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NEW Emission Factor Toolkit, NOx to NO2 calculator, background maps and future-year projection factorsA number of changes have recently been made to the Local Air Quality Management tools available on the Scottish Air Quality website at http://www.scottishairquality.co.uk/laqm.php?n_action=tools. The new tools should be used for new work. If work has already been started using the old set of tools, it is not necessary to go back and repeat the work unless the local authority believes that this would be appropriate. So long as models have been appropriately verified against local measurements, the updates to the tools should not invalidate work already carried out, even though precise results would be different. The changes are as follows:1) The Emission Factor Toolkit (EFT) has been updated to use the DfTs latest vehicle emission factors (published in 2009). This allows modellers to calculate vehicular emissions in line with the latest predictions. It is possible for users to incorporate the emissions that they calculate using the EFT into most dispersion models (but not screening tools such as DMRB). 2) The NOx to NO2 calculator has been updated. These changes take account of more recent predictions of oxidant levels across the UK and also use revised default values for primary NO2 (fNO2) (as shown within the spreadsheet). 3) The national maps of background air pollutant concentrations have been updated to take account of more recent emissions predictions and updated methods. A short report describing the principal changes between the two sets of maps is included on the website along with the maps. 4) The sector-removal tool for calculating sector-adjusted background nitrogen dioxide concentrations has been updated following changes to the background mapping methodology. 5) The future-year projection factors for roadside monitoring data contained in Box 2.1 of LAQM.TG(09) have been updated. All of these tools can only be applied to data from the year 2008 onward. A FAQ on modelling conditions prior to 2008 will follow soon. If local authorities require any help or clarification they should contact the Review and Assessment Helpdesk. on 12/02/2010 Scottish Local Authority Mapping ReportA short report (available here) has been prepared describing an investigation into the possible implications if 4 example Scottish Local Authorities had used the Scotland Specific PM10 background pollution concentration maps for their recent Updating and Screening Reports. The report shows that any differences would generally have been quite small. The Scotland Specific maps were also prepared as part of the Scottish Air Quality Database project and are available here.on 03/02/2010 Scottish Government Consultation on CAFE Directive TranspositionThe purpose of this consultation is to invite comments on the transposition into Scots law of Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe. Please click here to view the documents and respond.on 29/01/2010 Low Graphics Version of Air Quality in ScotlandThe Air Quality in Scotland website is rich in information and user-friendly graphics. Whilst this is great for most people, it can be a problem for those who do not have access to a fast internet connection.In order to make the site more accessible, we have therefore launched a fully functional but reduced graphics version for improved download speed. The low graphics pages can be switched on or off from within the site, or accessed directly from http://www.scottishairquality.co.uk/low/index.php on 26/01/2010 Glasgow Christmas MarketAir pollution in the MODERATE band has been observed at the Glasgow Centre monitoring site this week. This increase in pollution levels is likely due to generators and cooking activities associated with the Christmas Market in St Enoch square and construction work close to the site.on 09/12/2009 Keep in touch with Scottish Air Quality whilst on the moveA new Mobile Web air quality service has been launched today by Scottish Government. It provides a simplified version of this web site for display on most modern mobile phones and PDAs with web browsing capability. The service also allows you to save your current location for personalised instant access to the latest air quality measurements and forecasts.on 20/11/2009 Revised PM10 Air Quality Index for Reference Equivalent DataIn the UK over the last two years and more, there has been a steady replacement of old TEOM PM10 monitors with reference equivalent instruments. This has happened both in the national monitoring networks for European Directive compliance, and at the regional and local level for local air quality management purposes.The current PM10 air quality index for reporting real-time public information from TEOM monitors is not directly transferable to other reference equivalent monitors and therefore requires updating. The results of the PM10 equivalence programme (carried out between November 2004 and January 2006) have been analysed to develop an equation relating old TEOM data to reference equivalent monitors as follows: Reference equivalent PM10 = TEOM x 1.3 - 2.2494 On this basis the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) have agreed the air quality index for PM10 and breakpoints for “Low”, “Moderate”, “High” or “Very High” pollution can be assigned to old TEOMs or reference equivalent data. For further details of the background to this and proposed changes please see the attached short paper here. on 04/08/2009 Final UK Sustainable Development Air Quality indicator 20082008 was a largely unremarkable year for air pollution. Downwards trends in PM10 particulate concentrations continued at both urban background and roadside locations, whilst urban ozone levels continued the steady increase seen in previous years. Further detailed information can be found here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/airqual/download/pdf/20090716ns.pdfThere is very little change from the provisional figures published in January 2009. on 16/07/2009 Two new reports publishedTwo important technical reports are published on behalf of Scottish Government:1. A report on the results of a gravimetric particulate monitoring study carried out across Scotland between late 2006 and early 2008. 2. 2008 annual report for the Scottish AQ Database project. Providing a summary of latest ratified monitoring results - together with an update on project progress including QA/QC, website improvements, AQ mapping and meetings. on 15/06/2009 Update to the VCM web portalA small error in the model equation has been identified and was corrected on 28th April 2009. This error concerned the temperature and pressure correction applied to the reported TEOM concentrations. This resulted in an underestimation of the TEOMVCM concentration of approximately 4% at background locations; an analysis of the impact of this error on the 2007 AURN measurements can be seen here.Concentrations calculated using the VCM before this date should therefore be recalculated. To help with this process the correction xls spreadsheets that have been generated using the VCM Web Portal have been regenerated and can be downloaded from www.volatile-correction-model.info/FinishedCorrections.aspx Unfortunately, the details for all the corrections made are not available to us, specifically, if you made more than one correction in a visit to the web portal then only the last correction made will have been saved. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. This error affects the application of the VCM to TEOM measurements through the VCM web portal. It does not affect the underlying basis of the VCM and its proven equivalence to the EU reference method. on 06/05/2009 SEPA Launches Revamped Scottish Pollutants Release InventoryOn 26 January 2009 the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) introduced a new search engine to the Scottish Pollutants Release Inventory (SPRI).The SPRI now has a new user-friendly search facility and map-based access (using Geographical Information Systems) to help find the companies in your area who are regulated by SEPA. The new search engine allows you to search by company details, pollutant, waste transfers, post code, map and local authority area. The SPRI provides specific information on emissions and waste transfers to the Scottish environment by these regulated companies. It helps to inform communities on local issues, energy use and climate change. It also promotes communication between communities, SEPA and the regulated companies. Details for the year 2007 are available on the new search engine. To read SEPA’s press release on the new search engine, visit: www.sepa.org.uk/about_us/news/environment_regulation_tool_re.aspx To go straight to the SPRI database, visit: www.sepa.org.uk/air/process_industry_regulation/pollutant_release_inventory.aspx on 26/02/2009 Revised Technical Guidance to local authorities on improving air qualityRevised guidance has now been released to all local authorities on managing air quality. Local Authorities will find these documents helpful in assessing and implementing measures to improve air quality in their area. All Local Authorities have a duty to manage air quality under the Environment Act 1995. The revised guidance documents can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/local/guidance/index.htm.Updated tools for LAQM purposes can be found at www.airquality.co.uk/archive/laqm/tools.php. on 19/02/2009 New Scottish Policy Guidance for Local Air Quality ManagementThis guidance is issued by the Scottish Ministers to help local authorities with their local air quality management duties under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995.The fourth round of local authority review and assessment commences in April 2009. This policy guidance and the accompanying technical guidance (TG (09)) are the primary guidance documents to which local authorities should have regard when carrying out this work. The guidance replaces the LAQM policy guidance and the progress report guidance published in 2003 and the guidance on further (or stage 4) assessment published in 2001. For further information please see: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/waste-and-pollution/Pollution-1/16215/6116 on 16/02/2009 Local Air Quality Management Training DayThe Scottish Government will be hosting a Local Air Quality Management training day on 13 February 2009. The day will be run by the University of the West of England and Air Quality Consultants and will consider the revised policy and technical guidance and the new web based reporting system.Anyone interested in attending should complete the application form (click on link below) and return it to the address indicated as soon as possible, and no later than 6 February 2009. on 11/12/2008 Strategic Environmental Assessment GuidenceDo local authorities need to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment for air quality action plans?When considering whether a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is required for an air quality action plan, local authorities should in the first instance refer to paragraph 6.13 in the draft revised Local Air Quality Management policy guidance which is currently out for consultation: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Pollution/16215/8 As the environmental effects of implementing an action plan are likely to be greater than minimum, a local authority can expect to have to prepare a screening report, which summarises the likely environmental effects of implementing the action plan. This report would then be submitted to the Consultation Authorities seeking their views and opinions on the likely environmental effects. on 22/08/2008 Particle Pollution from Major Fire Incident - 8 July 2008There was a major fire incident on the evening of Tuesday July 8th in Glasgow. Pollutant concentrations recorded at the nearby air monitoring stations have been analysed and are presented here as provisional results.on 14/07/2008 Readers and ViewersSome of the files on this site may be in a format that your computer can't read howerver, you can download Readers and Viewers for the following document types below:
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