Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print NASA probes the sources of the world's tiny pollutants

NASA probes the sources of the world's tiny pollutants

January 31, 2007

Pinpointing pollutant sources is an important part of the ongoing battle to improve air quality and to understand its impact on climate. Scientists using NASA data recently tracked the path and distribution of aerosols — tiny particles suspended in the air — to link their region of origin and source type with their tendencies to warm or cool the atmosphere.

By altering the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth's surface, aerosols influence both regional and global climate, but their impact is difficult to quantify because most only stay airborne for about a week, while greenhouse gases can persist in the atmosphere for decades. In a study published Jan. 24 in the American Geophysical Union's Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, researchers investigated the sources of aerosols and how different types of aerosols influence climate.




"This study offers details on the aerosol source regions and emission source types that policy makers could target to most effectively combat climate change," said Dorothy Koch, lead author and atmospheric scientist at Columbia University and NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), New York.

Using a GISS computer model that includes a variety of data gathered by NASA and other U.S. satellites, the researchers simulated realistic aerosol concentrations of important aerosol types in the atmosphere and studied the amount of light and heat they absorb and reflect over several regions around the globe.

Each area has a unique mix of natural and pollutant aerosol sources that produces different types of aerosols and causes complex climate effects. The industry and power sectors are particularly important in North America and Europe and produce large amounts of sulfur dioxide, while Asia has higher emissions from residential sources, which produce relatively more carbon-containing aerosols.

"Computer model simulations showed that black carbon in the Arctic, a potentially important driver in climate change, derives its largest portion from Southeast Asian residential sources," said Koch. "According to current model estimates, the residential sector appears to have a substantial potential to cause climate warming and therefore, could potentially be targeted to counter the effects of global warming."

Black carbon, commonly called soot, is generated from motor vehicles and industrial pollution, in addition to outdoor fires and household burning of coal and bio-fuels. Soot is produced by incomplete combustion, especially of diesel fuels, coal and wood. Residential soot emissions are largest in areas where cooking and heating are done with wood, field residue, animal dung and coal.

Black carbon absorbs sunlight, warming the atmosphere just as dark pavement absorbs more sunlight and becomes hotter than light pavement. It has a large influence on global climate because winds transport approximately half of the black carbon aerosols produced in important aerosol source regions like Asia and South Africa to other parts of the world. When lofted above precipitating clouds, these aerosols can remain airborne for relatively longer periods. Some of these aerosols are carried to polar regions where they settle on the surface of ice or snow and absorb sunlight and boost melting.

Most particles, especially sulfates produced from the sulfur dioxide emissions of factories and power plants, are light-colored and tend to cool the atmosphere by reflecting sunlight or making clouds more reflective. Computer model simulations suggest this effect is especially heightened over parts of the Northern Hemisphere, including the central United States. The study found, however, that sulfur dioxide emissions in Southeast Asia and Europe have a smaller impact on climate because atmospheric conditions in those areas are not as efficient at turning the emissions into sulfate particles.

The study also showed large amounts of aerosols containing organic carbon — which also tend to cool the atmosphere and partially offset the warming from greenhouse gas emissions — are produced by biomass (vegetation) burning. Most of the world’s biomass burning emissions appear to come from Africa and secondarily, from South America. However, precipitation removes a greater proportion of biomass-burning aerosols from the atmosphere over Africa than over South America. As a result, more than one-half of the biomass-burning aerosols in the Southern Hemisphere can be traced back to South America.

"This research is only the first step in considering the impacts of aerosols from different sectors on climate," said Koch. "Aerosols have other effects, like altering cloud characteristics that influence precipitation and climate." In a related paper accepted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters, the researchers examine how anticipated advances in technology will impact the amount of aerosols emitted from each sector in the future, so that specific regions and types of aerosols can be targeted.

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center



Related Pollutant Current Events and Pollutant News Articles Pollutant Current Events and Pollutant News RSS Pollutant Current Events and Pollutant News RSS
Exposures to metals and diesel emissions in air linked to respiratory symptoms in children
Exposure shortly after birth to ambient metals from residential heating oil combustion and particles from diesel emissions are associated with respiratory symptoms in young inner city children.

Consumption of certain fish during pregnancy associated with poorer cognitive performance
Children who eat fish more than 3 times per week show a worse performance in the general cognitive, executive and perceptual-manipulative areas.

Researchers discover links between city walkability and air pollution exposure
A new study compares neighborhoods' walkability (degree of ease for walking) with local levels of air pollution and finds that some neighborhoods might be good for walking, but have poor air quality.

Interactions with aerosols boost warming potential of some gases
For decades, climate scientists have worked to identify and measure key substances -- notably greenhouse gases and aerosol particles -- that affect Earth's climate.

Mobile lab allows MSU researchers to study air quality, health effects
A new mobile air research laboratory will help a team of researchers led by a Michigan State University professor better understand the damaging health effects of air pollution and why certain airborne particles - emitted from plants and vehicles - induce disease and illness.

Air pollutants from abroad a growing concern, says new report
Plumes of harmful air pollutants can be transported across oceans and continents -- from Asia to the United States and from the United States to Europe -- and have a negative impact on air quality far from their original sources, says a new report by the National Research Council.

Portable and precise gas sensor could monitor pollution and detect disease
In the air, it is a serious pollutant. In the body, it plays a role in heart rate, blood flow, nerve signals and immune function.

Water quality in orbit
Space is not a fun place to get a stomach bug. To ensure drinking water is adequately disinfected, University of Utah chemists developed a two-minute water quality monitoring method that just started six months of tests aboard the International Space Station.

With 3 new reference materials, NIST gets the dirt on soil
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued three new certified reference materials for soil. Intended for use as controls in testing laboratories, the new Standard Reference Materials (SRMs)-gathered from the San Joaquin Valley in California and from sites near Butte and Helena in Montana-will aid in determining soil quality, detecting soil contamination, and monitoring cleanup efforts from accidental spills or atmospheric deposition.

They're alive!! Megacities breathe, consume energy, excrete wastes and pollute
A scientific trend to view the world's biggest cities as analogous to living, breathing organisms is fostering a deep new understanding of how poor air quality in megacities can harm residents, people living far downwind, and also play a major role in global climate change.
More Pollutant Current Events and Pollutant News Articles
Sampling & Analysis of Environmental Chemical Pollutants. A Complete Guide

Sampling & Analysis of Environmental Chemical Pollutants. A Complete Guide
by E. P. Popek (Author)

An excellent introduction to the real world of environmental work, this title helps both college students and working professionals improve their understanding of the data collection process. It covers all phases of data collection (planning, field sampling, laboratory analysis, and data quality assessment), and is a single source comprehensive reference for the resolution of the most common problems that environmental professionals face daily in their work.

Why This Title
This title is written in a clear and logical manner that is accessible to environmental professionals of all disciplines. It contains hundreds of practical tips on planning, sampling, and interactions with analytical laboratories. Having this text as a desk reference will greatly improve skills in planning...

Surround Air A4000 Air Purifier With Odor Sensor to Detect Pollutants

Surround Air A4000 Air Purifier With Odor Sensor to Detect Pollutants
by Surround Air

You and your family don't have to breath stale and stagnant air. A quality air purifier can bring relief for allergy and asthma suffers and immediately improve health and quality of life. The Surround Air Multi-Tech A4000 Intelligent air purifier brings relief and results with its 7 stages of filtration and advanced sensor technology to deliver incomparable results.

6 Stages of Filtration
While most air purifiers operate with merely one or two filters, the A4000 pushes air through six stages! The first state involves air filtering through a pre-filter, then an activated carbon filter, a HEPA filter, cold-catalyst filter, anti-bacterial filter, and finally an ionizer.

Extremely Quiet
The A4000 is extremely quiet and can be used all day, every day, unless you want to save energy...

White Cap with pollutants, "toxic waste", earth, sludge, anthropomorphism

White Cap with pollutants, "toxic waste", earth, sludge, anthropomorphism
by SHOPZEUS

100% Polyester
* 5-panel cap
* Seamless Front Panel with Buckram Flap
* 4 Embroidered Eyelets
Matching Visor Color
* Pro Stitch on Crown
* 8 Rows Stitching on Visor
* Matching Fabric Undervisor
* Matching Color Sweatband
* Matching Fabric Adjustable Hook and Loop


Assimilated Pollutants

Assimilated Pollutants
Magrudergrind (Primary Contributor)



Small Universal Car Cover - 65082

Small Universal Car Cover - 65082
by Discount Ramps

Our universal car covers are the perfect solution to protect your automobile during indoor or outdoor storage. We offer two grades of car covers with 3 sizes for each grade of car cover available. Our Basic guard car covers offer budget pricing and are made of spun bonded fabric with breathable fabric for the basic protection your vehicle requires. Our Xtra Guard car cover offers advanced protection with 210D specially treated by Silver-Tech to help your automobile service the harshest environments. Both style of car covers offer breathable fabric to allow good air circulation under the cover which assures that any moisture or condensation under the cover can easily evaporate and it also reduces heat build up on those hot days. UV resistant fabric protects your vehicles paint from...

CrispAir Air Cleaning Light Bulb, 23 Watt, 6400K, Compact Flourescent

CrispAir Air Cleaning Light Bulb, 23 Watt, 6400K, Compact Flourescent
by Greenwood Consumer Products

The CrispAirTM Air Cleaning Light Bulb purifies the air by generating negative ions. These negative ions collide with airborne particles, which are large rafts for hundreds of toxic chemical and disease organisms. This process removes viruses, bacteria, odors, cigarette smoke, pet dander and other pollutants from the air we breathe. The negative ion functions as a remover of dust, bacteria, cigarette smoke, offensive odors and the positive ions generated from TVs, computers, and other electrical devices. The CrispAirTM Air Cleaning Light Bulb helps to balance the ionization in your home and office to help combat the positive ions that make us feel tired and irritable. This restored balance increases oxygen intake so we feel more alert and helps to relieve asthma symptoms, fatigue,...

Source Naturals PectaSol Modified Citrus Pectin, Powder, 14.11 oz (400 g)

Source Naturals PectaSol Modified Citrus Pectin, Powder, 14.11 oz (400 g)
by Source Naturals

Dietary supplement. Promotes good health. Pectin, a soluble dietary fiber naturally present in citrus fruit, cannot be absorbed by the human digestive tract. However, pectin can be modified to shorten the molecular chain. This process creates smaller polysaccharide fragments that are easily absorbed and utilized in the body. Source Naturals Modified Citrus Pectin is made up of very short chains of molecules of the same molecular weight used in recent scientific studies. The constituents of Modified Citrus Pectin that are believed to be responsible for its beneficial properties are the galactosyl fractions. Their toxin-binding properties in the bloodstream may help promote good health. (These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not...

YuGiOh 5D's Crimson Crisis Single Card Planet Pollutant Virus CRMS-EN080 Rare

YuGiOh 5D's Crimson Crisis Single Card Planet Pollutant Virus CRMS-EN080 Rare
by Upper Deck

YuGiOh Crimson Crisis - Crimson Crisis Single Cards! Normal Trap Card Tribute 1 Alien monster. Destroy all face-up monsters without A-Counters your opponent controls. Until the end of your opponent's 3rd turn after this card's activation, place 1 A-Counter on each monster they Summon.

Cracking the Ocean Code

Cracking the Ocean Code
Also With: Dr. J. Craig Venter (Primary Contributor)

Join genome pioneer Dr. J. Craig Venter as he scours the world's oceans for new life forms and genetic secrets that could help solve the planet's most urgent energy and climate challenges. From Nova Scotia to the Galapagos islands to Antarctica, Dr. Venter embarks on a mission to map the DNA of every microscopic organism in the ocean. Along the way, he discovers new species and new methods of tackling weather anomalies, ocean pollutants and even global warming.

Los Angeles Battles the Murk by Arnold Nicholson. Every day its autos and industry pour more than 2000 tons of smog-forming pollutants into the air. A report from the city which leads the fight against a growing urban menace. ..... 1959 Saturday Evening Post Article, A5123A,

Los Angeles Battles the Murk by Arnold Nicholson. Every day its autos and industry pour more than 2000 tons of smog-forming pollutants into the air. A report from the city which leads the fight against a growing urban menace. ..... 1959 Saturday Evening Post Article, A5123A,

This Item is an original six page Magazine article, taken from a vintage magazine of the year indicated. The article is complete and opens the door to the time during which it was written and the social beliefs of that era. The scan of this item was taken through plastic film, however it is an accurate representation of the item. The nominal size is 10.5 inches by 14 inches.

© 2009 BrightSurf.com