Articles tagged with Aerosols
Researchers found that light rain can disperse up to several thousand bacteria from the soil into the air, where they can travel long distances before settling back on the ground. Global precipitation may be responsible for releasing 1.6 to 25 percent of total bacteria emissions from land.
A recent study published in Journal of Climate reveals a detectable anthropogenic shift toward heavy precipitation over eastern China. The research suggests that greenhouse gas forcing is the primary driver of this change, with aerosol forcing offsetting some effects.
A study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found high levels of toxic metals in five leading e-cigarette brands, including cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, and nickel. The liquid in these e-cigarettes contains the aerosol that is inhaled by users, posing a health risk when inhaled.
Researchers compared the effects of direct exposure to cigarette smoke or e-cigarette vapor on reconstituted lung tissue, finding changes in gene expression levels and increased inflammation. The study utilized a 3D airway culture system and next-generation sequencing technologies to evaluate the biological effects.
Researchers used smoking/vaping robots to study e-cigarette aerosol's effect on human lung cells. The results show that e-cigarette aerosol is effectively delivered to cell surfaces, despite having a reduced biological impact compared to cigarette smoke.
Robert McGraw's 1997 paper introduced a new method to mathematically characterize aerosol dynamics, which has been widely used in various fields. The award recognizes his work's significant impact on aerosol research and climate modeling.
The study calculates the production of aerosol particles in all Earth regions and at different heights, revealing key findings about particle formation and its role in climate. It also determines the influence of cosmic radiation and human activity on cloud condensation nuclei.
Researchers used unmanned aircraft to measure turbulent kinetic energy, aerosol particle concentration, and temperature fluctuations near the Earth's surface. The study found that black carbon aerosols suppress turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer, exacerbating human health impacts and extreme weather events.
A Yale-led study found that haze in China significantly drives the urban heat island effect, unlike in the US where vegetation plays a key role. The research highlights the paradoxical impact of smaller aerosol particles, which cool surfaces but larger ones radiate heat.
Scientists warn that tropical cyclones will become stronger as temperatures rise due to a decrease in aerosols. This trend has been masked by air pollution, but is expected to become apparent in the future. Computer models predict an increase in intense storms and coastal flooding.
New research from The University of Texas at Austin reveals that aerosol particles can increase the lifespan of large thunderstorm systems by as much as three to 24 hours, depending on regional meteorological conditions. This increase in lifespan allows storms to grow larger and produce more extreme storms when rain finally occurs.
Current simulation models consistently underestimate black carbon aerosols in Arctic air, but fine-grained simulations using powerful supercomputers can mitigate this underestimation. The research found that more realistic modeling of weather and climate patterns is possible with finer grids and larger computational power.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have discovered a new process behind the formation and evolution of small atmospheric particles free from pollution, key to creating accurate models for global climate change. The findings suggest that up to half of the warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions may be masked by aerosol cooling.
The NYU College of Dentistry has received a $1.6 million NIH grant to investigate the impact of e-cigarette aerosol mixtures on oral health. Researchers will examine the modulation of the oral microenvironment by e-cig aerosols and assess periodontal disease risk.
Researchers found that human coronary artery endothelial cells showed a reduced stress response to e-cigarette aerosol compared to conventional cigarette smoke. This suggests that switching from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes may lead to reduced immediate harm for tobacco smokers.
Aerosol jet printing uses a carrier gas and printer heads to deposit metal particles, promising to slash manufacturing time for circuit boards from a month to a day. The technique can print around bends, on spheres or flat surfaces, making it ideal for detector assemblies with many tiny components.
Researchers found that exhaled e-cigarette particles are liquid droplets that evaporate rapidly, unlike smoking conventional cigarettes. The study suggests vaping indoors is unlikely to pose an air quality issue.
A new study reveals that human-induced climate change has triggered the last 16 record-breaking hot years globally, with an impact dating back to 1937. The researchers found that industrial aerosols masked this effect in many areas until recently.
A novel hybrid product called 'glo iFUSE' combines e-cigarette technology with fresh tobacco to deliver natural tobacco flavors. Sensory testing confirmed the presence of detectable tobacco flavors, and chemical analysis revealed a significant reduction in toxic compounds compared to traditional cigarettes.
A new study suggests that today's clouds may not be similar to pre-industrial ones due to increased aerosol pollution. To improve climate modeling, researchers recommend better differentiation of cloud types and studying cleaner regions.
A team of Danish investigators has created a modeling system that actually mimics indoor fungal aerosols, studying the impact of residential mold on human health. The system, published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, contains at least eleven species of fungus associated with water damage, found in both Danish and US buildings.
Researchers detected a trend of lowering aerosol percentage in Moscow over the XXI century. The decrease is attributed to reduced anthropogenic emissions of proto-aerosol gases due to higher petrol quality and lower sulfur oxide emissions, with significant effects during spring and autumn periods.
A laboratory study found that cherry-flavored e-cigarettes contain significantly higher levels of benzaldehyde than other flavors, which can irritate the airways. The study suggests that long-term use of cherry-flavored e-cigarettes may result in repeated exposure to this substance.
A new study by the University of Washington uses a unique volcanic eruption in Iceland to measure the effect of sulfur emissions on clouds. The results confirm that volcanoes cool the planet not just by emitting particles high in the atmosphere, but also by releasing low-level sulfur to influence cloud formation.
Researchers detected an average of 104-105 viable microbial aerosol particles per cubic meter in the air, with Bacillus dominating the bacterial community. The team found striking differences in size distribution patterns across different climate zones, which may serve as a fingerprint for a particular region.
Researchers used a unique combination of tests to investigate the potential adverse effects of e-cigarette vapour on airway tissue. The results show that despite six hours of exposure, the impact of e-cigarette vapour on airway tissue is similar to that of air.
A study published in ACS Central Science reveals how the chemical composition of ocean aerosol particles influences their ability to form clouds. The new method categorizes particles based on their likelihood of taking up water, providing a more precise measure of cloud-formation potential.
Scientists will measure trace gas concentrations, aerosols, and cloud properties in Alaska's North Slope to improve estimates of carbon emissions. The goal is to reduce uncertainty in global climate simulations and projections.
Researchers demonstrate that ocean microbes control the chemistry of sea spray ejected into the atmosphere, affecting cloud formation and sunlight scattering. The study reveals the importance of complex interactions between microbes in seawater, which influence the composition and cloud-forming ability of sea spray aerosol.
A new human respiratory tissue model, MucilAir, has been shown to maintain normal biochemical processes for at least six months. The model is suitable for testing the impact of repeated exposures over a prolonged period, making it a valuable tool for assessing the toxicological effects of inhaled chemicals and safety of medicines.
A team of researchers launched the world's first permanent ship-based labs on board CSIRO's Investigator research vessel, collecting data on atmospheric particles and gases in the Southern Ocean. The labs aim to improve climate modeling and predict future changes to Australian weather and climate.
The Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) instrument has provided a detailed profile of the atmosphere above Africa, revealing particles in the air at different heights. The data will help scientists model dust plumes and interactions with clouds and aerosols, improving our understanding of climate change.
Scientists reconstructed a 450-year rainfall record using a stalagmite from Belize, showing a substantial drying trend since 1850. The research links this trend to rising sulphate aerosols from industrial emissions, which moderated temperatures and shifted the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) towards the warmer Southern Hemisphere.
A new study by the University of Rochester finds that e-cigarettes emit toxic substances harmful to lung cells, including heavy metals and nanoparticles. Flavored e-juices like cinnamon also cause more stress on lung tissue.
Researchers found that geo-stationary satellites can greatly improve air-quality forecasting by providing aerosol optical depth every hour in high resolution. Combining this data with low Earth-orbiting satellite data produces more detailed maps for improved forecasts.
Scientists will gather data on atmospheric rivers, which produce up to 50% of California's precipitation, and explore how to predict when and where they will hit land. The study aims to improve climate models and inform water management decisions during droughts and floods.
Researchers at MIT found that raindrops can release aerosols when hitting porous surfaces, trapping tiny air bubbles and bursting them out into the air. This mechanism may explain petrichor, the smell released after a light rain, and potentially spread soil-based diseases.
Researchers from MIPT and Weizmann Institute of Science discover possibility of negative turbophoresis, where impurity particles move against turbulence direction. The study presents new type of phase transition, depending on particle inertia, which can either localize or delocalize in turbulent flows.
Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt found that dimethylamine can greatly enhance the formation of aerosol particles from sulfuric acid, creating 'neutral molecular cluster' formations. This process could influence Earth's climate by affecting cloud condensation nuclei and precipitation patterns.
A study published in Nature Geoscience found that air pollution, specifically aerosols, increases river flows in the northern hemisphere. The research reveals a significant impact of solar dimming on enhanced river flows over regions in heavily industrialised areas.
A recent study suggests that emissions from human activity have caused a decline in monsoon rainfall over the past 50 years. The research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, found that rising levels of anthropogenic aerosols are responsible for the decrease, which affects billions of people primarily in India and parts of Africa.
Researchers adapted the Ames test to assess mainstream cigarette smoke's toxicity, showing concentration-dependent mutations in bacteria. The modified test uses multiple bacterial strains and whole-smoke aerosol exposure, providing a more complete picture of the toxic profile.
Research at NIST reveals that the clumping density of soot particles is a constant value of 0.36, regardless of size range. This finding has significant implications for climate researchers and may help develop new measurement standards for atmospheric aerosols.
A study by Weizmann Institute researchers found that human activities have altered the types of clouds over pristine ocean areas, leading to increased cloud height and rainfall. The team's model accurately predicted these changes using satellite images and aerosol data, suggesting a significant impact on global climate patterns.
A comprehensive analysis of e-cigarette research reveals industry health claims are unsupported, and exposure is associated with indoor air pollution. E-cigarettes should be regulated to protect public health.
Researchers will study amounts and types of aerosols influencing cloud formation in the Amazonia region. The three-year project aims to understand how the Amazon rainforest influences storm formation and internal water cycling.
A groundbreaking study from the University of Exeter reveals a significant discrepancy between observed and modelled precipitation levels in the Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes. The study suggests that aerosol concentrations in the atmosphere may be underestimating the impact on regional temperature and precipitation changes.
Researchers analyzed hundreds of sunset paintings to retrieve information on the composition of past atmospheres. The red-to-green ratios in these paintings correlate well with volcanic aerosols in the atmosphere, providing alternative ways to estimate pollution levels. This study validates previous findings and has implications for im...
A new analysis reveals that dust in the air absorbs sunlight west of India, warming the air and strengthening winds carrying moisture eastward. The study also shows that natural airborne particles can influence rainfall in unexpected ways, with changes in one location rapidly affecting weather thousands of miles away.
The study reveals that greenhouse gas effects on climate are uncertain due to complex interactions between aerosols, cloud cover, and sunlight. Researchers highlight the need for improved observational tools and models to reduce uncertainty in climate forcing and predict future impacts of aerosols on weather and climate.
Research by University of Leeds scientists shows natural aerosols contribute more uncertainty than thought to climate estimates, with a clear path for reducing this uncertainty. The study aims to better understand the effect of aerosols on clouds and climate.
Researchers at CU-Boulder created a global electric circuit model using a climate model, revealing that the atmosphere is generally less conductive over the equator and above Southeast Asia. The model shows seasonal changes in conductivity and its impact on lightning currents.
Researchers have discovered disturbing climate trends near Earth's surface, highlighting the impact of aerosols on cloud formation and human health. The study, led by Kimberly Prather and Vicki Grassian, aims to improve our understanding of aerosol chemistry and its effects on the environment.
Research from the University of Hawaii at Manoa reveals that greenhouse gases and aerosols have similar spatial patterns of climate responses, leading to changes in ocean-atmospheric feedback structures. This finding challenges previous distinctions between aerosol-induced and greenhouse-gas-induced changes in rainfall.
A new study defines the aerosol climatology of Northern Australia's savanna, providing a crucial piece for climate modeling. The findings show that fine particles generated by burning have significant impacts on regional climate and air quality.
A graduate student at UC Riverside has received a $90,000 NIH fellowship to investigate the cytotoxic effects of e-cigarette aerosols on human cell health. The research aims to better understand the potential risks of e-cigarettes and improve their effectiveness as smoking cessation devices.
Research from IIASA and the University of Helsinki found that plants release gases that stick to aerosol particles, growing them into larger-sized particles that reflect sunlight and serve as cloud droplets. This feedback loop can counteract up to 30% of warming in forested areas, particularly in regions like Finland, Siberia, and Canada.
A study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology found that the microbial population in NYC subway air is nearly identical to ambient air on city streets. The researchers used new methodologies, including fast collection of aerosols and rapid sequencing technology, to efficiently monitor the subway's microbial population.
A team of scientists used a new approach to study aerosols, finding that biological activity in sea spray reduces its ability to form clouds. The study isolated marine aerosols, demonstrating the impact of biological mixtures on climate properties.
A study by UCSD and NOAA finds that aerosols from the Sahara desert help spur precipitation in California, highlighting the impact of global weather patterns on regional water supplies. The research uses advanced instruments to track the journey of aerosols across continents and demonstrates their role in seeding storm clouds.