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Mini-review of the concentration variations found inthe alfresco atmospheric bacterial populations

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Abstract

Variations in the atmospheric surface layer's culturable, and to a lesser extent, total bacteria-associated atmospheric particlecharacteristics will be discussed in terms of (a)their temporal variation from 2 min resolutionthrough diurnal to annual periods, (b) the effect ofmeteorological conditions on their abundance andsize, (c) total to culturable bacterial ratio, and(d) the total number of bacteria per culturableparticle (e) bacterial survival in droplet/particles, and (f) the general particle size distribution including aerodynamic Count MedianDiameter (CMD).

Meteorological and topographic conditions thatcontrol total and culturable bacteria-associatedatmospheric particle concentration will be presentedin terms of (a) precipitation, (b) wind direction,(c) time of day, (d) sky conditions (i.e., cloudy,sunny, rain, etc.), (e) season, and (f) atmosphericinversion conditions.

Simulation models will be described that supporthypotheses of diurnal and annual concentrationcycles in the Earth's (and perhaps other planetaryatmospheres) atmospheric surface layer.

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  1. Microbial Aerosol Research Laboratory (MARL), Monmouth, Oregon, USA(e-mail:

    Bruce Lighthart

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  1. Bruce Lighthart
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Lighthart, B. Mini-review of the concentration variations found inthe alfresco atmospheric bacterial populations. Aerobiologia 16, 7–16 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007694618888

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