Amount Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Research Articles

Methane dry reforming on fibrous silica-alumina employing nanocrystals of nickel and cobalt to recognize the most efficient metal

Presently, the production of syngas through the dry reforming of methane is a widely employed approach for reducing vast amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Several metals, particularly transition metals support have been evaluated as active DRM catalyst systems. In this work, a comparative studies is presented between Cobalt and Nickel metals impregnated over fibrous silica-alumina (FSA) support synthesized by the hydrothermal method for dry methane reforming. The specimens were characterized via FESEM mapping, TEM, XRD, H2-TPR, XRF, N2 physisorption, and KBr-FTIR techniques. Unlike the Co/FSA, Ni/FSA displayed a higher surface area with a fine dispersion of Ni nano-crystalline and less agglomeration, and more active sites which enhanced the metal-support interaction. Approximately 0.2g of each catalyst was evaluated at 650–800 °C with a respective. CH4:CO2:N2 ratio of 1:1:2, gas hourly space velocity 30,000 mL g−1 h−1. The Ni/FSA demonstrated more conversion of CH4 (89%) over (67%) of Co/FSA at 800 °C. After 10 h of long-term reaction, the Ni/FSA exhibited more stability at 800 °C. TGA/DTA, Raman, and TEM results showed that spent Ni/FSA catalysts did not demonstrate signs of considerable nano-graphitic carbon or metal sintering as compared to Co/FSA catalysts, which had bigger crystallites of Co. The finding of this study would add new knowledge on reaction conditions involving and catalytic activities of the metals over the FSA.

Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development Goal of Clean and Affordable Energy

Energy demand has grown rapidly with increase of global population. Surge in energy consumption is mainly driven by both economic and technological advancement. The conventional fossil fuels sources (coal, oil, and natural gas) and nuclear energy are depleting in nature known as non-renewables. Burning of fossil fuels contribute significant amount of greenhouse gases emissions, which negatively impact the global ecosystem. Access to energy is essential for modern civilization, yet we must seek alternative energy sources to protect our planet by controlling the emissions. Capturing harmful Green House Gases (GHG) with the help of advanced technologies helps reduce the risk to some extent. However, alternative energy sources must be renewable and sustainable. Renewable energy resources vary by geographical location and include solar, wind, hydro, and bioenergy, among others. The most appealing primary benefits of renewable energy include its low environmental impact, consistent availability even in challenging weather conditions, and its effectiveness in reducing pollution. Additionally, renewable energy contributes to economic growth, fosters job creation, and enhances energy security. However, there are challenges associated with renewable energy storage, which scientists are actively working to address. In addition, public opposition for the installation of renewable energy infrastructure also create difficulties. Increasing public education and awareness regarding the advantages of renewable energy can assist increasing the acceptability, which can further help policymakers in making well-informed decisions. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of diverse renewable energy sources and their current advancements in development. This review further finds that effective government policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions, coupled with improved technology and storage solutions, the adoption of renewable energy will expand significantly in the coming years.

Protective Cultures in Food Products: From Science to Market

An ultimate goal in food production is to guarantee food safety and security. Fermented food products benefit from the intrinsic capabilities of the applied starter cultures as they produce organic acids and bactericidal compounds such as hydrogen peroxide that hamper most food pathogens. In addition, highly potent small peptides, bacteriocins, are being expelled to exert antibiotic effects. Based on ongoing scientific efforts, there is a growing market of food products to which protective cultures are added exclusively for food safety and for prolonged shelf life. In this regard, most genera from the order Lactobacillales play a prominent role. Here, we give an overview on protective cultures in food products. We summarize the mode of actions of antibacterial mechanisms. We display the strategies for the isolation and characterization of protective cultures in order to have them market-ready. A survey of the growing market reveals promising perspectives. Finally, a comprehensive chapter discusses the current legislation issues concerning protective cultures, leading to the conclusion that the application of protective cultures is superior to the usage of defined bacteriocins regarding simplicity, economic costs, and thus usage in less-developed countries. We believe that further discovery of bacteria to be implemented in food preservation will significantly contribute to customer's food safety and food security, badly needed to feed world's growing population but also for food waste reduction in order to save substantial amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.

Spatial patterns of biomass change across Finland in 2009–2015

Forest characteristics vary largely at the regional level and in smaller geographic areas in Finland. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions is related to changes in biomass and the soil type (e.g. upland soils vs. peatlands). In this paper, estimating and explaining spatial patterns of tree biomass change across Finland was the main interest. We analysed biomass changes on different soil and site types between the years 2009 and 2015 using the Finnish multi-source national forest inventory (MS-NFI) raster layers. MS-NFI method is based on combining information from satellite imagery, digital maps and national forest inventory (NFI) field data. Automatic segmentation was used to create silvicultural management and treatment units. An average biomass estimate of the segmented MS-NFI (MS–NFI–seg) map was 73.9 tons ha−1 compared to the national forest inventory estimate of 76.5 tons ha−1 in 2015. Forest soil type had a similar effect on average biomass in MS–NFI–seg and NFI data. Despite good regional and country-level results, segmentation narrowed the biomass distributions. Hence, biomass changes on segments can be considered only approximate values; also, those small differences in average biomass may accumulate when map layers from more than one time point are compared. A kappa of 0.44 was achieved for precision when comparing undisturbed and disturbed forest stands in the segmented Global Forest Change data (GFC-seg) and MS–NFI–seg map. Compared to NFI, 69% and 62% of disturbed areas were detected by GFC-seg and MS–NFI–seg, respectively. Spatially accurate map data of biomass changes on forest land improve the ability to suggest optimal management alternatives for any patch of land, e.g. in terms of climate change mitigation.

Effects of acidifiers on soil greenhouse gas emissions in calcareous soils in a semi-arid area

In most agricultural fields, when soil pH is high, elemental sulfur or sulfuric acid are used to reduce soil pH and increase the availability of macro and micronutrients for optimum crop yield. However, how these inputs impact soil greenhouse gas emissions is unknown. This study aimed to measure the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and pH after the application of various doses of elemental sulfur (ES) and sulfuric acid (SA). Using static chambers, this study quantifies soil greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, N2O, and CH4) for 12 months after the application of ES (200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 kg ha−1) and SA (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg ha−1) to a calcareous soil (pH 8.1) in Zanjan, Iran. Also, in order to simulate rainfed and dryland farming which are common practices in this area, this study was conducted with and without sprinkler irrigation. Application of ES slowly decreased soil pH (more than half a unit) over the year whereas application of SA temporarily reduced the pH (less than a half unit) for a few weeks. CO2 and N2O emissions and CH4 uptake were maximum during summer and lowest in winter. Cumulative CO2 fluxes ranged from 1859.2 kg−1 CO2-C ha−1 year−1 in the control treatment to 2269.6 kg CO2-C ha−1 year−1 in the 1000 kg ha−1 ES treatment. Cumulative fluxes for N2O-N were 2.5 and 3.7 kg N2O-N ha−1 year−1 and cumulative CH4 uptakes were 0.2 and 2.3 kg CH4-C ha−1 year−1 in the same treatments. Irrigation significantly increased CO2 and N2O emissions and, depending on the amount of ES applied, decreased or increased CH4 uptake. SA application had a negligible effect on GHGs emissions in this experiment and only the highest amount of SA altered GHGs emissions.

Offshore decommissioning horizon scan: Research priorities to support decision-making activities for oil and gas infrastructure

Thousands of oil and gas structures have been installed in the world's oceans over the past 70 years to meet the population's reliance on hydrocarbons. Over the last decade, there has been increased concern over how to handle decommissioning of this infrastructure when it reaches the end of its operational life. Complete or partial removal may or may not present the best option when considering potential impacts on the environment, society, technical feasibility, economy, and future asset liability. Re-purposing of offshore structures may also be a valid legal option under international maritime law where robust evidence exists to support this option. Given the complex nature of decommissioning offshore infrastructure, a global horizon scan was undertaken, eliciting input from an interdisciplinary cohort of 35 global experts to develop the top ten priority research needs to further inform decommissioning decisions and advance our understanding of their potential impacts. The highest research priorities included: (1) an assessment of impacts of contaminants and their acceptable environmental limits to reduce potential for ecological harm; (2) defining risk and acceptability thresholds in policy/governance; (3) characterising liability issues of ongoing costs and responsibility; and (4) quantification of impacts to ecosystem services. The remaining top ten priorities included: (5) quantifying ecological connectivity; (6) assessing marine life productivity; (7) determining feasibility of infrastructure re-use; (8) identification of stakeholder views and values; (9) quantification of greenhouse gas emissions; and (10) developing a transdisciplinary decommissioning decision-making process. Addressing these priorities will help inform policy development and governance frameworks to provide industry and stakeholders with a clearer path forward for offshore decommissioning. The principles and framework developed in this paper are equally applicable for informing responsible decommissioning of offshore renewable energy infrastructure, in particular wind turbines, a field that is accelerating rapidly.

Sustainability in Construction

The main theme of this work is the sustainability of buildings and their relevance for sustainable development in Romania and Europe in the current context of orientation towards sustainable augmentation, minimizing the negative impact on the environment.A sustainable building must be designed to use the necessary resources: energy, water, and materials in a more efficient way while aiming at reducing the impact that the construction itself has on the health of the occupants but also on the environment.As it is known, human activity in the last few centuries has led to the consumption of resources and the spread of pollutants in the environment.
 According to statistics, over time it has been proven that the construction sector is one of the most active contemporary polluters. The largest amount of greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector results from the use of energy (e.g., for heating, lighting, etc.). Thus, it is demonstrated the need to decrease energy consumption for the use of buildings, but also for their construction and recycling.

Areas of Individual Consumption Reduction: A Focus on Implemented Restrictions and Willingness for Further Cut-Backs

To reduce the high amount of Greenhouse Gas emissions, a more sustainable individual lifestyle is crucial. However, existing research regarding pro-environmental behaviors rarely focuses on a reduction in consumption. Hence, this study investigated different variables (e.g., habits, estimated efficacy of measures, estimated danger of climate change) that might enhance people’s willingness to cut back on several private consumptions for the sake of the environment. In a German-speaking online survey (n = 435), different areas of consumption were looked at separately in different regression models. Additionally, we investigated whether a randomized highlighting of climate change consequences could further increase willingness to implement private cut-backs, which could not be confirmed in subsequent variance analyses. Overall, some variables seem to be connected with a higher willingness to implement cut-backs in most consumption areas and on several levels (e.g., estimated efficacy); other predictors are only involved in specific cut-backs and specific levels (e.g., materialism). Furthermore, different variables seem to be of importance when it comes to already implemented consumption restrictions as opposed to willingness to implement further cut-backs. These results lead to the conclusion that, in order to maximize mitigation potential, it is important to tailor suggestions to the area of consumption. Additionally, for most areas, awareness of the mitigation efficacy of the respective behavior seems crucial.

The configuration of charging stations: What do potential users want?

As a considerable amount of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by the transport sector, the German government has initiated programs for the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) and the installation of charging infrastructure. A harmonized solution for vehicle authentication, payment methods, and pricing models is required since currently available charging stations are highly heterogeneous resulting in challenges for EV users and potentially in dissatisfying charging experiences. To provide recommendations for charging station operators and transport policy measures, a stated preference experiment was designed. In computer-assisted personal interviews, 450 respondents were provided with choice tasks with different configurations, where they indicated their preferences by choosing the most preferred charging station. Results from a mixed multinomial logit model indicate that future charging stations should enable vehicle authentication via the charging cable (Plug&Charge), provide card-based payment (debit or credit card), and charge per amount of electricity (kWh). Further, higher shares of renewable energy at charging stations are preferred and tend to increase the acceptance of EVs.

Multi-dimensional Analysis of the Synergistic Effect of Pollution Reduction and Carbon Reduction in Tianjin Based on the STIRPAT Model

Based on the STIRPAT model, this study quantitatively analyzed the synergistic effect of pollution reduction and carbon reduction in Tianjin from three dimensions:total emission, emission reduction, and synergy coefficient. The results showed that the main emission sources of air pollutants and greenhouse gases in Tianjin were industrial sources, and the Pearson correlation coefficient of air pollutants and greenhouse gases was 0.984. The total population, urbanization rate, gross regional product, energy intensity, and carbon dioxide emission intensity were important factors affecting the synergistic effect of pollution reduction and carbon reduction in Tianjin. In 2011 and 2012, Tianjin's air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions increased synergistically, and the synergistic effect coefficients were 0.18 and 0.17, respectively. From 2013 to 2014 and from 2018 to 2023, the air pollutant emission reduction and greenhouse gas emission increased, the synergistic effect coefficient was less than 0, and the pollution reduction and carbon reduction had no synergistic effect. In 2015-2017 and 2024-2060, air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions were predicted to be reduced at the same time, with a synergistic effect coefficient ranging from 2.74 to 8.76. Tianjin had the conditions to enter the synergistic stage of pollution reduction and carbon reduction in 2024. The most important things for Tianjin to do to promote the synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction were to strictly control the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions, continue to promote the reduction in energy intensity and carbon dioxide emission intensity, and reasonably control the total population, urbanization rate, and regional GDP.

A Study on the Control System of Electric Water Heaters for Decarbonization

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have significantly increased in recent years as a result of population rise and the increase in the number of residences, with high levels of energy use in homes and household appliances. It is crucial to move the housing industry away from high-carbon sources and toward low-carbon sources in order to minimize greenhouse gas emissions as a precaution. One of the most crucial systems that needs to be provided in order to achieve energy efficiency is the electric water heater (EWH), as they rank among the top electricity consumers. In this study, a double-tank EWH model was developed and simulated at various tank sizes (100 L, 200 L, 300 L and 400 L) and power ratios (1 kW, 2 kW, 3kW and 4 kW) in order to demonstrate energy efficiency. To obtain information for the simulation analysis of the tanks, the hourly water usage of 25 houses was measured. The single-tank and the double-tank models created for this study were both run in the Matlab/Simulink environment with an on-off controller applied, and their energy consumption was compared. Amounts were also determined based on how much energy both tanks consumed. It has been noted that the amount of GHG emissions is also reduced because the double tank uses less energy than the single tank does. The simulation showed that compared to the single tank, the dual tank produced 46.62% less GHG emissions at 45 W power and 47.51% less GHG emissions at 80 W.

ASSESSMENT OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM DAIRY FARMING USING THE COOL FARM TOOL

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges mankind has ever faced and could lead to potentially devastating global problems, with a need for urgent mitigation and adaptation. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a major driver of climate change through its contribution to the total emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The dairy sector has been identified as an important source of GHG emissions, mainly via carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). In this study, total CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions were assessed from a dairy farm (65 dairy cows) located in Romania using the Cool Farm Tool calculator (CFT). We specifically aimed to calculate: (1) the total CO2 equivalent (CO2e) and CO2e per kg FPCM (fat- and protein-corrected milk); (2) methane emissions from enteric fermentation; (3) GHGs resulting from feeding practices; (4) GHGs from manure management; and (5) a simulation of two different scenarios and their impact on GHG emissions. Our results showed annual GHG emissions of 553,170 kg CO2e, almost half of which were released through enteric fermentation. Lactating cows were the major contributor to total GHG emissions, while heifers released the lowest emissions. The two scenarios simulated in this study showed that both the changes made in dairy diet composition and livestock manure management could result in lower GHG emissions. These results confirm the importance and utility of the CFT for the quantification of GHG emissions in dairy farms and its important role as a decision support tool to guide the adoption of good agricultural practices.

ASSESSMENT OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN CRIMEAN FORESTS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CROWN AND SURFACE FIRES

We present results of studies carried out from 2007 to 2020 on the assessment of the emission of the main greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrous oxide, mono- and nitrogen dioxide, emitted during top and bottom fires in the forests of the Republic of Crimea.
 The aim of the work was to monitor greenhouse gas emissions as a result of fires according to ground-based studies in the forests of the peninsula.
 Materials and methods. The objects of study were uneven-aged burnt forests of pine plantations and oak forests in the foothill zone (Simferopol forestry), as well as pine and oak forests of the reserve located on the southern macroslope of the Crimean Mountains. The weight indicators of carbon emissions from fires for forest stand, undergrowth, undergrowth and litter are calculated taking into account conversion factors.
 Results. The total emissions of greenhouse gases from fires of different intensities in the foothill zone during this period reached 1575.6 t in (9.87 t/ha), and the contribution of carbon dioxide to the total volume was 6.1 t/ha. In the nature reserve, the total emissions were 23227.8 t in (20.98 t/ha) and 12.8 t/ha for carbon dioxide. These higher values are due to greater age, density and stock of the forest stand. The contributions of various greenhouse gases to the total emissions were: 61.2% for carbon dioxide, 28.5% for nitrogen dioxide, 8.5% for carbon monoxide, and less than 1.8% for methane and nitrous oxide in total.
 Conclusions. The method used in this study for calculating greenhouse gas emissions released during fire impact on forest ecosystems can be considered as a good toolkit for a detailed assessment of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated during fires of various intensities.

Estimasi Emisi Gas Rumah Kaca dari Proses Pengelolaan Sampah Di Tempat Pemrosesan Akhir (TPA) Kabupaten Kerinci

The amount of waste that enters the TPA of Kerinci Regency in 2020 is 21,962 Gg/year. The waste that enters the TPA is predicted to produce greenhouse gas emissions in the form of CH4, N2O and CO2. This study aims to determine the amount of generation and type of waste composition and calculate the estimated amount of greenhouse gas emissions (CH4, N2O, and CO2) in the TPA Kerinci until 2030. The calculation of GHG emissions used in this study is to use the Intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) 2006. The composition of waste produced from TPA Kerinci Regency consists of 14.37% plastic waste, 15.50% Nappies waste, 2.47% textile waste, 1.86% metal waste, 2.98% wood waste, 39.93% food waste, 10.12% garden and plant waste, 7.46% paper and cardboard waste, 1.61% rubber and leather waste, 0.55% glass waste, and 3.11% other waste. In the waste management process, the emissions generated from the landfill zone, composting and heavy equipment produced in the TPA Kerinci Regency are 0.496 Gg CO2-eq, while in 2030 the resulting emissions will increase by 16.55 Gg CO2-eq. GHG emission estimation can be used to determine methods of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

Evaluation of Sheep Wool as a Substrate for Hydroponic Cucumber Cultivation

The problem of the use and disposal of horticultural substrates is an important element of the optimization of plastic greenhouse production in terms of economic and environmental efficiency. The production of mineral substrates is associated with a high energy expenditure, which generates costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. An important factor is also the transport of professional substrates over long distances. The research objective was to evaluate the possibility of using sheep wool to create horticultural substrates in the hydroponic production of cucumber. The modifier of production technology was the use of substrates of various origins. The experiment was based on the use of two substrates: one was a conventional substrate, made of mineral wool, and the other was made of greasy Gissar sheep wool, which is considered waste or a nuisance byproduct of sheep farming today. The adopted functional unit was 1 ton of commercial cucumber yield. The boundaries of the system were soil formation, fertilization, irrigation, and harvesting. The amount of GHG emissions was calculated in accordance with the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. The results of the experiment show that the use of sheep wool as a substrate in the hydroponic cultivation of cucumbers reduced yield by approximately 8%, but it allowed for a higher efficiency of water and mineral fertilizer use per crop mass unit. Within the adopted system boundary, the value of the carbon footprint in the object with the conventional substrate was 276.9 kg CO2 eq · Mg−1. The value of this parameter for the object with the sheep wool was 193.9 kg CO2 eq · Mg−1. The use of sheep wool did not increase the phytosanitary risk of the cultivated plants. An important goal for achieving sustainability, especially in food production, is to use materials that are easily recyclable and renewable, locally available, and environmentally friendly. The use of sheep wool as a substrate for soilless plastic greenhouse cultivation is a rational solution, as this material consists of 60% animal protein fibers, 10% fat, 15% moisture, 10% sheep sweat, and an average of 5% impurities. This makes it an easily recyclable, easily renewable, and environmentally friendly source of raw material for hydroponic substrates in food production, contrary to rockwool, which produces waste that is difficult to manage and a nuisance to the natural environment. In the countries of Central Asia, the sheep population is over 20 million; therefore, the potential for using sheep wool material for agricultural production is significant.

The road to zero emission shipbuilding Industry: A systematic and transdisciplinary approach to modern multi-energy shipyards

The International Maritime Organisation focuses on decarbonising the operational phase of a ship's life cycle. However, shipbuilding contributes to a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants and has negative impacts on society. Holistic and transdisciplinary studies of the shipbuilding energy sector are lacking and a holistic approach is needed to discuss the potential of measures and tools to improve the shipbuilding industry with zero emissions. This study is an interdisciplinary approach to provide trends, recommendations and policies for decarbonisation of the shipping industry from a life cycle perspective. Taking into account a holistic and transdisciplinary approach, the energy sector in shipbuilding is categorised into an energy supply system, an energy economic system and an energy ecosystem, and the main disciplines for improving energy efficiency and promoting “zero emissions” for shipyards are identified, measures and tools within each discipline are proposed, and their mitigation potential and key issues for improving energy efficiency and reducing air emissions from shipyard activities are discussed. The case study highlights the economic, environmental and sustainability benefits of implementing the proposed modern energy system in an Italian shipyard. Although there is no silver bullet to eliminate air emissions in the shipbuilding industry due to the complexity, the different reduction potentials, the costs and the relationship and interaction between measures and tools, the implementation of the energy management framework can accelerate the transition to a zero-emission shipbuilding industry.

The potential of international ‘State‐as‐polluter’ litigation

AbstractNational fossil fuel companies, public utilities and other State entities are responsible for vast amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. The pollution of these State entities represents a substantial departure from the due diligence standards of international law. This article evaluates the promise of international climate litigation against State pollution sources, or international ‘State‐as‐polluter’ litigation, as a tool to overcome the gap between international norms and State conduct. The analysis shows that the conduct of State‐controlled polluters may be attributable to States in certain situations. It further suggests that States can incur international responsibility for their failure to comply with heightened due diligence obligations in relation to State‐controlled polluters.

Life-cycle greenhouse gas emission assessment for bike-sharing systems based on a rebalancing emission estimation model

Bike sharing is regarded as a green transportation mode, while the existing studies on its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission assessment seldom consider bike-rebalancing process. In this research, a Bike Sharing System-Rebalancing Emission Estimation Model (BSS-REEM) was proposed to conservatively quantify historical GHG emitted by rebalancing vehicles. Taking the largest bike sharing system (BSS) in North America as a case, we comprehensively assessed its life cycle GHG footprint considering the system's infrastructures, rebalancing process and cycling activities and analyzed the GHG reduction benefits of using pedal and electric trikes to assist trucks in dispatching bikes. Results showed that the bike rebalancing activity level fluctuated throughout 2020 and 56.1% of bikes were dispatched by vehicles and the rest driven by customers' incentive mechanisms. The annual conservative GHG emission of bike rebalancing was 92.1 tCO2-eq when merely diesel trucks were used. Such emissions would be reduced with trikes to assist rebalancing. The emission reduction driven by riding in 2020 reached 14,333.6 tCO2-eq, representing 1.8 times of the entire system's GHG emissions over its service life. Quantifying GHG emissions of the bike-rebalancing process promotes a systematic and comprehensive environmental evaluation of BSSs, providing a basic for their sustainable management.

High efficiency and low greenhouse gas emissions intensity of maize in drip irrigation under mulch system

It is the goal of agricultural development to achieve the comprehensive benefits of high yield, high water and nitrogen efficiency but low environmental damage. However, the comprehensive benefits of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, grain yield, water and fertilizer efficiency in fertilized fields with different film mulching irrigation remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted typical maize field observation experiments based on drip irrigation under mulch (DM) and border irrigation under mulch (BM) for three years to quantify GHG emissions and their influencing factors, and analyzed maize yield, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), partial factor productivity of applied nitrogen (PFPN) and greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI). In our experiment, N2O emissions were lower by 32.46%, CH4 absorption was higher by 23.49%, and CO2 emissions were lower by 4.53% under DM than under BM. The roles of different environmental factors in controlling GHG fluxes were different under two treatments. The relative importance of soil NO3−−N content to N2O and CH4 fluxes under DM was the greatest, and the values were 0.61 and 0.47, respectively. The soil NH4+−N content had the greatest relative importance to CO2 flux under DM (0.43), CH4 flux under BM (0.72), and CO2 flux under BM (0.52). In addition, the maize yield, IWUE and PFPN under DM were 17.85%, 17.90% and 71.84% higher than those under BM, while the global warming potential (GWP) and GHGI under DM were 6.65% and 20.79% lower than those under BM, respectively. Our research provides a more comprehensive understanding of typical farmland management practices in arid areas and has important implications for agricultural development.

A Comparison of Traditional and Contemporary Buildings by Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emission: A Case-Study from Tabriz-Iran

It is evident upon a comparison between the examples of contemporary and traditional buildings that climate-responsive building design strategies of traditional buildings finds increasingly lesser use in contemporary architectural designs and that traditional building culture has begun to disappear. Due to the increasing building stock with the expansion of city centers over the years, a higher amount of energy is required for heating, cooling, and ventilation, which leads to a higher amount of greenhouse gas emission. The ever-increasing greenhouse gas emission is inevitably involved in the emerging global climate crisis. The present study investigated the climate-responsive design approaches adopted in traditional and current buildings in Tabriz, Iran. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of passive system strategies used in the design of traditional buildings in Tabriz on energy efficiency and to analyze current buildings in terms of annual energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions with a view to the changing building stock both architectural and mechanical design terms. The results of the study suggested that transferring the climate-responsive architectural design experiences of the past builders to new generations was crucially important and that it was necessary to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in newly constructed buildings by means of energy efficiency regulations and building standards as promulgated by the government.