The issue of air quality conditions and atmospheric pollution in the Arab Region (or Middle East and North African countries) has been addressed through consideration of the energy production and energy consumption pattern. Global, regional and local sources of air pollution in the region have been considered. Emission scenarios of many countries of the region have been outlined. Even though it has been long realized (more…)

Global warming is well recognized by scientists around the world as a serious public health and environmental concern. As atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases rise globally, temperatures on earth are increasing. While the greenhouse effect has been beneficial to maintain global temperatures compatible to human life, recent increases in average temperatures due to human activities are (more…)

Maintaining System Air Quality Maintaining the proper air quality level is essential for keeping compressed air energy costs down and to ensure reliable production. Poor air quality can have a negative effect on production equipment and can increase energy consumption and maintenance needs. The quality of air produced should be guided by the quality required by the end-use equipment. The air quality level (more…)

At present, an array of Earth observing satellites are in orbit, and additional launches both by NASA and others will continue throughout the next decade. Our ability to observe our home planet from space has never been greater. Increasingly, studies of the Earth focus on understanding the Earth’s land, atmosphere, oceans, and life as a whole integrated system rather than as individual independent (more…)

Urban areas tend to have higher air temperatures than their rural surroundings as a result of gradual surface modifications that include replacing the natural vegetation with buildings and roads. The term “Urban Heat Island” describes this phenomenon. The surfaces of buildings and pavements absorb solar radiation and become extremely hot, which in turn warm the surrounding air. Cities that have (more…)

Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a Regional Technical Assistance Project (RETA- 5937) to assist member countries in the development of strategies and plans to reduce ve- hicle emissions. RETA activities in Indonesia supported the formulation of an Integrated Vehicle Emission Reduction Action Plan for Jakarta. As part of the RETA-5937, an Integrated Vehicle Emission Reduction Strategy (IVERS) workshop (more…)

Between August and November 1997, forest fires engulfed large parts of Indonesia, destroying over 12 million acres. Most of the fires, which were concentrated on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo (Kalimantan), were started intentionally by logging companies and palm oil producers clearing land to plant new crop.1 Because of the dry, windy conditions caused by El Ni˜no, the fires burned out of control (more…)

Preface Clean air is considered to be a basic requirement of human health and well-being. However, air pollution continues to pose a significant threat to health worldwide. According to a WHO assess- ment of the burden of disease due to air pollution, more than 2 million premature deaths each year can be attributed to the effects of urban outdoor air pollution and indoor air (more…)