The Cyprus Institute

About: The Cyprus Institute is a other organization based out in Nicosia, Cyprus. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Aerosol & Environmental science. The organization has 418 authors who have published 1252 publications receiving 32586 citations.

Economic analysis and environmental impacts of water harvesting techniques in the low rainfall areas of Jordan

Abstract: Water harvesting has become an important priority for supporting the increasing population in the low rainfall areas of Jordan. The specific objectives of this paper are to assess the economic and environmental impacts of different water-harvesting techniques in Jordan’s Badia region. Cost benefit analysis (CBA) was used to estimate the economic impact of using water harvesting techniques. A simple simulation model was used to estimate the environmental indicators related to biomass productivity of barley and shrubs and soil erosion. The internal rate of return (IRR) showed that planting barley with water harvesting was more feasible (IRR 17%) than the farmers’ practice of planting barley (IRR 7.85%). The study concluded that the valuation and assessment of environmental benefits associated with implementing water harvesting techniques is important for justifying the public investment for these techniques in the dry areas of Jordan.

Measurement report: Observation-based formaldehyde production rates and their relation to OH reactivity around the Arabian Peninsula

Abstract: . Formaldehyde ( HCHO ) is the most abundant aldehyde in the troposphere. While its background mixing ratio is mostly determined by the oxidation of methane, in many environments, especially in the boundary layer, HCHO can have a large variety of precursors, in particular biogenic and anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their oxidation products. Here we present shipborne observations of HCHO , hydroxyl radical (OH) and OH reactivity ( R(OH) ), which were obtained during the Air Quality and Climate Change in the Arabian Basin (AQABA) campaign in summer 2017. The loss rate of HCHO was inferred from its reaction with OH, measured photolysis rates and dry deposition. In photochemical steady state, the HCHO loss is balanced by production via OH-initiated degradation of VOCs, photolysis of oxygenated VOCs ( OVOCs ) and the ozonolysis of alkenes. The slope αeff from a scatter plot of the HCHO production rate versus the product of OH and R(OH)eff (excluding inorganic contribution) yields the fraction of OH reactivity that contributes to HCHO production. Values of αeff varied between less than 2 % in relatively clean air over the Arabian Sea and the southern Red Sea and up to 32 % over the polluted Arabian Gulf (also known as Persian Gulf), signifying that polluted areas harbor a larger variety of HCHO precursors. The separation of R(OH)eff into individual compound classes revealed that elevated values of αeff coincided with increased contribution of alkanes and OVOCs, with the highest reactivity of all VOCs over the Arabian Gulf.

Sequential motion rate and oral reading rate: normative data for Greek and clinical implications.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to provide normative data in Greek, regarding sequential motion rate (SMR) and oral reading rate (ORR), and to show the sensitivity of both tasks to predict Parkins...

Modeling air pollution by atmospheric desert

Abstract: High concentrations of aeolian dust affect the air quality and climate in large regions across Northern Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. To assess the environmental impacts, numerical models have been developed that include mineral dust emissions, atmospheric transport and chemistry, and deposition processes. Since the dust can disperse across continents and oceans, there is a need to model a large geographical area. Here we present a state-of-the-art global atmospheric chemistry–climate model, with detailed representations of these processes. One unique model feature is the chemical interaction of dust with air pollution (chemical aging), which alters the microphysics of particles relevant for their atmospheric lifetime, e.g., the hygroscopic growth behavior, optical properties, and aerosol–cloud interactions, thus influencing the hydrologic cycle and climate. Based on recent developments and published results, we present a comparison of model calculations with satellite and ground-based remote sensing data as well as surface observations of dust concentrations and deposition. The model results are used to evaluate the consequences of aeolian dust for climate and public health.