Articles tagged with Soot
Researchers have developed a new method for cleaning oil spills using massive fire whirls, which can burn through crude oil nearly twice as fast as in-situ fire pools. The results show that fire whirls produce 40% less soot and consume up to 95% of the fuel, leaving fewer harmful particles behind.
Residential wood burning accounts for over one-fifth of wintertime exposure to outdoor fine particulate matter, linked to increased risks of heart disease and premature death. By reducing indoor wood burning, Americans could decrease outdoor air pollution and save thousands of lives.
Researchers found that soot particles can transform their shape and behavior within hours of becoming airborne, altering their ability to warm or cool the atmosphere. This rapid transformation affects both soot's warming and cooling effects, as well as its lifetime.
A recent USC study found associations between increased exposure to wildfire smoke and heat stress during preconception and the first trimester with the odds of having a small-for-gestational-age infant. Living in a climate-vulnerable neighborhood can increase these risks, particularly for women exposed to heat stress.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed new monitoring techniques to measure wood stove emissions, revealing that 70% of pollution occurs during startup and reloading. Automated technologies injecting primary and secondary air show a 95% reduction in particulate matter emissions, potentially limiting PM2.5 pollution by 95%.
Snowmelt rates vary by slope orientation and receive varying amounts of solar radiation. The study found that burned south-facing slopes accumulate less snow and melt earlier than other aspects due to increased solar radiation absorption. This understanding will improve models and tools for water managers.
A new study reveals that modern commercial aircraft create longer-lived planet-warming contrails than older aircraft, potentially offsetting their lower carbon emissions. The research highlights the challenges of reducing aviation's climate impact, with private jets also found to produce more contrails than previously thought.
A UC Riverside study found that large fires in California create a self-sustaining cycle of heat and dryness, making it easier for new fires to start. The extra heat reduces humidity, allowing conditions to become favorable for more fire.
Researchers found that intense fires in the region were more likely caused by human activities like war than climate change. The study used sediment cores to analyze black carbon and soot deposits from Tianchi Lake, dating back 6,000 years.
Researchers at KAUST studied the use of high voltages to control charged particles in flames, which could lead to improved flame stability and reduced soot formation. The team developed a simulation to understand this phenomenon and tested its predictions by studying a flame inside a cavity exposed to electric fields of up to 2,500 volts.
Research reveals that soot particles in the Amazon rainforest come primarily from African bushfires, not regional fires. This discovery highlights the significant role of atmospheric transport in distributing pollutants across continents.
Researchers developed machine learning models to accurately calculate fine particulate matter in urban air pollution using AI and traffic data. The models provide a high-resolution estimation of city street pollution surface, enabling transportation and epidemiology studies to assess health impacts.
Researchers will develop a new model to describe complex soot particles in the atmosphere, improving accuracy in predicting climate warming caused by soot. The project aims to reduce uncertainty over soot's impact on climate change and air quality.
A Rutgers-led study estimates that a full-scale US-Russia nuclear war would cause global crop production to decline by up to 90% and lead to widespread starvation. This could result in over 5 billion people dying of hunger, with severe disruptions in global food markets.
Researchers found that photochemical aging of soot on particles can increase their hydrophilicity, making them better cloud condensation nuclei. This transformation affects the fate and effects of soot aerosols in the atmosphere, influencing wet deposition processes.
A new study finds that reducing emissions of short-lived climate pollutants like methane and ozone can cut the rate of global warming in half by 2050. This approach offers a fighting chance to prevent catastrophic warming and improve our chances of remaining below the 1.5 degree centigrade mark.
A new Stanford University study reveals that US power plants generating electricity for export account for approximately 700 premature deaths in 2019. The majority of these health damages occur within the states where the power is both generated and used, but large discrepancies exist across regions.
Researchers have discovered a new source of haze-building hydroxyl radicals in soot particles, which can lead to accelerated haze formation. This discovery offers new possibilities for air purification and the development of environmentally friendly catalysts using light radiation.
A chemical used in electric vehicle batteries can also power rockets and satellites, reducing CO2 emissions and requiring less storage. The new fuel, ammonia borane, releases more energy than traditional hydrocarbon fuels and has no environmental impact.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland introduces an electric soot collector that achieves a 45% fine particle reduction efficiency in logwood-fired masonry heaters. The technology uses natural charges of flames to collect particles, but further optimization is needed for higher reduction efficiencies.
KAUST researchers propose a radical new mechanism for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) formation, which consumes fewer radicals than current hypotheses. The mechanism involves resonance-stabilized radicals, allowing successive addition reactions to occur without activation.
A study by the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research found that soot particles from oil and wood heating systems as well as road traffic contribute significantly to air pollution in Europe. The researchers estimated that 48% of local soot emissions and 52% of long-distance soot emissions reached the measurement site.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab, University of Hawaii, and Florida International University found a new way for free radicals to react, leading to the formation of benzene rings. This discovery could help create more efficient gas engines and reduce air pollution.
A new study from the Chakrabarty lab found a strong linear association between long-term PM2.5 exposure and R0, which denotes the expected number of people each sick person can infect. The researchers also discovered that secondary inorganic components in PM2.5 increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Fire experiments in a test tunnel revealed that burning electric cars pose less risk than gasoline/diesel cars due to state-of-the-art ventilation systems. However, extinguishing water poses a challenge, as it's poisonous and requires special handling.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have identified the structure of blue whirls, which produce almost no soot when burning. The team discovered that vortex breakdown enables the blue-whirl structure to emerge, comprising three flames meeting in a triple flame ring.
A German-French research team is developing a new sensor network to monitor ship emissions and improve the monitoring of pollutants in the marine environment. The project aims to provide a tool for observing the extent of pollution arising from ship collisions, affecting coastal populations' health.
Research reveals that organic carbon particles in cookstove emissions are equally potent agents of atmospheric warming as black carbon, with potential health risks from high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The study's findings have significant implications for regional climate change and Paris Agreement targets.
A new study suggests that even a limited India-Pakistan nuclear war would cause unprecedented planet-wide food shortages and probable starvation lasting more than a decade. Crops would be hardest hit in the northern breadbasket regions, but southerly regions would suffer much more hunger due to global trade disruptions.
Researchers analyzed high-resolution soot deposition to determine how dry glacial periods affected wildfire events. The results revealed clear glacial-interglacial cycles of wildfire, linked to drier glacial periods and higher dust loads in the atmosphere.
A study reveals a cyclical link between high-intensity Asian wildfires and dry glacial periods, with fires associated with increased dust loads and decreased CO2 levels. The findings hint at potential climate effects through the iron cycle, suggesting a connection between fires, dust, and global climate system.
Researchers at UCF's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering have determined that ethanol is the best biofuel for producing minimal soot during combustion. The study also identified chemical pathways involved in combustion reactions, which can be used to further research into reducing soot production.
A team of researchers has developed a new technique that combines laser technology and candle soot to generate effective ultrasonic waves for nondestructive testing. The patch made from nanoparticles from candle soot and polydimethylsiloxane amplifies the signal, enabling temperature-independent measurement and wide range monitoring area.
A new research project, Clean Air for a Sustainable Future, aims to develop a concept to achieve significant reduction in soot concentration. The project brings together environmental, social, and health scientists with NGOs, politicians, and affected citizens to find solutions.
A new tool connects environmental impact of shipping industry to geography, economics and policy choices. Policies such as carbon tax, maintenance regulations and compact urban development could save up to 4,000 lives per year by reducing warming contributions.
A recent study by an international team of researchers found that soot from road traffic in emerging countries can reach high altitudes and contribute to global warming. The reduction of pollutants from diesel cars has a positive impact on both human health and climate protection.
Researchers have discovered a universal power law describing black carbon's light absorption, which could help climate scientists build more accurate models. The findings suggest that warming due to black carbon may have been underestimated by current climate models.
Researchers have solved the long-standing mystery of soot formation, revealing that resonance-stabilized radicals play a key role in its creation. This breakthrough could help reduce soot's detrimental effects on human health and the environment.
Chemical engineering researchers at Brigham Young University have developed a physical model that can accurately predict soot and smoke emissions from wildfires. The model provides foundational elements for validating more efficient models, which will aid in predicting smoke emissions and related health effects.
A team of engineers at the University of Notre Dame is using Tiki torches to simulate real-world driving conditions for testing diesel particulate filters. They aim to develop a low-cost catalyst that can reduce soot oxidation temperatures, improving efficiency and reducing emissions.
A Norwegian study reveals that wood stove emissions have a complex effect on the climate, with black carbon being the primary warming agent. The research suggests that reducing soot emissions from wood stoves could also improve air quality and mitigate health risks.
Researchers created thermal blankets to absorb sunlight, melting snow three times faster than natural processes. The eco-friendly solution slashes snow-removal costs and reduces environmental contamination risks.
A team of scientists deployed the ERICA instrument on a DC-8 aircraft to measure chemical composition of aircraft exhaust aerosols. They tested different kerosene blends and biofuels to reduce soot particles and contrail formation, which could impact climate change.
Research suggests that asteroid impacts on hydrocarbon-rich areas may have caused global climate changes, leading to mass extinctions. The Chicxulub impact, occurring 66 million years ago, is a rare case of this phenomenon.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed an optical diagnostic that can quantify the formation of soot in combusting fuel sprays, enabling engine developers to design advanced combustion strategies for cleaner engines. The device uses a custom engineered diffuser to emit light rays with the same brightness over a spec...
Researchers used bird specimens to track air pollution levels over 135 years, revealing a sharp drop in black carbon during the Great Depression and a rebound after World War II. The study shows that efforts to address urban smoke pollution had a lasting impact on reducing pollution.
Scientists estimate that a massive asteroid impact could have triggered 2 years of darkness on Earth, shutting down photosynthesis and drastically cooling the planet. The research found that soot in the atmosphere would have blocked sunlight, causing a steep decline in average temperatures.
Large soot injections at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary could have prevented photosynthesis and reduced global temperatures by up to 16C for several years. The effects likely contributed to mass extinction through ozone layer depletion and stratospheric warming.
A team of researchers at KAUST has created a computational model to simulate soot production in gasoline engines, allowing car makers to test potential changes to reduce emissions. By analyzing the chemical reactions involved in soot formation, the model can help manufacturers optimize engine design and improve fuel efficiency.
A new hypothesis proposes that soot ejected by the Chicxulub asteroid impact caused global cooling, drought, and limited photosynthesis in oceans. This rapid climate change is believed to have led to the mass extinction of dinosaurs and ammonites.
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...
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.
New research shows that candle soot can be used to power the lithium batteries in electric cars, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution. The discovery opens up possibilities for using carbon in more powerful batteries, which could drive down production costs and increase efficiency.
Researchers use climate model to tag soot sources and track its impact on the Tibetan Plateau, finding that soot from wildfires in India warms the region more than greenhouse gases. The study suggests that cutting emissions from central Asia's fossil fuel burning can have a significant impact on reducing soot levels on the plateau.
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.
A new study published in PNAS suggests that eliminating short-lived climate pollutants (SLCF) has a minor effect on slowing down global warming. The research found that these gases have a measurable impact but are short-lived and quickly disappear from the atmosphere, making them less effective in mitigating climate change.
Scientists have discovered a new form of soot particle, 'superaggregates,' emitted by wildfires in regions like Southeast Asia and Russia. These particles contribute up to 90% more warming than conventional soot particles, warranting further research.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab and University of Hawaii confirm hydrogen abstraction-acetylene addition mechanism in combustion theory. The study has implications for designing cleaner-burning fuels and fine-tuning carbon nanotubes and graphene sheets.
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 team of researchers has discovered key properties of tar balls and soot particles in wildfire smoke, which could improve climate change forecasts. The study provides new insights into how these particles affect climate, including their role in cloud formation and potential warming or cooling effects.