Articles tagged with Atmospheric Chemistry
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that ancient ocean chemistry created a self-sustaining cycle that kept oxygen levels high after they first rose. This cycle, fueled by phosphorus recycling, allowed for biological productivity and maintained oxygen in the atmosphere.
A new study by Columbia Climate School researchers estimates that natural gas use is the primary source of methane emissions in NYC, equivalent to nearly $300 million in wasted fuel. The findings provide an overlooked pathway for reducing methane emissions while potentially saving consumers millions of dollars.
Researchers used satellite-observed chlorophyll fluorescence to detect subtle physiological changes in evergreen trees, revealing forest stress two years before bark beetle mortality appears. The technology could provide early warning for forest managers to prepare before mortality becomes widespread, helping to mitigate climate change...
Researchers collected and analyzed wet and dry deposition samples, finding PFAS in forested watersheds, but attributed to breakdown of precursor compounds, not sea spray. The study suggests PFAS are likely transported from industrial centers elsewhere, raising environmental concerns.
The study provides a practical framework for choosing biodiesel feedstocks by weighing climate impact and air pollution, offering solutions for climate change mitigation. Waste-derived feedstocks demonstrated lower GHG emissions, while plant-based options had varying pollution levels, highlighting the importance of considering air-poll...
Researchers in Germany have developed a thermographic screening approach to identify short peptide sequences that respond to carbon dioxide. The study combines combinatorial solid-phase peptide synthesis with infrared thermography, identifying two tripeptides that show reproducible thermographic responses when exposed to CO2.
A new study finds that rain falling through wildfire smoke can deliver unusually large bursts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to ecosystems in the United States. The nutrient pulses could become an increasingly important ecological consequence of fire as wildfires become more frequent.
Urban greenery provides substantial cooling benefits but also complicates ozone control by stabilizing the urban boundary layer and releasing ozone-polluting compounds. Locally tailored greening strategies are needed to maximize cooling benefits while minimizing air-quality trade-offs
Climate researchers have discovered a significant increase in neighborhood-level hurricane warnings, widespread wildfires in the US, and unprecedented changes in Earth's energy budget. These findings suggest that greenhouse gases are driving these trends, with smoke and fire-related carbon emissions rising due to increased aridity.
Researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research measured sugars from seawater in the upper atmosphere over Spitsbergen, revealing their role in cloud formation and Arctic climate. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the interactions leading to above-average warming in the Arctic.
The 36th annual State of the Climate report reveals record highs in greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level, and ocean heat content. Greenhouse gas concentrations reached a 53% increase from preindustrial levels, with fossil fuel emissions reaching a record high in 2025.
Scientists have discovered a new process that forms cloud-forming particles in the Arctic atmosphere when melting sea ice meets open ocean. This combination of marine life and sunlight releases a chemical mixture that seeds the sky with particles, increasing cloud cover and affecting global climate.
Scientists have discovered that record-high Arctic stratospheric ozone levels observed in March 2024 were caused by exceptionally strong planetary waves, El Niño, and other large-scale climate oscillations. The study's findings highlight the growing importance of atmospheric dynamics in controlling Arctic ozone variability.
A team of astronomers has detected the first atmosphere on an Earth-like, rocky planet orbiting within the habitable zone of another star. The discovery provides evidence that worlds with conditions similar to Earth could exist beyond our solar system.
A new study by Osaka Metropolitan University found that levoglucosan, a chemical formed from biomass combustion, loses up to 88% of its mass in the atmosphere due to degradation and volatilization. This suggests that conventional analyses may misidentify emission sources, particularly in tropical areas.
A new study finds that approximately 15% of current global warming is attributed to 'indirect greenhouse gases,' including carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. The authors call for integrating these gases into climate policy frameworks, emphasizing their significant impact on warming.
Researchers from Virginia Tech found that airborne particles have an outer alkaline shell, contradicting the traditional view of uniform droplets. This discovery has significant implications for understanding air quality and climate change.
A new study used methane isotopologues to trace where recent emissions originate and how they are changing around the world. The study found that human activities, particularly fossil fuel emissions in regions like China and India, are contributing to higher global methane emissions.
PFAS contamination is linked to wastewater discharges and local industrial sources, but airborne transport may carry chemicals across long distances before returning to Earth. The research team identifies possible source regions and better understand how weather and atmospheric transport influence PFAS contamination.
Researchers from Columbia University have developed a theory explaining how carbon dioxide cools the stratosphere, even as it warms Earth's surface and lower atmosphere. The study reveals that CO2 molecules interact with infrared light in a specific 'Goldilocks zone' that expands with increasing atmospheric CO2 levels.
Researchers discovered that a volcano's eruption can clean up methane pollution by breaking it down into formaldehyde. The phenomenon could potentially be key to slowing global warming and has implications for reducing methane emissions.
A new study by the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research has found that the biological productivity of the Southern Ocean is substantially greater than previously estimated. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the global carbon cycle and the marine food web.
Scientists calculate that high leakages of ozone-depleting substances from feedstocks could delay ozone recovery by about seven years. The Montreal Protocol made an exception for the use of these substances in producing other materials, but recent estimates suggest higher leakage rates than initially thought.
A new study finds that dairy manure digesters are highly effective in reducing methane emissions from cow manure, with most systems performing well. However, occasional leaks of large magnitude offset the climate benefits, highlighting the need for thorough monitoring and verification.
A study detected a sudden increase in lithium atoms in the lower thermosphere, attributing it to the uncontrolled re-entry of a Falcon 9 rocket stage. The researchers used lidar technology to measure the concentration of lithium atoms and found that natural atmospheric processes were highly unlikely to be the source.
The University of Washington's STRIVE team will examine the atmosphere where weather forms, while the EDGE team will study the three-dimensional structure of the Earth's surface. These satellite missions aim to provide new insights into temperature, trace gases, and air pollution.
A team of researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, developed an ensemble technique to improve climate modeling by tracing water molecules' movement. They found a general increase in atmospheric water vapor associated with warming temperatures, linking it to large-scale climate phenomena.
A new study suggests some early life forms evolved to use oxygen hundreds of millions of years before the Great Oxidation Event, potentially delaying oxygen's accumulation in the atmosphere. This discovery adds to our understanding of aerobic respiration and its evolution on Earth.
A new study reveals that CFC replacement chemicals and anaesthetics are behind a third of a million tonnes of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) being deposited from the atmosphere across the Earth's surface between 2000 and 2022. TFA production is expected to continue growing, posing environmental concerns.
Researchers found significant decline of atmospheric trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in Toronto during COVID-19, suggesting its sources and enabling future reduction strategies. The decrease is attributed to short-lived chemical precursors emitted into the atmosphere, offering new hope for mitigating this persistent pollutant.
Contrails formed from plane exhaust meet icy air, growing into threads that trap heat and contribute to warming the planet. Combining images from geostationary and low-Earth-orbiting satellites may provide a more complete picture of contrail life and radiative properties.
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences quantify the role of climate change in wildfires and air quality, finding that 60-82% of total burned area in western US forests is directly attributable to warming temperatures and drier conditions caused by climate change.
A new study reveals that Southeast Asia is a significant source of climate-warming gases, with deforestation and fossil fuel use leading the way. The region's natural carbon sinks are being overwhelmed, making it challenging for countries to reach climate neutrality without urgent regional action.
A study published in Science Advances found that unusually large particles of wildfire smoke had a significant cooling effect on the region they were observed in, increasing outgoing radiation by 30-36% compared to smaller smoke particles. This effect has not been included in current climate models.
Recent observations of TRAPPIST-1e, an Earth-sized exoplanet in the habitable zone, reveal hints of methane but raise questions about its atmosphere's existence. Researchers caution that more rigorous studies are needed to determine if the methane is a sign of an atmosphere or stellar contamination.
The 106th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society will focus on the intersection of technology and human decision-making in weather, water, and climate sciences. The meeting will feature keynote presentations, Presidential Sessions, and named symposia highlighting key Earth science topics.
Researchers found significant SF6 emissions in Heilbronn region, amounting to approximately 30 tons per year, and exceeding previous estimates. The study aims to validate bottom-up assessments of emissions by complementing top-down emission estimates.
Researchers found sulfur-containing molecules in ancient Earth's atmosphere, which could have supplied life with building blocks like amino acids. The discovery challenges the idea that these molecules emerged after life already formed, suggesting a more complex role for the environment in life's origin.
Jülich researchers found that long-lived contrails usually form within existing natural ice clouds, rather than clear skies. This has significant climate implications, as contrail cirrus clouds can enhance the warming greenhouse effect or have a cooling effect depending on surrounding conditions.
Researchers developed a new atomically layered material that reduces resistivity by five orders of magnitude when oxidized, exceeding similar non-layered materials. The team discovered a synergy between oxidation and structural modification driving dramatic changes in physical properties.
A team led by UMD astronomers has created the first three-dimensional temperature map of a planet orbiting another star, revealing distinct temperature zones and water vapor breakdown. The new technique lays the groundwork for future explorations of faraway planets.
Researchers at Kyushu University found that rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere may lead to disruptions in shortwave radio communications, including systems used for air traffic control and maritime communication. The ionosphere's cooling due to global warming causes a decrease in air density and accelerates wind circulation.
Johannes Lelieveld's research on air quality, emissions, and climate change has demonstrated the interconnectedness of these issues. His work provides new insights into human health risks and informs policy decisions to address pressing societal challenges.
Researchers measured gas emissions from 96 US wastewater plants, finding they produce 1.9-2.4 times more nitrous oxide and methane than previously thought. This means taking steps to improve a small number of plants can have a significant impact on overall pollution.
Research from Colorado State University reveals how wildfire smoke combines with existing particulate pollution to create secondary, often more toxic, pollution and contribute to ozone formation. The study found that 90% of aerosol pollution over NYC is sensitive to at least one aspect of global changes, such as high temperatures.
Researchers from Tel Aviv University predict that detecting radio waves from the cosmic dark ages can help resolve the nature of dark matter. The study uses computer simulations to show that dense clumps of dark matter formed throughout the Universe, pulling in hydrogen gas and causing it to emit intense radio waves.
Researchers at UAlbany are exploring the use of stable water isotopes to improve weather and climate forecasts. By analyzing differences in isotope masses, scientists can track moisture movement and understand related processes.
A new study reveals how microbes in Chinese riverine wetlands help remove excess nitrogen, a key factor in water quality degradation. Denitrification and anammox processes were found to be crucial for nitrogen removal, with spatial patterns varying across landscapes.
A comprehensive review synthesizes decade-long progress in quantifying nitrogen transformation processes, identifying novel microbial pathways, and developing sustainable management strategies. Key findings include advanced methodologies and novel microbial pathways that offer potential solutions to reduce nitrogen losses and nitrous o...
A new study reveals that small electric charges between particles play a crucial role in forming highly concentrated clusters in turbulent environments. This discovery has significant implications for climate research, medicine, engineering, and science, enabling better predictions and controls.
Researchers from the University of Maryland tracked lightning storms in real-time using NASA's TEMPO instrument, detecting nitrogen oxide emissions that affect climate and air quality. The study reveals how lightning can produce pollutants that travel long distances, influencing air quality far from the original storm.
A new study reveals that the Tijuana River releases large quantities of toxic gases, including hydrogen sulfide, contributing to poor air quality across the region. The polluted river's poor water quality mirrors the symptoms reported by residents of South Bay communities, highlighting the need for improved environmental protection.
A new study found that planting trees in tropical regions can cool the climate by up to 0.8° F and reduce fire risk, offering significant benefits for global temperatures and ecosystems. The research emphasizes the importance of location in determining tree planting's impact on climate effects.
Researchers have developed a novel way to reach the unexplored mesosphere using lightweight flying structures that can float using sunlight. The devices, which were built at Harvard and other institutions, levitated in low-pressure conditions and demonstrated potential for climate sensing and exploration.
A £13m UK university consortium is developing sustainable technologies for advanced modular reactors, aiming to secure the UK's position in nuclear innovation. The ENLIGHT programme will address key challenges, including sovereign supply of nuclear graphite and managing irradiated waste.
Insects rely on carbon dioxide emissions from host plants to identify ideal egg-laying sites. Rising atmospheric CO₂ levels interfere with this natural signal, leading to maladaptive choices that threaten insect survival. The study highlights the urgent need for both emissions reductions and innovative agricultural adaptation.
Researchers used SPARTAN network data to find black carbon concentrations in low- and middle-income areas across the Global South were grossly underestimated, with up to a two-fold underestimation. The study highlights the need for renewed attention to characterizing harmful black carbon in these regions.
Researchers found consistent evidence of reduced global atmospheric oxidation in 2020, driven by decreased nitrogen oxide emissions and extreme wildfires in the Southern Hemisphere. This decline had a significant impact on methane concentrations, contributing to one of the largest annual increases ever recorded.
A new online platform, SMRT-Flames, estimates the health impacts of wildfire smoke and provides fire managers with tools to assess potential smoke exposure. The app uses a Harvard-developed computer model to predict how fires would behave across regions and how smoke would pool and disperse.
Researchers detected atmospheric methane and silicon monoxide on WASP-121b, suggesting it accumulated most of its gas in a cold region before becoming an ultra-hot giant planet. The team proposes that strong vertical winds on the nightside replenish methane gas to maintain its high abundance.