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ABSTRACT This paper presents a modeling analysis of airborne mercury (Hg) deposited on the Ochlockonee River watershed located in Georgia. Atmospheric deposition monitoring and source attribution data were used along [...]

ABSTRACT Neural networks (NNs) have the ability to model a wide range of complex nonlinearities. A major disadvantage of NNs, however, is their instability, especially under conditions of sparse, noisy, [...]

ABSTRACT Various statistical models were developed for assessing airborne fluoride (F) levels in natural vegetation near an aluminum reduction plant using as predictor variables the distance from the emission source, [...]

ABSTRACT The abilities of a screening-level model to predict variations in elemental mercury ([Hg.sup.o]) air emissions from soils in terrestrial landscapes are examined by comparing simulation results to published observational [...]

This work deals with the assessment of the outdoor environment of a sanatorium site in mountainous conditions which were historically considered favourable in the treatment of tuberculosis patients in the pre‐antibiotic era. Thermal climate conditions are estimated through application of the thermal climate index (THI) to site‐specific air temperature and relative humidity data along with kata‐thermometer data recorded at the balconies outside of patients' rooms. Results show that the cold conditions dominate throughout the winter period at all observation times, whereas conditions of comfort prevail during summer, in morning and evening hours, and occur frequently in spring and autumn at noon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we examine the abrupt increase in the Aegean Sea (southeast Mediterranean) surface temperature (SST) during the heatwave of June 2007 and the associated synoptic conditions. Air temperature and wind speed meteorological data, along with SST reanalysis data and combined satellite image and model data, are used. The analysis shows an unusual and very rapid rise in SST for the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean area for the period 22 June to 2 July 2007, indicating the possible occurrence of a marine heatwave event. The average SST value for June 2007 was found to be of the order of +5 degC above the month's normal climatic average. The available data support the hypothesis that the cause of these anomalies was a combination of the passive response of the Aegean Sea surface to radiation flux anomalies during the June 2007 heatwave period and the prevailing low wind speed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with the estimation of human thermal sensation zones in a Mediterranean climate (Athens). Field monitoring along with field surveys leading to a database of 2313 questionnaires were carried out in three open urban areas. Thermal sensation conditions were analysed under the influence of air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation and wind speed. Thermal sensation zones were first defined using air temperature as a single parameter affecting thermal sensation. Logistic regression was appropriately used to define each thermal sensation zone. The thermal sensation zones were then determined using a combination of the microclimatic parameters to investigate the extent to which these parameters affect thermal sensation. Results showed that the thermal comfort zone is characterized by a quite wide air temperature range, on the order of more than 10°C. In addition, this zone presents always statistical insignificance in theP-values of residuals. These results imply that thermal comfort is a complex situation and adaptation plays an important role as far as this zone is concerned. By contrast, the other thermal sensation zones were found to present statistical significance in theP-values of residuals, implying thus that the examined microclimatic parameters seem quite adequate to define these zones. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The cooling effect in a courtyard's garden and in the adjoining ground- and first floor verandas, attached to the NNE side of a two-storey building is evaluated with measurements performed during a hot weather summer period in Athens. Results revealed a well defined and strong daytime cool island between the buildings rear garden (with about 85% canopy covering) and an air temperature reduction for the ground floor veranda, as compared with an urban square with low canopy coverage (about 15%), reaching a maximum air temperature reduction of 6.5 K during daytime. Compared with a nearby densely wooded park, the garden and the veranda were found 1–1.5 K cooler during 4 and 8 hours during daytime, respectively. Using the physiologically equivalent temperature thermal index with appropriate adjustments to local conditions, it was found that those two sites, compared with the urban square, were able to mitigate the extreme thermal stress conditions and to decrease the daily number of hours associated with strong thermal stress conditions. It is concluded that appropriately designed semi-open spaces in residential buildings, well known from vernacular architecture for their qualitative benefits, may be considered as positive bioclimatic pedestrian transitional elements in sustainable urban design for Mediterranean climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]