefficient at the height of 2 km was 150 Mm-1, with a small depolarized ratio (3.5-5%). Simultaneously, the boundary layer height presented a fall-rise trend in the presence of these enhanced aerosol concentrations and became stable in a later stage of the episode. We did not observe clear boundary layer height diurnal variations from the LiDAR observations or from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model outputs, except in an earlier stage of the aerosol episode for the former. Although the sea breeze may have been responsible for these particles, on the balance of available data, we suggest that the aerosol properties at the GBR surface during this period are more likely influenced by regional transportation of continental sources, including biomass-burning aerosols.
-
Item
-
ItemSubmission to the Department of Environment and Energy in response to their “Better fuel for cleaner air” discussion paper(Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub, 2017)The Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub and the Melbourne Energy Institute welcome the opportunity to comment on the ‘Better fuel for cleaner air’ discussion paper, and the proposed changes to the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 and associated legislation. These two groups have expertise in several areas that are relevant to this paper: air quality, public health, energy policy and resource economics and vehicle fuels and emissions. We would therefore welcome further discussion with the Department should this be of interest. Our submission first considers the motivation of this Paper. While Australian air quality conforms to international standards, recent research1 shows that significant health impacts still occur at pollution levels experienced in Australia. The costs of air pollution to society have been put on a par with smoking and obesity. Air pollution due to vehicle emissions is estimated to have caused 1715 deaths in Australia in 20152 , larger than the national road toll of 1205 in 20153 . Appendix A to this submission contains a detailed discussion of these health impacts. We submit that a review of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 and associated legislation should therefore prioritise this cost of the health impacts of vehicle emissions. To this end this submission primarily addresses Question Sets 1 and 6, and the Questions relating to the fuel, automotive and marine diesel standards. While making specific recommendations relevant to the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000, we also submit that the comprehensive package of measures should contain additional regulations, at both Australian Government and state government levels, concerning energy infrastructure, motor vehicles and other engines, and driver behaviour. Furthermore, additional government action directed towards increasing public awareness and supporting better collection of air quality data are important.