Articles tagged with Greenhouse Gases
New studies on shale oil production have found that it generates greenhouse gas emissions at levels comparable to traditional crude oil production. The research analyzed the Eagle Ford and Bakken plays in Texas and North Dakota, respectively, and used a life-cycle model to estimate energy consumption and emissions.
A new study projects a doubling of Antarctic ice shelf surface melting by 2050 and a significant increase in melting by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. The research highlights the importance of climate policy in mitigating the effects of warming on ice shelves.
Researchers find that using liquid natural gas (LNG) in marine vessels can reduce local air pollution, but its impact on greenhouse gases depends on the fuel supply infrastructure. The study suggests that LNG may be a viable alternative to traditional fuels for shipping companies looking to comply with new regulations.
Researchers have discovered that vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) can be used to capture and store greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide more effectively than traditional adsorption materials. The study found that adjusting the morphological parameters of VACNTs can significantly impact gas adsorption.
The special issue marks the 10th year anniversary of IPCC SRCCS and outlines significant progress made in CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS) in the last decade. The reviews suggest that CCS is now a mature technology, ready for large-scale deployment to combat climate change.
Researchers found that strategic practices can reduce California almond production's carbon footprint, utilizing co-products for renewable power generation. Ideal circumstances could make California almonds carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative through improved orchard biomass utilization.
A University of Oregon researcher found that large-scale organic farming operations are not reducing greenhouse gas emissions, despite being considered a sustainable alternative. The study suggests stricter adherence to sustainability-driven farm practices and increased governmental oversight are needed.
A new study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that autonomous taxis could significantly reduce per-mile greenhouse gas emissions, with savings ranging from 63-82% compared to hybrid vehicles and 90% compared to gasoline-powered cars. The use of right-sizing, where the size of the taxi is tailored to each trip's occupancy...
A Michigan State University study found that environmental activism can mitigate the negative impacts of population growth and economic affluence on greenhouse gas emissions. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that states with strong green voices tend to have lower emissions.
A new study found that cutting greenhouse gas emissions may increase hunger risks due to indirect effects on food production and biofuel consumption. The researchers conclude that governments must address climate change while providing measures to alleviate hunger.
A new study led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that making realistic changes to UK diets could have substantial benefits for both health and the environment. The modified diet would contain fewer animal products, more fruit and vegetables, and less savoury snacks.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have resolved an unexplained gap in global emissions reports, finding that developing countries are significantly contributing to the issue. The study used atmospheric measurements and models to evaluate reported HFC emissions and found inconsistencies in reporting, with some gases being over- o...
A recent slowdown in global average temperatures is having no effect on the planet's projected warming by 2100. The study found that long-term temperature outcomes are unaffected by short-term variability, with greenhouse gases expected to overwhelm natural fluctuations and lead to dangerous levels of warming.
Researchers from Poland and the US turn disc fragments into activated carbon with high surface areas, capturing carbon dioxide, hydrogen gas, and benzene. The material could be used for carbon capture applications and separate volatile organic compounds.
A new nationwide data inventory, DARTE, provides a baseline for local efforts to limit carbon dioxide levels by tracking vehicle emissions across the US. The study highlights the need for accurate information to improve greenhouse gas control efforts in cities and suburbs.
A new study by MIT researchers finds that smarter programming of stoplights can reduce delays, improve efficiency, and lower emissions in urban areas. By combining vehicle-level data with city-level traffic patterns, the algorithm produces more accurate predictions and recommendations for optimizing traffic flow.
A new study confirms a positive feedback operating in climate change, where warming amplifies greenhouse gas emissions and additional warming. This is evident from direct analysis of ice-core data, showing that temperature has a profound effect on atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.
Researchers at Empa measure first generation of coolants in the Swiss atmosphere, finding a faster decay rate than predecessors. The study highlights environmental concerns related to these substances, including their potential impact on ecosystems and human health.
The presentation focuses on developing novel materials that can prompt reactions in the lab, which could help reduce levels of greenhouse gases. The research aims to mimic nature's chemistry to solve global environmental problems and provide new solutions for industrial applications.
New study finds that farms with lower carbon footprints and higher-producing cows are more profitable, offering a win-win solution for the dairy industry. By increasing milk production, decreasing herd replacement rates, or improving reproductive efficiency, farmers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining profitability.
Researchers analyzed changes in climate over several decades, finding that the Earth is now entering a period of faster-than-natural warming. The study suggests that decision-makers need to better prepare for the impacts of climate change by understanding how quickly temperatures will rise.
A recent study found that miscanthus-based ethanol has higher yield and profit potential, particularly in poor-quality soil. Miscanthus outperforms other feedstocks in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A novel class of materials has been developed to remove greenhouse gas from power plant emissions, offering a safer and more energy-efficient process. The microcapsules contain liquid sorbents encased in highly permeable polymer shells, achieving an order-of-magnitude increase in CO2 absorption rates.
A new model suggests California will meet its 2020 GHG reduction goal, with potential for 40% reductions by 2030. The state's policies are expected to result in significant emission reductions, with individual policies quantified for the first time.
Researchers found that rising greenhouse gas concentrations played a key role in causing more rainfall in two major regions of Africa, transforming desert into grasslands and savannas. The study validated the Community Climate System Model's predictions for future climate changes in Africa.
A new paper reveals that global dietary trends are diminishing human health and harming the environment. Alternative diets offer substantial health benefits and could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, land clearing, and species extinctions.
A new study shows that adopting healthier traditional Mediterranean, pescatarian, or vegetarian diets could boost human lifespan and quality of life while slashing greenhouse gas emissions and saving habitat for endangered species. The research predicts that this dietary shift would prevent massive environmental damage, increase global...
The University of Michigan student researchers compiled a comprehensive citywide greenhouse gas inventory for Detroit, highlighting key emission sources and areas for improvement. The report shows that energy use in buildings accounts for nearly two-thirds of the city's emissions, with exhaust from cars contributing to about 30%.
Researchers from NIST and NOAA have developed a laser-based instrument that can accurately measure greenhouse gases over long distances. The technique uses frequency combs to detect gas signatures, providing precise measurements of atmospheric composition.
Researchers have found that carbonate rocks contain vast amounts of active microbes that take up methane, expanding our understanding of the Earth's methane process. The discovery could significantly impact our understanding of greenhouse gas accumulation and its role in climate change.
Approval of Keystone XL would increase oil sands extraction, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions, according to a survey of experts. The study suggests that KXL could raise CO2 emissions by 1-40 million metric tons per year, depending on market responses.
A new approach estimates CO2 emissions from fossil fuels at a global scale, providing detailed information for policy-makers. The 'Fossil Fuel Data Assimilation System' (FFDAS) uses satellite feeds, national fuel accounts, and power plant data to create high-resolution planetary maps.
Researchers found that adopting the USDA's 'Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010' would lead to a 12% increase in diet-related greenhouse gas emissions due to increased consumption of dairy products and seafood. In contrast, reducing daily caloric intake while shifting to a healthier diet would result in only a 1% decrease in emissions.
A new study suggests that changing global diets can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from food production. The study reveals that a shift towards healthier diets, reduced food waste, and sustainable agricultural practices can significantly reduce the environmental impact of food production. By adopting balanced eating habits, includin...
New research finds that beef cattle are responsible for far more greenhouse gas emissions than other types of animals, accounting for 74% of livestock-related emissions. The study estimates that greenhouse gas emissions from livestock have increased by 51% over the past nearly half a century.
A new study suggests that encouraging the intensification of Brazil's cattle production or taxing conventional pastures could deliver a substantial cut in global greenhouse gas emissions. By reducing deforestation, Brazil may be able to spare up to 80% of recently deforested land.
A University of California, Riverside researcher has won a $500,000 grant to study a process that transforms carbon dioxide into valuable fuels and chemicals using a unique catalyst. The technology has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one million tons per year or more.
A study by researchers at KU Leuven predicts that deforestation in the Congo Basin could increase temperatures by 1.4 °C by 2050, with an additional 0.7 °C from deforestation-induced warming. This could lead to drastic temperature increases, threatening plant and animal species with extinction.
Researchers at Penn State have redefined the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), finding that its true signal was likely in a cooling phase in recent decades. This shift may have offset some of the anthropogenic warming, resulting in a temporary slowdown in global warming.
New research suggests that rising temperatures will increase methane fluxes from freshwater ecosystems, a key component of global methane emissions. This finding highlights the importance of understanding biological methane fluxes to predict the response of this component to global warming.
The Life-Seed Capital project uses rapeseed crops to improve agricultural productivity and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Rapeseed cake, a by-product of oil extraction, is used as animal feed, reducing emissions by up to 13% and improving organic matter use efficiency.
A new study reveals that targeted livestock production systems can lead to a 23% reduction in emissions from land use change within two decades. This shift would make it more profitable for farmers to expand mixed systems with higher-quality feed, resulting in increased efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
Recent volcanic eruptions have cooled the planet, partly offsetting the warming caused by greenhouse gases. The team found evidence of significant correlations between volcanic aerosol observations and lower tropospheric temperatures.
A new study published in IOP Publishing's journal Environmental Research Letters warns that abrupt stopping of the geoengineering method could lead to rapid and extensive warming. The researchers found that global temperatures could more than double if the method is implemented for a multi-decadal period and then suddenly stopped.
A new study found that suburban households in the US account for approximately 50% of the country's total household carbon footprint. The researchers used an analytic model and national survey data to estimate average household carbon footprints for over 30,000 zip codes and 10,000 cities and towns across all 50 states.
A new study by UC Berkeley researchers finds that suburban sprawl cancels out the carbon footprint savings of densely populated cities, with suburbs accounting for 50% of household emissions. Interactive maps show striking differences between urban cores and surrounding suburbs, highlighting the need for tailored climate action plans.
A recent analysis suggests that reducing livestock emissions can help mitigate climate change, particularly methane and nitrous oxide. Ruminants, such as cattle, produce copious amounts of methane in their digestive systems, with greenhouse gas emissions from these animals being 19-48 times higher than plant-based protein sources.
A new study by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists shows that global precipitation changes are directly affected by human activities and cannot be explained by natural variability alone. The research found that thermodynamic changes and shifts in atmospheric circulation patterns are contributing to the observed changes.
Researchers have identified areas in Antarctica where ancient ice cores could hold records of the past 1.5 million years, shedding light on Earth's climate history. The identified regions are near major domes in East Antarctica, offering a chance to drill into an ice core extending back that far.
A new study by Duke University researchers finds that China's planned synthetic gas plants would produce massive greenhouse gas emissions, using up to 100 times the water as shale gas production. The plants' carbon dioxide emissions would be seven times higher than traditional natural gas plants and lock in high emissions for decades.
The QUT-developed Semaphore program enables researchers to simulate fluxes of carbon and nitrogen, providing guidelines for reducing greenhouse gas footprint. The program reduces transaction costs and testing time, allowing landholders to adopt effective strategies for minimizing emissions.
Researchers attribute Arctic surface temperature variation from 1900 to present to a combination of greenhouse gas emissions, anthropogenic sulfate aerosols, and volcanic eruptions. The study demonstrates the importance of aerosols in climate forcing and sheds light on the environmental and economic impacts of Arctic climate change.
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 published in the Journal of Climate reveals that the Montreal Protocol, which phased out chlorofluorocarbons in 1987, also protected global hydroclimate and prevented major disruption to rainfall patterns. The treaty's success is attributed to its impact on atmospheric circulation, greenhouse gases, and evaporation cycles.
Researchers from Carnegie Institution review climate models predicting significant warming over most terrestrial regions during the 21st century. The analysis highlights the need to consider uncertainties in greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on future climate change.
A pilot project is testing deep geologic storage of CO2 in ancient basalt flows in southeastern Washington. The goal is to safely and permanently store greenhouse gas emissions, with potential global implications.
Scientists have developed a new technology that can convert CO2 into electricity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and producing over 1,570 billion kilowatts of additional power annually. The method uses CO2 from power plant smokestacks and other sources, eliminating the need for additional fuel to produce electricity.
Scientists from CSIRO and the University of NSW attribute rapid ocean warming to global greenhouse gas emissions and aerosol decline. Models show a 30-year delay in Indian Ocean warming due to aerosol levels, highlighting human-emitted aerosols' significant impact on remote ocean temperatures.
A new study suggests that sustainable farming practices can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving food security. By increasing crop yields using efficient methods, such as new varieties and precision farming, farmers can cut emissions by 12% per calorie produced.
A new tree-ring record reveals El Niño was unusually active in the late 20th century, suggesting a response to global warming. This finding has implications for climate models and predictions of future ENSO activity.