Researcher finds higher summer ozone concentrations in southeast metro Atlanta

A Georgia State University researcher has found that the highest concentrations of summertime ozone — a major air pollutant and respiratory health hazard — tended to occur in the southeastern part of metro Atlanta during the past eight years.

Jeremy Diem, associate professor of geography at Georgia State, evaluated data from ozone monitoring stations around metro Atlanta from 2000 through 2007, in combination with weather data to evaluate the atmospheric characteristics that are conductive to high-ozone days in metro Atlanta.

“This is the first study to look at ozone concentrations southeast of the city, where ozone monitoring stations were put in place starting in 2000, where I found some of the highest ozone concentrations at those stations,” Diem said.

The highest concentration was found at a monitoring station near McDonough, located in Henry County. The pollution is not generated by McDonough itself, but instead, is carried by winds from Atlanta proper.

Ground-level ozone presents a respiratory hazard to those sensitive to these conditions. This often results in advisories for people to remain indoors during the hottest parts of the day, when concentrations are very high, with officials urging the public to use forms of alternate commutes.
High ozone days happen when the weather turns hot and dry under certain meteorological conditions.

“When we have conditions conducive to high ozone, the airflow is typically from the north-northwest, because that’s when you have very dry and hot conditions," Diem explained. “Ozone is a photochemical pollutant, and you also need a lot of sunshine to have high concentrations.”

In the past, researchers have focused almost exclusively on July through September in evaluating Atlanta’s air pollution. Diem’s study also examines data from March to June, and he found that concentrations were higher in June than they are in July.

It is possible that pollution not only from local contributors play a role in ozone levels— including some of Atlanta’s nearby coal-powered electricity plants — but also pollutants from power plants in the Ohio River Valley on certain days, though further research is needed in this area, Diem cautioned.

Also, further research activity must be done to see how far afield metro Atlanta’s pollution is carried — including locations farther to the southeast, such as Macon, as well as those east of the city, in places like Augusta and South Carolina.

Diem’s research, “Atmospheric Characteristics Conductive to High-Ozone Days in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area,” will appear in a forthcoming edition of the journal Atmospheric Environment.

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Cowboys and Cowgirls Come Out For the 6th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 6th Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering, hosted by the Booth Western Art Museum and presented by Comcast, happens March 12-15 at the Booth Western Art Museum.

The weekend kicks off on Thursday, March 12, beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Meet the Artist Reception for Contemporary Visions of the West: The Art of John Nieto. At 7:00 p.m. featured artist John Nieto presents highlights of his career and shows examples of his work in the Booth Theatre.

Friday evening, March 13, at 7:00 p.m., experience The End of the Trail Supper and Concert, which includes a barbeque dinner served on the Booth Museum grounds amongst wagons gathered to compete in the Southeastern Chuck Wagon Cook-off. Musical group Call of the West will entertain guests around the campfire.

On Saturday, come out early as teams of cooks prepare beans, meat, potatoes, and dessert just as they did on the cattle drives of the late 1800s in the Annual Southeastern Chuck Wagon Cook-off. Throughout the day, musicians from around the Southeast compete in banjo, mandolin, guitar, and fiddle contests at the Grand Theatre. Saturday evening, featured entertainer R.W. Hampton, one of the leading Western entertainers in America today, performs at the Grand Theatre in downtown Cartersville.

A host of family activities and entertainment is on tap throughout the weekend, both inside and outside the Booth Museum. Children's activities, an adult cowboy poetry writing workshop and the Georgia Youth Cowboy Poetry Contest all take place within the Booth Museum Saturday and Sunday. Visit www.boothmuseum.org for a complete schedule.

Cowboy Church is held in the Booth Theatre on Sunday morning. This is a non-denominational church service with Western flair and free for everyone. Following the service, top cooks from around the southeast compete in the Dutch Oven Cooking Contest on the Museum grounds. After the judges have sampled entries, cooks will serve samples to the public.

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Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference Jan 9-11

The Southeastern Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference will be Jan. 9 -11 in Savannah, Ga. Sponsored by the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and South Carolina Peach Conference, it offers classes and demonstrations designed to bring relevant information to the fruit and vegetable industry.

“This year’s educational program is outstanding,” said Beth Bland, GFVA education program coordinator. “Featuring everything from methyl bromide updates to blackberry fundamentals for new growers, the 2009 conference offers something for everyone.”

Friday and Saturday, there will be sessions for commodities like peach, vegetable, Vidalia onion, watermelon, muscadine, pecan, blueberry and strawberry. There will be sessions for organic production, food safety and roadside markets, too.

Sparked by the tomato safety scare in 2008, a special food-safety forum will take place Friday and feature several speakers including Tom Stenzel, the president of United Fresh Produce Association, Reggie Brown, executive vice president of the Florida Tomato Commission, and Washington legislative representatives.

Congressman Jack Kingston (R -GA) will speak Saturday morning at the general session.

The conference includes a trade show with 180 booths, a spouse program and an industry roundtable to discuss issues of mutual concern to growers and suppliers.

Continuing education credits for pesticide application license will be available.

For more information, call (800) 453-3070 or send an e-mail to chall@asginfo.net .

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