The Characteristics of Tropospheric CO2 retrieved by AIRS, GOSAT and IASI in East Asia

Yun Seob Moon and Avelino F. Arellano Jr.

AIRS, GOSAT and IASI satellite data were validated to analyze the temporal and spatial distribution of the mid-tropospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in East Asia. The mid-atmospheric retrieval data of GOSAT was reflected in the seasonal characteristics with the correlation coefficient of 0.94 in comparison with the ground-based CO2 data at Anmyeondo in Korea during the period of a year in 2011, On the other hand, the correlation coefficient between the AIRS data and the Anmyeondo data was 0.4 but the RMSE was the minimum in 4.46 among them. In addition, the AIRS data were compared by the ground-based data measured at Mauna Loa in USA, Waliguan in China and Ryori in Japan and Anmyeondo in Korea for the periods of 9 years from 2003 to 2011. The ground-based CO2 concentrationdata of Mauna Loa located at the highest elevation was in the high correlation coefficient of 0.95 in comparison with the AIRS data and those of Waliguan, Ryori and Anmyeondo were seen in 0.82, 0.78 and 0.69 respectively. The mid-tropospheric CO2 concentration from 375 ppm to 390ppm during the period of 2003 through 2010 at Mauna Loa and Waliguan was in that of the global background on the 700 hPa surface. The ground-based CO2 concentration from 375ppm to 395ppm during the period at Anmyeondo was in agreement with that of Ryori similar to the meteorological characteristics such as back trajectories and atmospheric stability. However, the mid-tropospheric CO2 concentrations between Anmyeondo and Ryori were affected by meteorological conditions such as atmospheric vorticity and wind speed on 700 hPa. Furthermore, the higher mid-tropospheric CO2 concentration zone, a dominant transport pathway, was in 30oN to 60oN range during the period from 2003 to 2011. The enhancement CO2 concentration levels were in dry areas such as Gobbi, Mongolian and Manchuria deserts in East Asia which were related to the long-range transport, CO2 emissions by human activities and sinking from photosynthesis along with the strong westerly wind zone.

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Challenges inside underground mines and their prevention techniques

Das Partha Sarathi and Maity Tanmoy

Working environment inside underground is hostile. Prior intimation about possible disaster is necessary to minimize losses of lives and property. Updated information regarding working sight is necessary to evaluate the actual working environment. After post disaster situation, evaluation of the present condition of the working place is necessary for the quick response team. Image of that particular site is necessary in this regard. This paper deals with the image processing inside mines.

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Methane Hydrates: A Global Environmental Concern

Shinu N. and Lasitha S.

Gas hydrates are solid ice like substances formed by hydrocarbon gas molecule of methane and water molecules. Though gas hydrates are considered as the future energy source, there are important environmental issues associated with it. It has been suggested that at least one warming period in the recent glacial past has been due to release of methane from hydrates. Global warming is a greater environmental concern where it unfailingly establishes a strong positive feedback loop. Changes in the sea slope stability associated with release of methane, in turn supply methane to enhance ocean acidification process which is a potential threat to the marine life in a large scale. Melting of ice in the polar ice cap due to the increase in atmospheric temperature will increase the solar forcing which again is a positive feedback system which results in sea level rise. Based on geological records it can be assumed that hydrates have broken down on a large scale several times in the Earth’s history, leading to extreme global warming and massive extinctions of organisms on the sea and beyond. Exploitation of this tremendous source of energy has to be done only after taking care of the natural hazards associated with it and also trading off the green house effect.

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Government’s Budget Constraint on the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: Substitution Ratio of Decontamination to Evacuation in Japan

Fujimoto Noritsugu

This study examines the number of inhabitants residing within a radius of 20 km as well as between 20 and 50 km in 18 areas of Japan where nuclear power plants are located. When a nuclear plant accident occurs, it is assumed that a compulsive evacuation is ordered for the population residing within the radius of 20 km with full compensation of their refugee fees by the government. In contrast to the forced evacuation of those residing nearest to the plant, residents residing within a radius between 20 and 50 km who have no right to evacuate into other areas away from the disaster zone, only a decontamination project is provided as a substitute for compensation. Based on the supposition that the same radius of contamination as observed in the Fukushima nuclear accident occurs in the 18 areas of Japan, this study examines the government’s budget constraint and performs a comparative analysis to determine the estimated substitution ratio of decontamination costs to evacuation costs.

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