Mobile sources are responsible for about 50% of VOC (volatile organic compounds) and about 70% of... more Mobile sources are responsible for about 50% of VOC (volatile organic compounds) and about 70% of NOx emissions in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA). A novel approach has been developed to derive emission factors for mobile sources that are representative of the overall vehicle fleet, using collocated open-path Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic measurements. Measurements were recorded at two sites within the MCMA: (1) research-grade DOAS and FTIR systems were operated at the Mexican National Research and Training Center (CENICA) in Iztapalapa, (2) a research grade FTIR was operated at La Merced. In addition, point-sampling with a proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS) was performed on the same location and the calibration standards for the PTR-MS and the DOAS instruments were cross-calibrated. The DOAS measured speciated aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzene, toluene, m-xylene, p-xylene, ethylbenzene (and mono-substituted alkylbenzenes), benzaldehyde, phenol, and p-cresol. The DOAS detection of aromatic hydrocarbons in the UV/vis spectral range between 250 to 310 nm suffers from the interference of molecular oxygen, and a novel approach is being presented that enables measurement of absolute concentrations of the above species. Further, HONO, NO2, SO2 and HCHO were measured at longer wavelengths. In combination with FTIR measurements of CO, CO2, NO, HCHO, ethylene, ethene, and total alkane, average emission factors for NOx, SO2 and numerous hydrocarbons were derived and scaled with fuel sales data to estimate total emissions of the vehicle fleet in the MCMA. The advantages and limitations of this low-cost emission inventory for mobile sources are decsribed.
We examine the formation of bound states on a generalized nonlinear impurity located at or near t... more We examine the formation of bound states on a generalized nonlinear impurity located at or near the beginning (surface) of a linear, tight-binding semi-infinite lattice. Using the formalism of lattice Green functions, we obtain in closed form the number of bound states as well as their energies and probability profiles, for different nonlinearity parameter values and nonlinearity exponents, at different distances from the surface. It is shown that close to the surface, the amount of nonlinearity needed to create a bound state or to effect dynamical selftrapping, increases (decreases) depending on whether the exponent is smaller (larger) than, approximately, two.
We calculate the exact thermal conductivity and the heat capacity of an insulator for which the l... more We calculate the exact thermal conductivity and the heat capacity of an insulator for which the lattice dynamics are given by a phonon gas in the presence of frozen-in disorder, in the special case of the ``backward-scattering'' model of impurity scattering.
We study the properties of junctions created by crossing of N identical branches of linear discre... more We study the properties of junctions created by crossing of N identical branches of linear discrete networks. We reveal that for N>2 such a junction creates a topological defect and supports two types of spatially localized modes. We analyze the wave scattering by the junction defect and demonstrate nonzero reflection for any set of parameters. If the junction is nonlinear, it is possible to achieve the maximum transmission for any frequency by tuning the intensity of the scattering wave. In addition, near the maximum transmission the system shows the bistable behaviour.
Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a radical source that plays an important role in urban atmospheric chemist... more Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a radical source that plays an important role in urban atmospheric chemistry and ozone formation. The Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) is characterized by high anthropogenic emissions of HCHO (primary HCHO), which together with photochemical production of HCHO from hydrocarbon oxidation (secondary HCHO), lead to high ambient HCHO levels. The CAMx chemical transport model was employed to evaluate the impact of primary HCHO on its ambient concentration, on the ROx radical budget, and on ozone (O3) formation in the MCMA. Important radical sources, including HCHO, HONO, and O3-olefin reactions, were constrained by measurements from routine observations of the local ambient air monitoring network and the MCMA-2003 field campaign. Primary HCHO was found not only to contribute significantly to the ambient HCHO concentration, but also to enhance the radical budget and O3 production in the urban atmosphere of the MCMA. Overall in the urban area, total daytime radical production is enhanced by up to 10% and peak O3 concentration by up to 8%; moreover primary HCHO tends to make O3 both production rates and ambient concentration peak half an hour earlier. While primary HCHO contributes predominantly to the ambient HCHO concentration between nighttime and morning rush hours, significant influence on the radical budget and O3 production starts early in the morning, peaks at mid-morning and is sustained until early afternoon.
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions, 2006
Recent laboratory experiments showed that at conditions resembling those near the tropopause regi... more Recent laboratory experiments showed that at conditions resembling those near the tropopause region, small quasi-spherical ice particles can be coated by a liquid H2SO4/H2O over-layer formed after the freezing of diluted sulfuric acid/water aerosol drops. Here, idealized radiative transfer tests are conducted to evaluate the impact that such an over-layer would have on the radiative effects produced by sub-visible cirrus clouds (SVCs). The calculations show that the over-layer increases both the shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) cloud radiative effects (CRE), but the impact is small: ~0.02 W m-2, or even less, for the total (LW+SW) CRE at the top of the atmosphere. For the smallest ice particles, for which the over-layer is thickest, the fractional change in CRE can, however, reach ~20% for the SW CRE and over 50% for the LW CRE. The dependence of LW and SW CRE on particle size is also considered in the paper. Calculations for spherical uncoated ice particles show that even for high, optically thin cirrus clouds, the total CRE can be negative, if the diameter of the particles is smaller than about 3-4 µm. Apart from the SVCs, this result could be relevant for contrail cirrus clouds, which are believed to consist of large numbers of very small ice particles.
We analyze the properties and stability of two-color discrete localized modes in arrays of channe... more We analyze the properties and stability of two-color discrete localized modes in arrays of channel waveguides where tunable quadratic nonlinearity is introduced as a nonlinear defect by periodic poling of a single waveguide in the array. We show that, depending on the value of the phase mismatch and the input power, such two-color defect modes can be realized in three different localized states. We also study resonant light scattering in the arrays with the defect waveguide.
Mobile sources are responsible for about 50% of VOC (volatile organic compounds) and about 70% of... more Mobile sources are responsible for about 50% of VOC (volatile organic compounds) and about 70% of NOx emissions in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA). A novel approach has been developed to derive emission factors for mobile sources that are representative of the overall vehicle fleet, using collocated open-path Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic measurements. Measurements were recorded at two sites within the MCMA: (1) research-grade DOAS and FTIR systems were operated at the Mexican National Research and Training Center (CENICA) in Iztapalapa, (2) a research grade FTIR was operated at La Merced. In addition, point-sampling with a proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS) was performed on the same location and the calibration standards for the PTR-MS and the DOAS instruments were cross-calibrated. The DOAS measured speciated aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzene, toluene, m-xylene, p-xylene, ethylbenzene (and mono-substituted alkylbenzenes), benzaldehyde, phenol, and p-cresol. The DOAS detection of aromatic hydrocarbons in the UV/vis spectral range between 250 to 310 nm suffers from the interference of molecular oxygen, and a novel approach is being presented that enables measurement of absolute concentrations of the above species. Further, HONO, NO2, SO2 and HCHO were measured at longer wavelengths. In combination with FTIR measurements of CO, CO2, NO, HCHO, ethylene, ethene, and total alkane, average emission factors for NOx, SO2 and numerous hydrocarbons were derived and scaled with fuel sales data to estimate total emissions of the vehicle fleet in the MCMA. The advantages and limitations of this low-cost emission inventory for mobile sources are decsribed.
We examine the formation of bound states on a generalized nonlinear impurity located at or near t... more We examine the formation of bound states on a generalized nonlinear impurity located at or near the beginning (surface) of a linear, tight-binding semi-infinite lattice. Using the formalism of lattice Green functions, we obtain in closed form the number of bound states as well as their energies and probability profiles, for different nonlinearity parameter values and nonlinearity exponents, at different distances from the surface. It is shown that close to the surface, the amount of nonlinearity needed to create a bound state or to effect dynamical selftrapping, increases (decreases) depending on whether the exponent is smaller (larger) than, approximately, two.
We calculate the exact thermal conductivity and the heat capacity of an insulator for which the l... more We calculate the exact thermal conductivity and the heat capacity of an insulator for which the lattice dynamics are given by a phonon gas in the presence of frozen-in disorder, in the special case of the ``backward-scattering'' model of impurity scattering.
We study the properties of junctions created by crossing of N identical branches of linear discre... more We study the properties of junctions created by crossing of N identical branches of linear discrete networks. We reveal that for N>2 such a junction creates a topological defect and supports two types of spatially localized modes. We analyze the wave scattering by the junction defect and demonstrate nonzero reflection for any set of parameters. If the junction is nonlinear, it is possible to achieve the maximum transmission for any frequency by tuning the intensity of the scattering wave. In addition, near the maximum transmission the system shows the bistable behaviour.
Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a radical source that plays an important role in urban atmospheric chemist... more Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a radical source that plays an important role in urban atmospheric chemistry and ozone formation. The Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) is characterized by high anthropogenic emissions of HCHO (primary HCHO), which together with photochemical production of HCHO from hydrocarbon oxidation (secondary HCHO), lead to high ambient HCHO levels. The CAMx chemical transport model was employed to evaluate the impact of primary HCHO on its ambient concentration, on the ROx radical budget, and on ozone (O3) formation in the MCMA. Important radical sources, including HCHO, HONO, and O3-olefin reactions, were constrained by measurements from routine observations of the local ambient air monitoring network and the MCMA-2003 field campaign. Primary HCHO was found not only to contribute significantly to the ambient HCHO concentration, but also to enhance the radical budget and O3 production in the urban atmosphere of the MCMA. Overall in the urban area, total daytime radical production is enhanced by up to 10% and peak O3 concentration by up to 8%; moreover primary HCHO tends to make O3 both production rates and ambient concentration peak half an hour earlier. While primary HCHO contributes predominantly to the ambient HCHO concentration between nighttime and morning rush hours, significant influence on the radical budget and O3 production starts early in the morning, peaks at mid-morning and is sustained until early afternoon.
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions, 2006
Recent laboratory experiments showed that at conditions resembling those near the tropopause regi... more Recent laboratory experiments showed that at conditions resembling those near the tropopause region, small quasi-spherical ice particles can be coated by a liquid H2SO4/H2O over-layer formed after the freezing of diluted sulfuric acid/water aerosol drops. Here, idealized radiative transfer tests are conducted to evaluate the impact that such an over-layer would have on the radiative effects produced by sub-visible cirrus clouds (SVCs). The calculations show that the over-layer increases both the shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) cloud radiative effects (CRE), but the impact is small: ~0.02 W m-2, or even less, for the total (LW+SW) CRE at the top of the atmosphere. For the smallest ice particles, for which the over-layer is thickest, the fractional change in CRE can, however, reach ~20% for the SW CRE and over 50% for the LW CRE. The dependence of LW and SW CRE on particle size is also considered in the paper. Calculations for spherical uncoated ice particles show that even for high, optically thin cirrus clouds, the total CRE can be negative, if the diameter of the particles is smaller than about 3-4 µm. Apart from the SVCs, this result could be relevant for contrail cirrus clouds, which are believed to consist of large numbers of very small ice particles.
We analyze the properties and stability of two-color discrete localized modes in arrays of channe... more We analyze the properties and stability of two-color discrete localized modes in arrays of channel waveguides where tunable quadratic nonlinearity is introduced as a nonlinear defect by periodic poling of a single waveguide in the array. We show that, depending on the value of the phase mismatch and the input power, such two-color defect modes can be realized in three different localized states. We also study resonant light scattering in the arrays with the defect waveguide.
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Papers by Mario J Molina