Greenhouse Gas Concentrations Research Articles

Calibration and evaluation of a CROPGRO Perennial Forage Model for Brachiaria humidicola yield simulation under future climate in subhumid environments of Ethiopia

Crop simulation models can be employed to assess the impacts of climate change and aid in strategic planning and decision making regarding forage strategies. This study focused on calibrating and assessing the performance of the CROPGRO Perennial Forage Model in simulating Brachiaria humidicola yield under projected future climates for high and moderate representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios in the central and western subhumid regions of Ethiopia. The model was calibrated to accurately represent rainfed growth and biomass yield, using field data from the Debre Zeit and Bako Agricultural Research Centers. Climatic data, including rainfall, temperature and solar radiation, were sourced from weather stations, whereas future climate scenarios for the near future, mid-century and end-of-century periods were derived from the CORDEX Africa outputs under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. The calibration process refined species parameters related to vegetative partitioning, and enhanced the d-statistic and reduced the root mean square error (RMSE) for herbage, leaf, stem and total biomass accumulation. Despite projected decreases in leaf biomass, stem biomass is projected to increase. In addition, there are projected increases in herbage and total biomass accumulation under elevated greenhouse gas concentrations and warmer temperatures. Ultimately, the projected climate under both RCPs had no significant effect on Brachiaria humidicola grass production in Ethiopia.

453 Fluxes of greenhouse gases from pastures and methane emissions from beef cattle in Australia

Abstract The carbon footprint of beef cattle production may need to consider both the fluxes of greenhouse gases (GHG) of pasture ecosystems and cattle enteric emissions because these are the largest contributors to the carbon balance. The objective of the present study was to measure the fluxes of greenhouse gases from pastures and enteric methane (CH4) emissions from cattle throughout long periods of time under commercial conditions. The fluxes of CH4, carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O) were measured throughout a period of 3 yr in multiple pasture types ranging from native to sown, and from temperate to summer pastures in New South Wales, Australia. A set of 8 dynamic chambers that automatically close for 10 min every 1.5 h were used for this purpose. The chambers measured the change in the concentration of GHG to allow for the estimation of emissions (positive flux) or sinks (negative flux). All data was then summarized to estimate daily fluxes and the global warming potential (CO2e) was calculated multiplying CH4 by 28 and N2O by 265. The final dataset contained 2,709 d of measurements across the 8 chambers. The GreenFeed system was used to measure CH4 production from cattle under varying conditions fed various diets throughout the same period. Cattle categories included weaners, heifers and steers, bulls and cows under both grazing or pen conditions. Cattle were fed a variety of diets ranging from low quality forages to high quality forages, grain supplementation, and grain-based diets. Data were averaged across many days for each animal and the final dataset contained 1,014 measurements. The CO2 flux from pastures ranged from -855 (uptake) to +339 kg CO2ּ ha-1ּ d-1 with a mean of -10.4 ± 2.19 kg CO2ּ ha-1ּ d-1. The minimum, mean and maximum CH4 fluxes were -192 (uptake), 0.015 ± 0.488, 434 g CH4 ּha-1ּ d-1, respectively, whereas NO2 values -146 (uptake), 17.1 ± 1.23, 1,293 g N2O ּ ha-1ּ d-1, respectively. These fluxes resulted in a GWP ranging from -855 (uptake), -5.83 ± 2.222, 445 kg CO2e ּha-1ּ d-1suggesting that pastures were on average a net sink of GHG throughout the present study. The CH4 production from cattle ranged from 43.6 to 404.6, with an average CH4 production of 192 ± 90.3 g CH4ּ animal-1ּ d-1, which is equivalent to 5.37 kg CO2eqּ animal-1ּ d-1. These results suggest that a hectare of livestock pastures offsets more than the CH4 produced by the average beef cattle in the present study. The fluxes of GHG from vegetation may need to be considered when estimating the contribution of livestock production to global warming.

Expanding forest carbon sinks to mitigate climate change in Africa

Forests significantly contribute to climate change mitigation by acting as carbon sinks, sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide, and keeping it in soil and biomass. Covering 22 % of its land, African forests offer numerous benefits to millions of people. Nevertheless, they face threats from human activities like deforestation and degradation. A holistic approach encompassing social, economic, and environmental factors is necessary to sustain forests as carbon sinks for maximum carbon sequestration potential. This study used carbon dioxide emissions, forest loss and gain, and land use change to investigate the level of carbon dioxide emissions and their relationship to forest loss and climate change in Africa from 1992 to 2020. Using ArcGIS, land use change was reclassified, InVEST model calculated carbon storage and sequestration, and annual changes in forest cover were assessed using the K and S indices. In the last two decades, 77.36 % of African countries had greater forest losses than gains, leading to 32 × 103 kha net loss, resulting in 15.73 Pg C of carbon dioxide emissions. Annual forest loss rate is 1.6 × 103 kha, equivalent to 0.786 Pg C, and that of carbon storage and sequestration decreased to −0.69 and −1.37, respectively. Results indicate that deforestation, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, significantly contributes to carbon emissions, and persistent tropical deforestation will affect future greenhouse gas concentrations. This research provides a detailed spatiotemporal analysis, highlighting areas experiencing severe forest cover change and carbon loss, underscoring the importance of forest conservation in mitigating climate change, and promoting effective land management policies.

Drivers of the ECMWF SEAS5 seasonal forecast for the hot and dry European summer of 2022

AbstractThe European summer (June–August) 2022 was characterised by warm and dry anomalies across much of the continent, likely influenced by a northward‐shifted jet stream. These general features were well predicted by European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts' system 5 seasonal forecast, initialised on May 1. Such successful predictions for European summers are relatively uncommon, particularly for atmospheric circulation. In this study, a set of hindcast experiments is employed to investigate the role that initialisation of the ocean, atmosphere, and land surface played in the 2022 forecast. We find that the trend from external forcing was the strongest contributor to the forecast near‐surface temperature anomalies, with atmospheric circulation and land‐surface interactions playing a secondary role. On the other hand, atmospheric circulation made a strong contribution to precipitation anomalies. Modelled Euro‐Atlantic circulation anomalies in 2022 were consistent with a La Niña‐forced teleconnection from the tropical Pacific. However, a northward jet trend in the model hindcasts with increasing greenhouse gas concentrations also contributed to the predicted circulation anomalies in 2022. In contrast, the observed linear trend in the jet over the past four decades was a southward shift, though it is unclear whether this trend was driven by external forcings or natural variability. Nevertheless, this case study demonstrates that important features of at least some European summers are predictable at the seasonal time‐scale.

Gas production characteristics of oats and tritical silages and techniques for reducing gas emissions1

Greenhouse gas (GHG) production during ensiling not only causes the nutrient losses of silage but also promotes climate warming. However, there is little information on the production of GHG and strategies for mitigating GHG emissions during ensiling. This work aimed to study the gas production characteristics and techniques for reducing gas emissions during ensiling. Oats and triticale, with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) or corn meal (CM) addition, were ensiled. The cumulative gas volume rapidly increased and reached to the peak within the first 9 days of ensiling for both forage crops. The highest cumulative gas volume of triticale silage was twice as much as that of oats silage. Triticale silage produced lower carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, higher methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) concentrations than oats silage within the 28 days of ensiling. Adding LP or CM significantly improved the fermentation quality and decreased the gas volume and GHG concentrations of two silages on d56 (except CH4 of triticale). At the early stage of ensiling, more Enterobacter, Lactococcus and Leuconostoc related to gas production were observed, and adding LP increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and decreased the abundance of bacteria like Kosakonia, Pantoea, Enterobacter and Lactococcus positively correlated with gas volume, CO2 and N2O concentrations. These results suggest that gas formation during ensiling mainly occurs in the first 9 days. Adding LP or CM can significantly improve the fermentation quality and decrease the gas volume. This would benefit to reducing GHG emissions in silage production.

MAP-IO: an atmospheric and marine observatory program on board Marion Dufresne over the Southern Ocean

Abstract. This article is devoted to the presentation of the MAP-IO observation program. This program, launched in early 2021, has enabled the observation of nearly 700 d of measurements over the Indian and Southern Ocean with the equipment of 17 meteorological and oceanographic scientific instruments on board the ship Marion Dufresne. Several observational techniques have been developed to respond to the difficulties of observations on board the ship, in particular for passive remote sensing data, as well as for quasi-autonomous data acquisition and transfer. The first measurements made it possible to draw up unprecedented climatological data of the Southern Ocean regarding the size distribution and optical thickness of aerosols, the concentration of trace gases and greenhouse gases, UV, and integrated water vapor. High-resolution observations of phytoplankton in surface waters have also shown a great variability in latitude in terms of abundance and community structure (diversity). The operational success of this program and these unique scientific results together establish a proof of concept and underline the need to transform this program into a permanent observatory. The multi-year rotations over the Indian Ocean will enable us to assess the trends and seasonal variability of phytoplankton, greenhouse gases, ozone, and marine aerosols in a sensitive and poorly documented climatic region. Without being exhaustive, MAP-IO should make it possible to better understand and assess the biological carbon pump, to study the variability of gases and aerosols in a region that is remote in relation to the main anthropogenic sources, and to monitor the transport of stratospheric ozone by the Brewer–Dobson circulation. The meteorological MAP-IO data set is publicly available at https://www.aeris-data.fr/catalogue-map-io/ (last access: 26 August 2024) (atmospheric data) and at https://doi.org/10.17882/89505 (Thyssen et al., 2022a) (phytoplankton data).

Life cycle analysis of ethanol obtained from lignocellulosic biomass: A case study of a native perennial grass from Argentina

The increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG) are the main cause of climate change. The scientific community agree that transition to renewable energies will play a key role as a mitigation strategy for this problem. In this work, an abundant biomass resource of central-eastern zone of Argentina is evaluated: rangelands of the Submeridional Lowlands dominated by Spartina argentinensis (espartillo). Bioethanol production from this species would not change the current land use; it has been assessed using a consequential Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology. LCA was carried out with comparative objectives with the fuel to replace (gasoline). The functional unit was defined as “The production and use of 1 MJ of liquid fuel”. Two impact categories were considered: (i) Climate Change and (ii) Energy Use through global warming potential and energy return on investment (EROI), respectively. Gasoline's GHG emissions were 96.9 g of CO2eq per MJ while the bioethanol obtained from espartillo was carbon negative in most scenarios. The EROI of gasoline had a value of 0.7 while bioethanol presented a range of 0.7 to 1.8. This LCA was realized with a consequential approach except for the by-products of fermentation at the biorefinery which were not considered to be used for any activity due to not having real data of such by-product; hence the obtained figures could be improved if these by-products were able to replace another product. The energy self-sufficiency of the plant and the avoided fires in rangelands are key factors to improve the environmental performance of bioethanol.

Polarity transitions of narrow bipolar events in thundercloud tops reaching the lower stratosphere

Blue corona discharges are often generated in thunderclouds penetrating into the stratosphere and are the optical manifestation of narrow bipolar events (NBEs) observed in radio signals. While their production appears to depend on convection, the cause and nature of such discharges are not well known. Here we show the observations by a lightning detection array of unusual amounts of 982 NBEs during a tropical storm on the coastline of China. NBEs of negative polarity are predominantly observed at the cloud top reaching the stratosphere, and positive NBEs are primarily at lower altitudes. We find that the dominant polarity changes with the typical time of development of thunderstorm cells, suggesting that the polarity depends on the phase of the storm cells. Furthermore, we find that the lightning jump of negative NBEs is associated with above-anvil cirrus plumes of ice crystals and water vapor in the lower stratosphere. We propose that variations in updrafts induce changes in the altitude and charge concentrations of the cloud layers, which lead to the polarity transition. Our results have implications for studies of the chemical perturbations of greenhouse gas concentrations by corona discharges at the tropopause.

Solving low-carbon last mile delivery problem using discrete marine predators algorithm

With the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, carbon peaking and carbon neutrality have gradually become a global issue. As the last link of e-commerce logistics, the last mile delivery should not only focus on customer satisfaction and enterprise cost, but also reduce carbon emission and promote green development. In order to solve the last mile delivery problem, this paper builds the last mile delivery model for two common delivery vehicles, considering the impact of transportation cost, carbon emission and customer satisfaction on the last mile delivery path planning. The last mile delivery is an NP-hard problem, a novel Discrete Marine Predators Algorithm(DMPA) is proposed to solve the problem, which combines neighborhood search strategy and RS hybrid operator. Six different test examples are generated based on Solomon for simulation experiments, and the experimental results verify that the proposed algorithm is obviously superior to the marine predators algorithm, simulated annealing algorithm and genetic algorithm. DMPA obtains significantly higher customer satisfaction than other algorithms. The customer satisfaction of C101 and C201 is as high as 0.99, which is close to the optimal value of 1. DMPA can achieve lower transportation costs and less carbon emissions compared with other algorithms. DMPA reduces the transportation cost by at least 61.12$ and the carbon emission by at least 1033.64 kg for C101 by minivan delivery. DMPA reduces the transportation cost by at least 28.89$ and the carbon emission by at least 210.9 kg for C101 by electric tricycle delivery. It can effectively reduce carbon emission, lower transportation cost, improve service level, and promote the integration of the dual carbon target with the internal requirements of national development.

Roles of Earth’s Albedo Variations and Top-of-the-Atmosphere Energy Imbalance in Recent Warming: New Insights from Satellite and Surface Observations

Past studies have reported a decreasing planetary albedo and an increasing absorption of solar radiation by Earth since the early 1980s, and especially since 2000. This should have contributed to the observed surface warming. However, the magnitude of such solar contribution is presently unknown, and the question of whether or not an enhanced uptake of shortwave energy by the planet represents positive feedback to an initial warming induced by rising greenhouse-gas concentrations has not conclusively been answered. The IPCC 6th Assessment Report also did not properly assess this issue. Here, we quantify the effect of the observed albedo decrease on Earth’s Global Surface Air Temperature (GSAT) since 2000 using measurements by the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) project and a novel climate-sensitivity model derived from independent NASA planetary data by employing objective rules of calculus. Our analysis revealed that the observed decrease of planetary albedo along with reported variations of the Total Solar Irradiance (TSI) explain 100% of the global warming trend and 83% of the GSAT interannual variability as documented by six satellite- and ground-based monitoring systems over the past 24 years. Changes in Earth’s cloud albedo emerged as the dominant driver of GSAT, while TSI only played a marginal role. The new climate sensitivity model also helped us analyze the physical nature of the Earth’s Energy Imbalance (EEI) calculated as a difference between absorbed shortwave and outgoing longwave radiation at the top of the atmosphere. Observations and model calculations revealed that EEI results from a quasi-adiabatic attenuation of surface energy fluxes traveling through a field of decreasing air pressure with altitude. In other words, the adiabatic dissipation of thermal kinetic energy in ascending air parcels gives rise to an apparent EEI, which does not represent “heat trapping” by increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases as currently assumed. We provide numerical evidence that the observed EEI has been misinterpreted as a source of energy gain by the Earth system on multidecadal time scales.

Evaluation of GHG Emissions on Climate of the Braced States in the Niger Delta

This study evaluates greenhouse gas emissions on the climate in the BRACED States of the Niger Delta. The emission of greenhouse gases leads to deforestation, reduced vegetation, and a decline in biodiversity. To achieve the study, an ex post facto research design was used. The study utilised field measurements and historical data to assess these factors. Data were collected and monitored from twelve distinct locations between September 2022 and February 2023. The findings indicate that Akwa Ibom had the lowest concentrations of greenhouse gas and climate variables. The concentrations of greenhouse gases and climate variables were found to be lowest in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States. Similarly, Rivers, Cross Rivers, and Edo States exhibited comparatively lower quantities of carbon dioxide emissions and low rainfall. The study's findings observed a strong correlation between climate (temperature and rainfall) and greenhouse gas emissions in the BRACED states. Statistical analysis at the P<0.05 level of significance indicates that greenhouse gas emissions account for around 32.5% of the observed variations. This analysis offers a method for determining the climate impact of GHG emissions. It is recommended that law on gas flaring activities should be brought to actions.

Small reservoirs can enhance the terrestrial carbon sink of controlled basins in karst areas worldwide

The concentration of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) in the atmosphere has sharply increased since the Industrial Revolution, leading to climate warming and severe environmental problems. It has become a consensus that GHG emissions of large reservoirs essentially constitute inland aquatic GHG emissions. However, questions remain regarding whether small karst reservoir (SKR) is only a substantial source of GHG emissions like large reservoirs, and how much GHG emission it can offset by affecting the terrestrial carbon sink (TCS) of its controlled basin. We selected two basins in the karst area of southwestern China, with built and planned SKRs, and quantitatively analysed the impact of the SKR on basin-scale water and carbon cycles during 2000–2020 using multi-source remote sensing data and the Google Earth Engine. Results showed that the associated increase in the TCS in the SKR-controlled basin can completely offset the GHG emissions and TCS losses caused by submerged land, resulting in a 21.48 % faster increase rate of TCS and a 12.20 % greater increase in TCS caused by human activities than in non-karst reservoir basin. Meanwhile, by intercepting both surface and groundwater runoff, the SKR-controlled basin showed a 329.55 % faster increase rate of available surface water resources than the non-karst reservoir basin, alleviating the problem of engineering water shortages and enhancing the drought resistance capacity. Moreover, in the three major karst areas worldwide, and especially in southwestern China, faster vegetation restoration and TCS increase exist in most SKR-controlled basins, and this increase is enhanced with increasing proximity to the water surface. This study revealed that SKR is more than a substantial source of GHG emissions; it can also effectively enhance the TCS and available surface water resources in controlled basin, which is of great significance for achieving carbon neutrality goals while maintaining the sustainability of water and carbon cycle in karst areas.

DETERMINATION OF GREENHOUSE GAS CONCENTRATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE BY EARTH REMOTE SENSING MEANS. CARTOGRAPHIC AND ANALYTICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE GEOSPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ITS VALUES

This article covers the issue of improving the methodology of remote determination of the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere using the Copernicus Program — Sentinel-5P and MOD11A2.061 Terra satellite systems, as well as the cartographic-analytical assessment of its geospatial distribution. The specified methodology provided for remote determination of the concentration of greenhouse gases CH4, CO, and NO2, development of maps of the distribution of the determined concentration on the territory of Ukraine, localization of areas of formation of the intensity of emission and sequestration of greenhouse gases taking into account data on the soil cover, abiotic conditions of the territory and anthropogenic influences, in particular, military activities. A set of maps of the geospatial distribution of CH4, CO, and NO2, greenhouse gas concentrations, the temperature of the Earth’s surface within the warm period (01.05—30.10) during 2019—2022, as well as a map of the geospatial localization of the maximum concentrations of greenhouse gases within the warm period of the research time interval developed according to the results of emissions from soils, landscapes, production facilities, and combat zones. It was determined that for the warm period of the year, on average for 2019—2022, the optimal temperature range within which the intensity of nitrogen dioxide emission on the territory of Ukraine reaches maximum values is from 13 to 19 °C. If the temperature of the Earth’s surface exceeds the value of 20 °C, the volume of emission emissions is significantly reduced. It is shown that soils with different emission and assessment status are widespread in Ukraine during the warm period. In the South and Southwest of the state, soils with the highest emission capacity of methane to the atmosphere prevail, in particular Jc49-1/3a — Calcaric Fluvisols, Lg54-1a — Gleyic Luvisols, Kh31-2a — Haplic Kastanozems, Gh23-3a — Humic Gleysols. In large cities, as well as in the territories of the South-East of Ukraine, where normal chernozems (Ch22-2a) / (normal chernozems) are common, the maximum concentration of NO2 in the atmosphere is formed, which is caused by the influence of the high temperature of the earth’s surface and the localized consequences of Russia’s military aggression. It was revealed that over the past 4 years, there has been a trend of decreasing CO concentration, which indirectly indicates the negative impact of Russia’s military aggression, a decrease in industrial production, and the relocation of production facilities to the west of the country.

Analysis of anthropogenic CO2 emission uncertainty and influencing factors at city scale in Yangtze River Delta region: One of the world's largest emission hotspots

Cities occupy only 3% of the earth's land area, yet they contribute over 70% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Accurately quantifying the corresponding uncertainty of CO2 emissions at the city scale is the first step in simulating global/regional greenhouse gas concentration and implementing effective emission reduction policies. As the world's largest emitter, China has committed to reaching its CO2 emissions peak by 2030, and cities are facing substantial pressure to reduce CO2 emissions. The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region is treated as the largest urban agglomeration in China and globally. Despite the availability of multiple emission inventories, comprehensive assessments of city-level CO2 emissions uncertainty within this region are still lacking. This study focused on the YRD region, compared six inventories and used nighttime light intensity, GDP, population, and satellite-based xCO2 concentrations as proxy data to identify potential sources of emission bias. The findings are as follows: (1) The city-level CO2 emissions in the YRD region ranged from tens of Mt to approximately 600 Mt. From 2010 to 2019, emissions in the region increased slowly. However, emission intensity (calculated by dividing the CO2 emissions by the Gross Domestic Product) showed a declining trend. The relatively low proportion of point source emissions in EDGAR inventory is attributed to its reliance on the point source CARMA, which overlooks smaller point sources. (2) The average uncertainties for low emission (0–50 Mt), medium emission (50–100 Mt) and high emission (>100 Mt) cities were 51.1%, 34.0%, and 45.0%, respectively. The absolute errors of emissions showed strong positive correlations with proxy data. There exists a logarithmic relationship between them and uncertainty, which can assist in estimating emission uncertainty in other cities in the future. (3) The ratios of biological CO2 flux to the ten-year average of CO2 emissions varied between-6.79% and −0.02%, which are much smaller than the uncertainty of anthropogenic emissions, the comparisons indicate that recent large biases in estimating anthropogenic CO2 emissions hinder the evaluation of carbon neutrality ability.

Balancing environmental sustainability: Socio-economic drivers and policy pathways in oil-importing nations

This paper explores the intricate interplay of socio-economic drivers influencing environmental sustainability in oil-importing countries, examining CO2 emissions and greenhouse gas concentrations over the period from 2000 to 2021. Employing the Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) and Prais-Winsten regression method (PCSE), data from fifteen major oil-importing nations are scrutinized. The study identifies pivotal socio-economic factors, including environmental innovations, green energy adoption, and energy prices, as key drivers in mitigating emissions. Environmental innovations, catalyzing cleaner technologies, emerge as effective tools in curbing hazardous emissions and promoting green energy sources. The study underscores the trade-off between energy use and prices, advocating a strategic shift towards green energy adoption. It also highlights the adverse association between industrial and agricultural production with emissions. Policy interventions are recommended, emphasizing the need for cleaner technologies and the adoption of renewable energy practices, thus achieving a harmonious balance between economic development and environmental quality. The research offers valuable insights into the socio-economic dimensions of environmental sustainability, emphasizing the importance of well-balanced policies that align environmental innovations, environmental conservation, and energy transition in oil-importing nations within the broader context of human-environment interactions.

State of polar climate in 2023

The year 2023 has become the warmest year on global record. As the Antarctic and Arctic are sensitive regions to global warming, the climate changes in 2023 in these regions have attracted widespread attention. In this study, using observations, reanalysis and remote sensing data, we reported detailed polar climate changes in 2023, including warming, sea ice, atmospheric composition and extreme events. Antarctic exhibited large east‒west regional differences and the coexistence of extreme warm and cold events. In Coats Land, Queen Maud Land and the Antarctic Peninsula, three and seven stations recorded the second and third highest autumn air temperatures in history, respectively. The Amundsen–Scott station experienced extreme warming event in July, with the temperature increasing by 40 °C in one day. Abnormal cooling was evident in the Ross Sea and neighboring regions which were predominantly winter (June–August) cold anomalies, with Marylin Station reaching the lowest winter temperature in history. The Arctic experienced the warmest summer after 1979, with an overall distribution of ‘warm land‒cold sea’ on annual average. Compared with the 1991–2020 average, the annual air temperature anomalies reached more than 2 °C in northern Canada and the Barents Sea–Kara Sea coast. Abnormal high summer temperature caused most severe wildfires in Canada on record and second largest daily cumulative melt area over the Greenland ice Sheet daily post-1979. Polar sea ice continued to decrease rapidly, with minimum sea ice extent in Antarctic and Arctic ranking the first and sixth lowest post-1979. For melt season, Arctic Ocean sea ice began to melt later in 2023 than the 2011–2023 average, and freeze onset was delayed due to high temperatures in summer and autumn. Additionally, the status of polar atmospheric greenhouse gases remains bleak, and major greenhouse gas concentrations continue to increase. The Antarctic ozone hole in 2023 formed approximately 10 d earlier and lasted longer than the 1979–2023 average, with a maximum daily area of 2.6 × 107 km2 on 21 September. This summary of polar climate changes in 2023 will help people better understand global climate change and draw attention to polar regions.

A Review on Global Warming

One of the most important environmental issues of our time is global warming, which is primarily caused by human activity. In order to provide a thorough examination of the phenomenon, this review paper will cover its fundamental causes, observed and anticipated effects on the Earth's climate and ecosystems, as well as proposed mitigating measures. The atmospheric emission of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), is the main cause of global warming. The remarkable rise in greenhouse gas concentrations during the past century has been mostly attributed to the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial operations, and agricultural activities. The effects of global warming are numerous and extensive. Increasing temperatures have sped up the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps, which has raised sea levels and increased the likelihood of coastal flooding. Extreme weather occurrences, such as heatwaves, droughts, and violent storms, have increased in frequency and have a negative effect on agriculture, water supplies, and vulnerable communities. Additionally, as ecosystems experience extraordinary shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns, biodiversity loss and ecosystem disruption are being seen. This paper presents a variety of potential mitigation tactics that could be used to alleviate the problems caused by global warming. Among these include switching to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, putting reforestation and afforestation programmes into action, and applying sustainable agriculture methods. Additionally, international collaboration and policy frameworks are essential for promoting group initiatives. With significant effects on the environment and society, global warming continues to be a top priority. On a local, national, and international level, cooperation is required to address this complicated issue. This review emphasises how crucial it is to comprehend the underlying causes, effects, and mitigation strategies in order to effectively combat global warming and build a sustainable future for future generations

Climate Change and Soil Fertility: A Review of Strategies for a Sustainable Food Security in India

The long-term food security of humanity on Earth will be significantly influenced by the effects of climate change soils and then the agricultural production. In addition to being vulnerable to climate change, agriculture also contributes significantly to it. The article explores how soil fertility processes and qualities are impacted by climate change on a worldwide scale and adaptation and mitigation options for a sustainable food security. Due to the intricate relationship between soils and the climate system through nutrient and hydrologic cycles, it is anticipated that changes in the global climate may have an effect on soil fertility through changes in the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the soil as a result of rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, increased atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, and other factors.

Climate change and public health in California: A structured review of exposures, vulnerable populations, and adaptation measures

California faces several serious direct and indirect climate exposures that can adversely affect public health, some of which are already occurring. The public health burden now and in the future will depend on atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, underlying population vulnerabilities, and adaptation efforts. Here, we present a structured review of recent literature to examine the leading climate risks to public health in California, including extreme heat, extreme precipitation, wildfires, air pollution, and infectious diseases. Comparisons among different climate-health pathways are difficult due to inconsistencies in study design regarding spatial and temporal scales and health outcomes examined. We find, however, that the current public health burden likely affects thousands of Californians each year, depending on the exposure pathway and health outcome. Further, while more evidence exists for direct and indirect proximal health effects that are the focus of this review, distal pathways (e.g., impacts of drought on nutrition) are more uncertain but could add to this burden. We find that climate adaptation measures can provide significant health benefits, particularly in disadvantaged communities. We conclude with priority recommendations for future analyses and solution-driven policy actions.

Measuring Dissolved Methane in Aquatic Ecosystems Using An Optical Spectroscopy Gas Analyzer.

Measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes and pools in ecosystems are becoming increasingly common in ecological studies due to their relevance to climate change. With it, the need for analytical platforms adaptable to measuring different pools and fluxes within research groups also grows. This study aims to develop a procedure to use portable optical spectroscopy-based gas analyzers, originally designed and marketed for gas flux measurements, to measure GHG concentrations in aqueous samples. The protocol involves the traditional headspace equilibration technique followed by the injection of a headspace gas subsample into a chamber connected through a closed loop to the inlet and outlet ports of the gas analyzer. The chamber is fabricated from a generic mason jar and simple laboratory supplies, and it is an ideal solution for samples that may require pre-injection dilution. Methane concentrations measured with the chamber are tightly correlated (r2 > 0.98) with concentrations determined separately through gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) on subsamples from the same vials. The procedure is particularly relevant for field studies in remote areas where chromatography equipment and supplies are not readily available, offering a practical, cheaper, and more efficient solution for measuring methane and other dissolved greenhouse gas concentrations in aquatic systems.