Articles tagged with Black Carbon
Leading health professionals call for drastic reductions in CO2 and short-lived climate pollutants to stabilize the climate and reduce major health threats. Reducing these pollutants can prevent up to 2.4 million premature deaths annually, they argue.
A new study from University of Toronto researchers reveals that gasoline-direct injection (GDI) engines, touted for their fuel efficiency, may actually emit more climate-warming black carbon and toxic pollutants than conventional engines. The study found that GDI engines ranked in the 73rd percentile for black carbon emissions, while v...
A study by Naomi Zimmerman and colleagues found that newer fuel-efficient engines may actually increase global warming due to higher black carbon emissions. Installing particulate filters in these engines could help balance this impact, but factors like engine design and location play a role.
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 found less soot than expected, but discovered two types: a younger pool that absorbs into the environment every 100 years and an ancient reserve stable for millennia. Black carbon is a strong agent of climate change, absorbing sunlight and trapping heat on Earth.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Earth Science found that climate change is likely to increase the input of black carbon to the Arctic Ocean. The team, led by University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography scientist Aron Stubbins, discovered that black carbon stored in Arctic soils is being exported to the oceans.
A Dartmouth-led study contradicts previous findings that soot and dust cause Arctic snow to darken. The research suggests degradation of satellite sensors is responsible for the decline in reflectivity, which will likely disappear with new measurements.
Researchers identify nanoparticulate carbon black as main culprit in emphysema. The material accumulates in dendritic cells and antigen-presenting cells, causing inflammation and DNA damage. Studies find that size and dose of particles affect toxicity.
A study by Mrs Lee Koh found that walking on side-street routes instead of main roads can reduce peaks in harmful air pollution. By avoiding busy streets, individuals can minimize their short-term and long-term exposure to black carbon particulate matter, a major component of urban air pollution.
Researchers are studying peat fire emissions, which are a major contributor to carbon emissions and climate change. The study aims to understand the impact of peatfire smoke on human health and the climate.
A new study finds that traditional yak dung burning in Tibetan households releases high levels of fine particulate matter, including black carbon. The pollution poses a significant health risk to the local population, who spend most of their time indoors during the cold season.
A large-scale survey of impurities in North American snow found regional patterns of soot and dirt, with agricultural practices playing a significant role. The study suggests that land use and farming practices may matter as much as diesel emissions in many parts of the Great Plains.
Researchers have developed a process that uses flash pyrolysis to produce fuels and raw materials from biomass and waste, including plastics and tires. The process produces bio-oil with a high energy density and can be used to replace petroleum-based products.
A new study finds that black carbon pollutants from wood smoke may increase women's risk of cardiovascular disease, with the health effects exacerbated by co-exposure to motor vehicle emissions. Women living closer to highways were found to have three times higher blood pressure than those away from highways.
Researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Carnegie Mellon University uncover key attributes of brown carbon, a toxic airborne particle that warms the atmosphere. The study reveals that brown carbon shares a common production mechanism with black carbon, leading to significant underestimation of warming effects in climate models.
A recent study by Rice University and colleagues analyzed the environmental fate of black carbon in deep ocean sediments. They found that more than half of black carbon never reaches the bottom, but instead stays dissolved in seawater or gets trapped in particles before sinking to the seafloor.
A recommended nomenclature for 2D carbon materials has been published by the Editorial Board of Journal Carbon, aiming to standardize definitions and promote precise ideas. The new guidelines suggest using 'graphene materials' as an overarching term, including morphological descriptors for shape and size.
A new study published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics finds that gas flaring from oil extraction in the Arctic accounts for 42% of black carbon concentrations. Residential combustion emissions also play a significant role in black carbon pollution, contributing to the warming effect on ice and snow.
Researchers found that coal soot reduced Alpine glacier ice by shrinking them, despite cooler temperatures. European glaciers retreated an average of nearly 1 kilometer between 1860 and 1930 due to industrialization, contradicting previous natural climate shift assumptions.
Scientists have uncovered strong evidence that soot from industrial Europe caused the abrupt retreat of mountain glaciers in the European Alps. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, resolves a longstanding debate about why the Alps glaciers retreated beginning in the 1860s.
A study finds that almost 80% of soot pollution in East Asia comes from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels such as coal briquettes used in home cookstoves and automobile exhaust. The research identifies these sources as major contributors to air pollution responsible for 500,000 premature deaths annually in China.
Researchers discovered that large waves in Norwegian fjords were triggered by a powerful Japan earthquake, while disposal of Marcellus Shale fracking waste caused earthquakes in Ohio. The Arctic region is also sensitive to black carbon emissions, which can have devastating effects on the environment.
A new study has found that living near a major roadway during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of respiratory infection in children. The study included 1,271 mother-child pairs and found that those who lived closer to the road had a higher risk of developing respiratory infections by age 3.
Research finds that a significant proportion of black carbon in soil dissolves into rivers and flows to the ocean, undermining efforts to use soil as a carbon sink. The study estimated that 27 million tons of black carbon flow from rivers to oceans annually.
A new international study finds that black carbon, a byproduct of smoke and smog, contributes twice as much to global warming as previously estimated. The research suggests that controlling emissions can deliver more immediate climate benefits than reducing carbon dioxide.
Kerosene wick lamps release 20 times more black carbon than previously thought, a hazard for human health and the environment. Replacing kerosene lamps with inexpensive LED alternatives can curb black carbon emissions and contribute to climate change mitigation.
A new study by University of California, Berkeley researchers found that kerosene lamps produce 7-9% black carbon when burned, leading to a twentyfold increase in estimated black carbon emissions from lighting. Replacing kerosene lamps with cleaner alternatives could yield significant climate benefits and improve public health.
A recent field study in California cities found black carbon absorption enhancements of just 6 percent, suggesting that climate models may be overestimating warming by black carbon. The researchers' findings highlight the complexity of airborne particles and challenge existing projections about their impact on global and regional climate.
A UC Riverside-led team identifies black carbon and tropospheric ozone as the primary drivers of large-scale atmospheric circulation change in the Northern hemisphere tropics. The expansion of the tropical belt is projected to impact regional agriculture, economy, and society due to changes in precipitation patterns.
A recent study found that some 'improved cookstoves' (ICs) may emit more black carbon particles than traditional mud stoves or open-cook fires. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of ICs as a clean cooking solution in developing countries.
Research reveals glaciers record anthropogenic perturbation, highlighting the impact of human activities on the global carbon cycle. The study found that glacier ecosystems are post-industrial and provide a unique perspective for understanding climate change.
A NASA study led by Drew Shindell suggests that implementing 14 key air pollution control measures could slow global warming, improve health outcomes, and increase agricultural production. The measures focus on reducing black carbon and methane emissions, which have significant impacts on climate change and human health.
Black carbon particles emitted from human activities contribute to climate change by affecting air quality and public health. Dr. Akua Asa-Awuku will investigate the interactions between clouds and aerosols using the world's largest indoor atmospheric chamber.
Cyclists inhale more black carbon than pedestrians, potentially causing lung damage, according to a study led by Professor Jonathan Grigg. The researchers found that cyclists have 2.3 times more black carbon in their lungs when compared with pedestrians.
Researchers at NOAA and CIRES found that controlled burns during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill released massive amounts of black carbon into the atmosphere, with estimates suggesting 1.4-4.6 million pounds of pollution sent into the Gulf's atmosphere over a 9-week period.
A new study suggests that reducing soot emissions from diesel engines and other sources could slow melting of sea ice in the Arctic faster and more economically than any other quick fix. Soot emissions are second only to carbon dioxide in promoting global warming, but their effects have been underestimated in previous climate models.
Scientists have developed a new heart model to investigate the effects of artificial nanoparticles on cardiac function. Exposure to certain types of nanoparticles led to increased heart rates, cardiac arrhythmia, and modified ECG values typical of heart disease.
Researchers found that carbon black nanoparticles activated a double source of inflammation in the lungs, causing immune cells to die and leading to a secondary inflammatory response. The study suggests environmental exposures to diesel exhaust or printer ink could contribute to lung inflammation.
New research from Carnegie Institution scientists found that black carbon aerosols have a greater effect on surface warming when emitted near the land and ocean surface. However, as altitude increases, surface warming decreases, while cooling occurs in the stratosphere.
The Integrated Assessment of Black Carbon and Tropospheric Ozone identifies emission reduction measures that can immediately protect climate, public health, and ecosystems. Implementing these measures could reduce future global warming by 0.5oC and potentially halve the projected increase in global temperature by 2050.
At the AAAS annual meeting, NASA researchers presented several key findings, including a new tool to manage protected areas using remote-sensing data from satellites and aircraft. Scientists also discussed the impact of regional nuclear war on global climate and presented discoveries in zero-gravity environments. Additionally, research...
The research aims to mitigate Arctic climate change by reducing black carbon emissions at mid-latitudes and Europe. The study will assess the impact of black carbon on Arctic climate and its links with warming caused by carbon dioxide.
Increased Arctic shipping will bring air pollution that accelerates climate change, with engine exhaust particles increasing warming by 17-78 percent. Ship traffic is projected to reach 2-5% of global traffic by 2030 and 2050, with potential distance savings through new routes.
A recent study conducted by a University of Iowa professor and his colleagues found that increasing the ratio of black carbon to sulfate in the atmosphere increases climate warming. Black carbon from diesel engine exhaust and cooking fires was found to be more efficient at warming than biomass burning plumes.
A new study by Mark Z. Jacobson suggests that reducing soot emissions is the best hope for saving Arctic sea ice within the next two decades. Soot contributes to global warming and kills over 1.5 million people prematurely, but eliminating it could reduce warming above parts of the Arctic Circle in just 15 years.
Researchers found that eliminating soot pollution from diesel engines and coal sources would provide the world with an additional eight years to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This study aimed to standardize estimates of soot's contribution to global warming, emphasizing the need for further research.
A study found that black carbon aerosols from India are a major contributor to the decline in snow and ice cover on the Himalayan glaciers. The research suggests that greenhouse gases alone are insufficient to explain the melting, with black carbon contributing at least 30% of the impact.
Scientists from NASA and Chinese Academy of Sciences found that black carbon deposits contribute significantly to glacial retreat in the Tibetan region, rivaling greenhouse gas effects. The study suggests that reduced soot emissions are needed to avoid glacier demise and preserve seasonal fresh water supplies.
A new NASA study finds that soot and dust contribute as much to atmospheric warming in the Himalayas as greenhouse gases. The region's rapid glacier melting threatens fresh water resources for over a billion people.
A Cornell study found that regulating traffic density and encouraging public transportation can significantly impact local air quality. The Chinese government's measures during the 2008 Olympics resulted in notable reductions in car emissions of black carbon, carbon dioxide, and ultrafine particles.
Researchers at NASA found that aerosols are responsible for a significant portion of Arctic warming since 1976, with sulfates and black carbon playing critical roles. The study suggests aerosols may account for up to 45% of the observed warming, which is comparable to the impact of greenhouse gases.
A new Cornell study found that including realistic estimates of black carbon in soil climate models reduces predicted carbon dioxide emissions by 20% over 100 years. Soils are the world's largest source of carbon dioxide, producing 10 times more CO2 than human activities combined.
A recent study found that exposure to fine particles and black carbon from traffic sources was associated with ST-segment depression in patients with coronary artery disease. The study suggests that air pollution can affect heart health through inflammation of the heart muscle or reduced blood flow, highlighting the need for vigilance ...
Wiley-Blackwell has renewed its commitment to neutrality, offsetting CO2 emissions from global offices and shipments. The company partners with Carbonfund.org to invest in renewable energy and reforestation projects.
A team of Penn State engineers discovered that combining coal with papermaking black liquor waste creates a synthesis gas that can be converted into DME, a clean-burning fuel. This process reduces the carbon footprint of traditional coal-to-liquid processes and offers a more efficient alternative to burning black liquor for heat.
A new research published in Science magazine reveals a significant increase in black carbon in Arctic snow during the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to industrial pollution. The study, led by Drs. Joe McConnell and Ross Edwards, found that soot concentrations rose substantially, leading to changes in Arctic climate forcing.
Scientists from NOAA's Earth System Research Lab will conduct a field study in Costa Rica to observe the troposphere during the rainy season. They aim to understand key processes related to climate change, the stratospheric ozone layer, and global chemistry.
Research by Michigan State University reveals that combustion-derived nanoparticles can cause nasal airway inflammation, rhinitis, and epithelial cell injury. The study's findings suggest that the nose is a potential target organ for nanoparticle toxicity, highlighting the need for better occupational and environmental exposure limits.
Recent research on aerosols suggests they can have substantial impacts on local heat budgets, exceeding those of greenhouse gases. Aerosol compositions and effects are being studied for their implications on regional climate change and human health.
Researchers found that graphitic black carbon resists conversion to other forms, such as combining with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. This resistance affects carbon cycle calculations, leading to significant overestimates of burial of combustion-derived black carbon in marine sediments.