Publications

South Saskatchewan regional plan surface water quality management framework : statistical methods, final report

Description

A re-occurring problem of water quality monitoring programs is the determination of whether or not a given parameter is increasing, decreasing, or remaining constant over time. This is... More ≫

Description

A re-occurring problem of water quality monitoring programs is the determination of whether or not a given parameter is increasing, decreasing, or remaining constant over time. This is particularly critical when regulations stipulate that parameter concentrations or loads may not increase or decrease relative to some previously defined baseline period or standard. This document recommends the most viable statistical methods for addressing this situation.

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Evaluation of the anti-oxidant ethylene diurea (EDU) as a protectant against ozone effects on crops (growth chamber trials)

Description

Results of a field study conducted in the summer of 2000 showed that when the antioxidant ethylene diurea (EDU) was applied to crops, there were increases in several parameters. The next step was... More ≫

Description

Results of a field study conducted in the summer of 2000 showed that when the antioxidant ethylene diurea (EDU) was applied to crops, there were increases in several parameters. The next step was to verify whether the effects of EDU resulted from EDU-mediated protection against ozone or from plant growth promoting effects of EDU that are independent of ozone. A series of controlled environment trials were designed to test this hypothesis.

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Evaluation of the anti-oxidant ethylene diurea (EDU) as a protectant against ozone effects on crops (field trials)

Description

Ozone is an important phytotoxic gaseous pollutant and is known or suspected to cause injury in crops, including yield reductions. Studies have been conducted using the antioxidant EDU (ethylene... More ≫

Description

Ozone is an important phytotoxic gaseous pollutant and is known or suspected to cause injury in crops, including yield reductions. Studies have been conducted using the antioxidant EDU (ethylene diurea) in programs aimed at the quantification of the effects of ozone on vegetation. For the present study, a protocol making use of EDU as an antioxidant was designed and implemented at a site near the city limits of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, an area having elevated ozone levels relative to other areas of the province.

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UVB and ozone trends from Edmonton-Stony Plain data

Description

There is significant health and ecological concern regarding any high level of Ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation reaching the Earth's surface in any particular location. Excessive exposure to UVB can... More ≫

Description

There is significant health and ecological concern regarding any high level of Ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation reaching the Earth's surface in any particular location. Excessive exposure to UVB can cause skin cancer in humans and has adverse effects on the ecosystem via damages at the molecular (DNA) level. The present study uses statistical methods to analyze UVB data from the Edmonton UVB observation station, located at Stony Plain. The objective is to determine any trend in the UVB data and to compare that with observed variation in atmospheric ozone.

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Overview of ground-level ozone observations in Alberta, 1986-1998

Description

This report presents an analysis of ozone data from Alberta air monitoring stations and compares observed data to current and proposed standards. As was found in previous studies, average... More ≫

Description

This report presents an analysis of ozone data from Alberta air monitoring stations and compares observed data to current and proposed standards. As was found in previous studies, average ground-level ozone concentrations in Alberta are higher in rural areas than in city centres.

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Ozone protection in plants : the potential use of chemical protectants to measure atmospheric oxidant damage in Alberta crops

Description

This report was commissioned to provide a review and interpretation of the scientific literature that describes the use and effects of chemical ozone protectants. The authors of this report were... More ≫

Description

This report was commissioned to provide a review and interpretation of the scientific literature that describes the use and effects of chemical ozone protectants. The authors of this report were asked to determine if there was sufficient information available on these substances to warrant a field evaluation of their use. This was done as part of Alberta Environment's efforts to determine if ozone has the potential to cause negative (or positive) effects on plants in the province, with a focus on agricultural crops.

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Ground-level ozone in Alberta

Description

At higher concentrations, ground-level ozone has adverse human health effects, and is one of the most damaging air pollutants to vegetation. In Canada, federal, provincial and territorial... More ≫

Description

At higher concentrations, ground-level ozone has adverse human health effects, and is one of the most damaging air pollutants to vegetation. In Canada, federal, provincial and territorial governments are in the process of reviewing ambient national objectives as well as setting new Canada-wide standards for ozone. Available ambient ozone monitoring information from Alberta has been reviewed, and government agencies, industries and associations involved in monitoring ozone and its precursors have been identified. Also, published literature from Alberta after 1980 has been reviewed.

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An assessment of the change in temperature and precipitation in Alberta

Description

This statistical study assesses the change of Alberta climate using the monthly data of surface air maximum temperature, surface air minimum temperature, total precipitation, total rainfall, and... More ≫

Description

This statistical study assesses the change of Alberta climate using the monthly data of surface air maximum temperature, surface air minimum temperature, total precipitation, total rainfall, and total snowfall from 1884 to 1996 from 38 long-term climate stations. The weighted average of individual station values was used to obtain an Alberta average of climate variables for each month. The purpose of the study was to examine the trends of climate variables over the province and apply an averaging method that would provide a better representation of Alberta's climatic trends.

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