The Influence of Megacities on Atmospheric Biogeochemical Cycles

该项目涉及研究两个发展中城市地区的碳、氮和氧/氢循环的关键方面：尼日利亚的拉各斯和印度的孟买。将在多年(2005-2007年)内测量一系列气体和气溶胶相碳、氮和氧成分。将进行建模，以辨别发展中的特大城市与当地、区域和全球环境之间的联系。要研究的地区是地球上人口最多、增长最快的地区之一，包括这样的测量稀少或根本不存在的地区。未来30年几乎所有的人口增长都将发生在城市地区。其中90%以上的增长将发生在世界欠发达地区。人口、工业化和能源使用的增加将加剧发展中地区对地球生态系统的影响。城市地区是多种生物地球化学循环汇合的焦点。随着亚洲、非洲和南美洲的城市化在未来几十年加速，人类对这些生物地球化学循环的影响将在世界范围内变得越来越明显。该项目产生的信息将对确定发展中城市地区与大气和气候相关的排放、估计氧化剂生产、更好地评估当地人口对有毒大气化合物的潜在暴露，以及为发展中地区与世界其他地区的测量结果进行比较提供基础。此外，这项研究将提供必要的数据，以便更彻底地考察这些城市地区对偏远地区的潜在影响，包括污染物的长距离传输和对全球氧化能力和气候的广泛影响。该项目的一个重要组成部分是教育和社会推广。将与所研究的城市地区的当地科学家、教职员工、学生和官员开展密切互动。当地参与者将接受用于研究环境问题的先进技术的培训。计划制作一部视频纪录片，提供有关这项研究的信息，以便有兴趣的人可以在研究进展过程中观察这项研究。与当地科学家的互动将促进随后的合作，并为这些科学家在当地继续研究做好准备。

This project involves studying critical aspects of the carbon, nitrogen and oxygen/hydrogen cycles within two developing urban areas: Lagos, Nigeria; and Mumbai (Bombay), India. A series of gas and aerosol phase carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen components will be measured during multiple years (2005-2007). Modeling will be carried out to discern the linkages among developing megacities and the local, regional, and global environment. The areas to be studied are among the earth's most populated and rapidly growing areas, and comprise regions where such measurements are sparse or non-existent. Virtually all population growth during the next 30 years will occur in urban areas. More than ninety percent of this increase will occur in less developed regions of the world. Increased population, industrialization, and energy use will aggravate the effect that developing regions have on the earth's ecosystems. Urban areas are the focal points for the confluence of multiple biogeochemical cycles. The human influence on these biogeochemical cycles will become increasingly noticeable worldwide as Asian, African, and South American urbanization accelerates in the coming decades.The information resulting from this project will be important for defining atmospherically and climatologically relevant emissions from developing urban regions, estimating oxidant production, better assessing the potential exposure of the local population to toxic atmospheric compounds, and providing the basis for comparing measurements in developing regions with other regions of the world. In addition, this study will provide data necessary for a more thorough examination of the potential impacts that these urban areas have on far removed regions, both in terms of long-range pollutant transport and broad scale effects on the global oxidizing capacity and climate.A significant component of this project is education and societal outreach. Close interactions with local scientists, faculty members, students, and officials in the urban areas studied will be developed. Local participants will receive training in advanced techniques used to study environmental issues. A video documentary is planned to provide information on the study so that interested persons can observe the study as it progresses. Interactions with local scientists will promote subsequent collaborations and prepare those scientists for continued study in their localities.