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Studies find global COVID-19 lockdowns have significantly reduced PM2.5 and NO2 pollution, but ozone up

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Levels of two major air pollutants have been reduced significantly since lockdowns began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a secondary pollutant—ground-level ozone—has increased in China, according to new research. For comparison, columns over the same time periods are shown for 2019. —Guy Brasseur.

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Toyota Central R&D Labs develops new ferrihydrite material that effectively removes ozone from air

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Comparison of O 3. Japan) report in the journal Angewandte Chemie the development of a mesoporous two-line ferrihydrite (2LFh)—ferrihydrite is a widespread mineral composed of iron, oxygen, and water—that could lead to a new generation of ozone filters in electrostatic devices and aircraft applications. Mathew et al.

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Study finds rising temperatures increase risk of unhealthy ozone levels absent sharp cuts in precursors

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Ozone pollution across the continental United States will become far more difficult to keep in check as temperatures rise, according to new work led by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Ozone formation. Even short periods of unhealthy ozone levels can cause local death rates to rise. Scenario A2 and RCP 8.5.

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NOAA Study Identifies Nitrous Oxide as Top Ozone-Depleting Emission in 21st Century

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Comparison of annual N 2 O ODP-weighted emissions from the 1990s with emissions of other ODS in 1987 and in 2008. Currently, anthropogenic N 2 O emissions represent the largest contribution to ozone depletion. Today, nitrous oxide emissions from human activities are more than twice as high as the next leading ozone-depleting gas.

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NOAA, partners find about 98% decline in VOCs concentrations in LA Basin over last 50 years despite 3x increase in use of gasoline and diesel

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VOCs, primarily emitted from the tailpipes of vehicles, are a key ingredient in the formation of ground-level ozone which, at high levels, can harm people’s lungs and damage crops and other plants. —lead author Carsten Warneke, Ph.D.,

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MIT study finds including non-CO2 emissions from synthetic aviation fuel in lifecycle analysis of climate impact can lead to decrease in relative environmental merit; need for a holistic analysis framework

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In the months following a pulse of NO x in the upper atmosphere, ozone production is stimulated causing a short-term warming. The corresponding reduction in CH 4 , which is an important ozone precursor, leads to a long-term reduction in ozone. Many other factors have less quantifiable impacts. —Stratton et al.

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Renault makes public its lifecycle study of Fluence ICE vs Fluence EV

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Renault’s comparison of the carbon footprint of EV and ICE vehicles over production, operation and end of life. The publication gives the opportunity for an “apples-to-apples” comparison between the environmental impacts of the two types of powertrains: same manufacturer, same model, same boundary conditions. Click to enlarge.

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