The role of a suburban forest in controlling vertical trace gas and OH reactivity distributions - a case study for the Seoul metropolitan area.

We present trace gas vertical profiles observed by instruments on the NASA DC-8 and at a ground site during the Korea-US air quality study (KORUS) field campaign in May to June 2016. We focus on the region near the Seoul metropolitan area and its surroundings where both anthropogenic and natural emission sources play an important role in local photochemistry. Integrating ground and airborne observations is the major research goal of many atmospheric chemistry field campaigns. Although airborne platforms typically aim to sample from near surface to the free troposphere, it is difficult to fly very close to the surface especially in environments with complex terrain or a populated area. A detailed analysis integrating ground and airborne observations associated with specific concentration footprints indicates that reactive trace gases are quickly oxidized below an altitude of 700 m. The total OH reactivity profile has a rapid decay in the lower part of troposphere from surface to the lowest altitude (700 m) sampled by the NASA DC-8. The decay rate is close to that of very reactive biogenic volatile organic compounds such as monoterpenes. Therefore, we argue that photochemical processes in the bottom of the boundary layer, below the typical altitude of aircraft sampling, should be thoroughly investigated to properly assess ozone and secondary aerosol formation.

The integration and management of noncommunicable diseases in primary health care (Guest Editorial).

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a great burden in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and, if no strategic intervention is taken, the burden is forecast to become even heavier, particularly with the additional impact of ageing populations. Currently, 62% of deaths in the EMR are due to NCDs. However, by 2030 this proportion is projected to increase to nearly 70%. The EMR is disproportionately affected by NCDs as a result of the Region's rapid urbanization and the globalization of unhealthy behaviours. Moreover, many of the EMR countries have health systems whose structures are not designed for the prevention, early detection and management of NCDs.