CO2 Levels Research Articles

Spatial and temporal patterns of urban air pollution in tehran with a focus on PM2.5 and associated pollutants

Understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of air pollutants is crucial for effective urban air pollution management. This study focuses on the temporal dynamics of air quality monitoring stations (AQMSs) and the association among air pollutants, particularly PM2.5, in Tehran, Iran. Using time series clustering and the Copula model, we analyzed data from 2019 to 2022. We found that the levels and dynamics of O3 and SO2 were similar across most AQMSs and unrelated to geographical positions. CO levels and dynamics were consistent among urban and border AQMSs, with higher concentrations in urban stations. NO2 levels and dynamics varied significantly among northern AQMSs with no relationship geographical positions. PM10 levels and dynamics had a relationship with geographical positions, with western clusters having the highest and northern clusters the lowest concentrations. The dynamics of PM2.5 showed significant relationship among AQMSs in the eastern, southern, and western regions, but not in the north. We also observed that PM10 and O3 levels were higher in warm seasons, whereas CO, SO2, NO2, and PM2.5 levels were higher in cold seasons. Most pollutants, except O3, peaked during traffic hours. Notably, the significant increase in PM2.5 since spring 2021 was primarily due to PM10. Policymakers should focus on these spatial and temporal variations to improve urban air quality and public health outcomes through targeted interventions.

Assessment of Biomass, Carbon Stock and Sequestered CO2 in Teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) Plantation at Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University Campus, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India

Carbon sequestration through tree plantation has significant role to mitigate the increasing level of CO2. Accurate measurement of carbon in teak plantations is required for estimating their contribution to global carbon stocks. The purpose of present work was to assess total biomass, carbon stock and sequestered CO2 in an 18 years old teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) plantation using allometric equations. Estimated total biomass, carbon stock and sequestered CO2 were 79.31, 37.28 and 136.66 t ha-1, respectively. Teak plantations in Chhattisgarh serve an important role in carbon sequestration, which contributes to climate change mitigation. It is a fast-growing species with robust, high-carbon wood, accumulates a substantial quantity of carbon over time. Expanding and sustaining these plants reduces atmospheric CO2 levels while also benefiting the region’s economy through timber production and forest-based livelihoods.

Application of additional dose of N could sustain rice yield and maintain plant nitrogen under elevated ozone (O3) and carbon dioxide (CO2) condition

IntroductionGlobal food security is challenged by the increasing levels of air pollutants like ozone (O3) through their impacts on crop productivity. The present study was conducted to quantify the interactive effect of elevated ozone (O3) and carbon dioxide (CO2), on different rice varieties in northern India.MethodsAn experiment was conducted in Genetic H field, Environment science, IARI for two consecutive years (2020 and 2021) during the kharif season, to quantify the impact of elevated O3 and CO2 interaction on productivity, and plant N in three rice varieties (Pusa basmati 1121, Nagina 22, IR64 Drt1) under different nitrogen (N) management practices. Rice crop was grown in Free Air Ozone-Carbon dioxide Enrichment rings (FAOCE) rings with two levels of O3 (elevated 60 ±10ppb and ambient) and two levels of CO2 (elevated, 550±25 ppm and ambient) concentration and their interaction with two N fertilizer treatments i.e., 100% RDN (recommended dose of N) and 125% RDN.Results and discussionElevated O3 significantly decreased physiological parameters like photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of the crop. Grain yield reduced by 7.2-7.5%, in Pusa Basmati 1121 and from 6.9-9% in IR64 Drt1 varieties in elevated O3 treatment as compared to ambient treatment. Yield reduction in Nagina 22 variety was not significant in elevated O3 treatment. Elevated CO2 concentration of 550 ppm was able to fully compensate the yield loss in Nagina 22 variety and partially compensate (3.9-8.0%) in Pusa Basmati 1121 and IR64 Drt1 varieties. Grain N concentration in rice varieties decreased by 10.8-14.7% during first year and by 7.8-20.6% during second year in elevated O3 plus CO2 interaction treatment than ambient. Grain N uptake also decreased (13.2-17.1% in first year and 4.5-22.8% in second year) in elevated O3 plus CO2 interaction treatment as compared to ambient. Application of additional 25% of recommended dose of N improved grain N concentration, grain N uptake as well as available N of soil as compared to 100% RDN treatment in elevated O3 plus CO2 interaction treatment. Additional 25% N dose could help in sustaining rice productivity and quality under elevated O3 and CO2 condition.

A Study on Ambient Air Quality and Management inCommercial Areas of Gorakhpur City

The current study evaluates the city of Gorakhpur's ambient air quality using an air quality index. For the period January 2018 to November 2022, the 24-hour average concentration of the three primary pollutants SO2, NO2, andPM10 in a commercial area close to Jalkal Bhawan in Gorakhpur city was measured. Pollutant measurements were made between January 2018 and November 2022. The IND-AQI technique was implemented to calculate the Air Quality Index. In July, the highest monthly average concentrations of PM10, SO2, and NO2 were recorded at 401.13, 36.41, and 54.02, respectively. The yearly average SO2 concentration was found to be within the CPCB- recommended limit, while NO2 was found to be slightly above the maximum allowable level. However, PM10 wasconsistently found to be above the CPCB-recommended limit. The average monthly concentration of NO2 is higherthan SO2, and the overall AQI rating was determined to be moderate. The global experiences clearly demonstratedthat international action had been city specific rather than country oriented, and as a result, statistics show a reductionin PM2.5 of 35%–40% in five years for cities like Beijing and Seoul, whereas cities like Santiago and Mexico Cityhave shown reductions in PM2.5 and PM10 concentration of 73% and 61% in 20 to 25 years, respectively. Recent research published in the Lancet found that over the past five years, CO and Sulphur dioxide levels decreased by 28.2% and 54.1%, respectively, while NO2 and O3 concertation showed no considerable improvement. The August2018 TERI and ARAI report examined several interventions and predicted their possible effects. PM2.5 and PM10 levelsin Delhi and the NCR are above average. A different scenario has been developed in light of the intervention that can improve air quality the most. The NCAP produces an estimated national level target of 20%-30% decreasesin PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by 2024 after taking into consideration the existing international and national studies. This keeps 2018 as the baseline year for concentration comparisons. Gorakhpur City has recently experienced an increase in development activity, which has led to particulate matter.

Kinetics and Mechanism Study of Different Types of Surface‐Imprinted Polymers for CO2 Adsorption

ABSTRACTThe increased level of CO2 in the atmosphere has led to global warming and climate change. To mitigate these problems, solid adsorbents have become attractive materials for capturing excess CO2 in the post‐combustion method. Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) can be applied to prepare highly selective adsorbents that could capture CO2 molecules. The MIP was prepared using the surface imprinted polymer technique in this preliminary work. Only two types of support materials were used (graphite and silica gel) to screen the best support material that could enhance the CO2 adsorption capacity of the resulting adsorbent, which was analyzed using a fixed‐bed column reactor. Graphite‐imprinted polymer (GMIP) was found to be a good potential for CO2 adsorption. The Avrami model best described the adsorption system, while the fixed‐bed curve data fit the Yoon–Nelson model well. The semi‐empirical method was used to assess the interaction mechanism of the molecularly imprinted polymer with CO2 during adsorption. This investigation involved testing four different ratios of the template complex to functional monomers. The ratio of 1:4 (CO2:Allylthiourea) demonstrated the highest binding energy, with a higher formation of hydrogen bonds. Film diffusion and intraparticle diffusion were the main rate‐limiting steps that played vital roles at different stages of CO2 adsorption. This preliminary work has enhanced the development of MIP for CO2 adsorption and showcased the integration of computational approaches in tailoring specific MIPs.

Indoor Environmental Quality in Portuguese Office Buildings: Influencing Factors and Impact of an Intervention Study

Office workers spend a considerable part of their day at the workplace, making it vital to ensure proper indoor environmental quality (IEQ) conditions in office buildings. This work aimed to identify significant factors influencing IEQ and assess the effectiveness of an environmental intervention program, which included the introduction of indoor plants, carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors, ventilation, and printer relocation (source control), in six modern office buildings in improving IEQ. Thirty office spaces in Porto, Portugal, were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Indoor air quality, thermal comfort, illuminance, and noise were monitored before and after a 14-day intervention implementation. Occupancy, natural ventilation, floor type, and cleaning time significantly influenced IEQ levels. Biophilic interventions appeared to decrease volatile organic compound concentrations by 30%. Installing CO2 sensors and optimizing ventilation strategies in an office that mainly relies on natural ventilation effectively improved air renewal and resulted in a 28% decrease in CO2 levels. The implementation of a source control intervention led to a decrease in ultrafine particle and ozone concentrations by 14% and 85%, respectively. However, an unexpected increase in airborne particle levels was detected. Overall, for a sample of offices that presented acceptable IEQ levels, the intervention program had only minor or inconsistent impacts. Offices with declared IEQ problems are prime candidates for further research to fully understand the potential of environmental interventions.

Toxicity and environmental aspects of surfactants

Abstract As the single largest class of specialty chemicals, surfactants are consumed in huge quantities in our daily life and in many industrial areas. In the past, the attention was focused entirely on technical performance. However, starting from the 1970s and 80s, surfactant related environmental concerns have become the main driving force to upgrade surfactant production technology to make more benign or “greener” products. For this reason, environmental issues, dermatological effects, and oral toxicity are the main priorities when surfactants are considered for a specific purpose. In this paper, we present five cases to demonstrate how the surfactant industry tackles these challenges to mitigate the environmental and health effects associated with surfactant consumption. We also discuss the important role played by surfactants in a current carbon capture and storage (CCS) strategy to reduce the CO2 level in the atmosphere. Surfactant-based stable CO2 foam flooding is a well-established enhanced oil recovery technique. It has been considered to be an economically realistic procedure to sequester large amounts of CO2 in geological formations.

Drought Stress, Elevated CO2 and Their Combination Differentially Affect Carbon and Nitrogen in Different Organs of Six Spring Wheat Genotypes

This study aimed to analyze the combined impact of CO2 and drought stress at the flowering stage on carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and CN ratios in leaves, stem, and grains of bread wheat. Six diverse bread wheat genotypes, comprised of two commercial checks, two landraces, and two synthetics derivatives, were grown at two levels of CO2, i.e., 400 ppm and 800 ppm, and drought stress was imposed at the flowering stage through progressive soil drying. Stem, leaf, and grain samples were taken at maturity and concentrations of C and N were determined. Our results indicate that the threshold value of fraction of transpirable soil water (CFTSW) at which it diverges towards closure of stomata was different among genotypes and a higher range of values was estimated under elevated CO2. Drought significantly increased C levels in leaves and N levels in grains but decreased N levels in leaves, which increased CN ratios in leaves. In contrast, drought significantly reduced CN ratios in grains. Genotypes differed significantly in N content in grains, where the landrace derivative L2 maintained the highest N content. Moreover, pronounced changes in leaf N and CN ratios were induced by the combination of elevated CO2 and drought stress. Additionally, combined correlation and biplot analyses indicate a strong positive association of grain CN (GCN) with grain number, weight, and grain yield. These effects possibly interact with drought to strongly interfere with the impact of elevated CO2. The differential performance of the tested genotypes shows that selection of appropriate germplasm is essential to maintain agricultural production.

A study on indoor air quality at daycare centers using IoT environmental sensors

ABSTRACT Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a major concern at daycare centers, due to the weaker immune system of children. Although IAQ is typically measured in accordance with the ISO-16000 standard, environmental sensors have recently become widely used due to their ability to consistently monitor air quality at a lower cost. In this study, We installed IoT sensors indoors and outdoors at ten daycare centers to measure PM(PM2.5, PM10), CO2, temperature, and humidity, as well as window opening-closing sensors to identify ventilation behavior. Indoor PM concentrations were consistently lower than outdoor levels, increasing from 7:00 AM, peaking between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM, and decreasing during nap time (12:00 PM to 2:00 PM). CO2 levels were generally higher indoors than outdoors, peaking at 2:00 PM before decreasing. Windows were opened more frequently at 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM, and 3:00 PM. The correlation analysis revealed that significant factors influencing CO2 concentration were window opening duration. Ventilation rates per person at the daycare centers ranged from 1.77 to 10.69 m3/h, below both Korean and ASHRAE guidelines. The results of this study can provide valuable insights for developing strategies to improve indoor air quality in daycare centers that depend on window ventilation.

Quantifying the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on air pollution in Ahvaz: a comparative dual-approach assessment of observed against baseline and forecasted criteria air pollutants.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Iranian government swiftly implemented immediate and decisive measures to control the spread of the infection. This study aims to demonstrate the impact of restriction measure on air pollution, also to highlight the potential variability in results that can arias from different methodological approach. A comprehensive dual-approach assessment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the lockdown measures on criteria air pollutants. Firstly, a traditional approach compared air quality during the pandemic period with baseline conditions from 2013 to 2019. Secondly, observed air pollution values during different periods with varying restrictions in 2020 were compared with expected values. This comprehensive analysis allows for a robust comparison and quantification of the impact of different lockdown measures in Ahvaz. The study revealed significant changes in air pollutant concentrations in Ahvaz during 2020, with variations observed across different pollutants. Notable reductions were observed in O3 levels, particularly in November (-54.44% compared to the baseline) and December (-63.58% compared to expected values). Decreases in CO levels were observed in multiple months, while substantial reductions in PM10 and PM2.5 were observed during various periods. Inconsistencies in the magnitudes and directions of changes were found when comparing baseline and forecasted values. The overall stringency index showed an inverse association with changes in O3, NO2, and CO, with international travel controls and restrictions on internal movement having significant impacts. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on air pollution in Ahvaz, Iran, using a comprehensive dual-approach assessment. The findings highlight the effectiveness of these measures in reducing specific criteria air pollutants and emphasize the importance of implementing appropriate strategies for air quality management during similar public health emergencies.

Short-term reoxygenation is not enough for the recovery of soybean plants exposed to saline waterlogging

The ability of plants to recover after stressful events is crucial for resuming growth and development and is a key trait when studying stress tolerance. However, there is a lack of information on the physiological responses and the time required to restore homeostasis after the stress experience. This study aimed to (i) enhance understanding of soybean photosynthesis performance during saline waterlogging and (ii) investigate the effects of this combined stress during the reoxygenation and recovery period. Soybean plants (cultivar PELBR10-6049 RR) were subjected to waterlogging, NaCl, or hypoxia + NaCl for 3 and 6 days. Afterward, plants were drained and allowed to recover for an additional two (short-term) and seven days (long-term). Compared to plants exposed to single stress, the combined hypoxia + NaCl treatment resulted in a lower net CO2 assimilation rate, ФPSII, and levels of photosynthetic pigments during the waterlogging period. Furthermore, hypoxia + NaCl increased foliar electrolyte leakage during waterlogging. In response to short-term reoxygenation, these negative effects were amplified, while prolonged reoxygenation resulted in a slight increase in biomass accumulation. In conclusion, full recovery was not achieved under any condition during the reoxygenation periods tested. Notably, the brief reoxygenation phase imposed greater stress than the initial stress conditions for plants facing combined stress. Although extended recovery increased biomass accumulation, it remained lower in plants previously subjected to saline waterlogging.

CFD Investigation on Air-Staged Combustion Characteristics of Deep Peak Shaving Wall-Fired Burner Boilers

ABSTRACT In alignment with China’s ambitious goals of reaching peak carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, stringent load peak regulations are being enforced for coal-fired power generation. This underlines the significance of deploying deep load peaking strategies in coal-fired units. The current research focus is on wall-fired boilers operating under ultra-low loads of 600 MWe. It delves into the flow dynamics, combustion characteristics, component concentration field, and NOx emission characteristics under varying air coefficients in the primary combustion zones (α). The findings suggest the formation of a consistently high-temperature region in the primary combustion zone, where temperatures surpass 1500 K. The middle burner exhibits superior combustion stability compared to the bottom burner. As α diminishes, several changes occur. The flow field intensity in the primary combustion zone lessens, the ignition distance contracts, and the O2 concentration in this area drops. This engenders a reducing atmosphere characterized by low O2 and high CO levels, which hampers the formation of NOx. At α = 0.95, the NO concentration peaks, with the primary generation mechanism being temperature-driven. At this juncture, the NO concentration at the furnace flue gas outlet is 287.36 mg/m3.

Environmental and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of Renewable Energy Using Machine Learning Models

Renewable energy sources, such as solar, hydro, wind, and geothermal energy, have emerged as key alternatives to fossil fuels in combating climate change and addressing energy security concerns in the USA and ad worldwide. Strategic use of this renewable resource is important not only for carbon emission reduction and improvement of environmental sustainability but also for maintaining future energy supplies. At the same time, such transition raises thorough assessments of environmental and socio-economic impacts. Machine learning (ML) models offer a powerful tool for predicting and analyzing such impacts, allowing for more efficient decision-making and long-term planning. These models are supposed to analyze patterns in energy production, land use, and emissions to make a more dynamic and predictive understanding of how renewable energy adoption influences CO2 levels. The principal aim of this research project was to develop and curate machine learning algorithms for predicting CO2 emissions based on renewable energy data, using the knowledge to better understand how solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy systems affect environmental outcomes. The predictive models developed in this research would serve as useful tools for the policymakers and major stakeholders in decision-making on investments in energy infrastructure and characterization of regulatory frameworks. These datasets for this research project were retrieved from several prominent institutions, including governmental agencies, international organizations such as the International Energy Agency-IEA and the World Bank, satellite data repositories, and USA environmental monitoring agencies. For this research project, 3 machine learning algorithms in the experiment were used, namely Logistic Regression, XG-Boost, and Random Forest. Amongst these three, the linear regression model gave the best performance, as it had the least MSE; indicating that its predictive capability was impressive. The comparative analysis of renewable energy projects in Germany, China, and California underlines that effective policy-making plays a very decisive role in the transition toward sustainable energy.

Exogenous Melatonin as Pre- and Postharvest Application on Quality Attributes, Antioxidant Capacity, and Extension of Shelf Life of Papaya

Papaya is widely grown in tropical and subtropical climates due to its high yield potential and high returns. The vital hormone melatonin, regulating various biological processes in plants, is eco-friendly and less harmful to humans than other chemicals. This study aims to enhance the quality and antioxidant enzyme activities and lessen postharvest senescence in papaya cv. CO 8 fruits during both ambient (32 ± 2 °C and 55 ± 5% RH) and cold storage (10 ± 2 °C and 90–95% RH) as exogenous melatonin (EMT) is applied in varying concentrations. An optimum melatonin dose of 1.5 mM was applied as a pre-harvest spray 15 days before harvest and a postharvest dip proved effective in prolonging shelf life (under ambient it prolonged to day 9 and under cold storage up to 28 days) and delaying ripening and softening. Exogenous melatonin application enhanced antioxidant activity, reduced weight loss, maintained firmness, delayed ripening enzymes, and lowered ethylene and CO2 levels. For instance, control fruits had weight losses between 7.42% and 10.09%, while fruits treated with 1.5 mM melatonin showed 5.74% and 9.06% weight loss under ambient and cold storage, respectively. In conclusion, applying EMT (1.5 mM) could be an economically viable and environmentally benign way to lessen senescence after harvest and preserve the qualities of the papaya fruit during ambient and cold storage.

Impact of Elevated Atmospheric and Intercellular CO2 on Plant Defense Mechanisms

AbstractThis review explores the complex relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and secondary metabolites in leaves, emphasizing their role in plant defense mechanisms. The synthesis of different research that has been done ranges from the influence of CO2 on photosynthesis, metabolic pathways, and the synthesis of secondary metabolites, crucial in protecting plants against environmental stressors, especially pathogens. The paper highlights the significance of various factors such as light intensity, water supply, and temperature in regulating stomatal conductance and subsequent CO2 assimilation. Additionally, it discusses the diverse secondary metabolites found in plants, including phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and tannins, and their antioxidant properties. The review suggests that elevated CO2 levels may enhance plant defense responses by influencing the production of secondary metabolites. The paper also explores the complex interplay between CO2 levels, metabolic activity, and defense mechanisms, providing valuable insights into how plants dynamically adjust their metabolism to cope with environmental challenges, highlighting the interaction of adaptation and physiology in plants, offering a holistic understanding of the biochemical and physiological processes involved in plant defense.

Elevated Atmospheric Co2 Levels Impact Soil Protist Functional Core Community Compositions

Protists, known as microeukaryotes, are a significant portion of soil microbial communities. They are crucial predators of bacteria and depend on bacterial community dynamics for the growth and evolution of protistan communities. In parallel, increased levels of atmospheric CO2 significantly impact bacterial metabolic activity in rhizosphere soils. In this study, we investigated the effect of elevated atmospheric CO2 levels on the metabolically active protist community composition and function and their co-occurrences with bacteria from bulk and rhizosphere soils from the Giessen Free-Air CO2 enrichment grassland experiment. Metabarcoding sequencing data analyses of partial 18S rRNA from total soil RNA showed that elevated CO2 concentrations stimulated only a few ASVs of phagotrophic predators of bacteria and other microeukaryotes, affecting protist community composition (P = 0.006, PERMANOVA). In parallel, phagotrophic and parasitic lineages appeared slightly favoured under ambient CO2 conditions, results that were corroborated by microbial signature analyses. Cross-comparisons of protist-bacteria co-occurrences showed mostly negative relations between prokaryotes and microeukaryotes, indicating that the ongoing increase in atmospheric CO2 will lead to changes in microbial soil communities and their interactions, potentially cascading to higher trophic levels in soil systems.

Survival of Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella Enteritidis, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium botulinum in non-alcoholic beers

Why was the work done: To (i) determine whether microbial pathogens were present in packaged alcohol-free and low alcohol beers, (ii) to assess whether pathogens can survive or grow in non-alcoholic beers, and (iii) to determine the impact of pH and bitterness on their growth and survival of pathogens in alcohol-free beer. How was the work done: : 50 alcohol-free and low alcohol beers, available in the UK, were screened for pathogens and analysed for ABV, pH and bitterness (IBU). One of the alcohol-free beers (with the lowest IBU) was adjusted to 25 and 50 IBU and pH 3.8, 4.2, 4.6 and 4.9. Challenge testing of these beers was performed with Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella Enteritidis, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium botulinum. In addition, the heat resistance (D60 value) of the pathogens, spoilage bacteria and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ascospores in these beers was determined. What are the main findings: Salmonella, E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Bacillus cereus and sulphite reducing clostridia were not found in any of the 50 beers. However, two emerging opportunistic pathogens (Cupriavidus gilardii and Sphingomonas paucimobilis) were found in the low alcohol keg beers. None of the pathogens used in this study could grow in the alcohol-free beer at low pH (pH 3.8). E. coli O157 was unable to grow at pH 4.2 but could grow at pH 4.6 but only with reduced levels of carbon dioxide and increased oxygen. Salmonella Enteritidis was able to grow at pH 4.2 and 4.6 but also with reduced levels of CO2 and increased O2. Although Bacillus cereus and C. botulinum were unable to grow in any of the tested conditions, both pathogens were able to survive. Survival and/or growth of the microorganisms was impacted by pH; bitterness had no effect. Why is the work important: Salmonella Enteritidis and E. coli O157 only grew in alcohol free beer at a higher pH (4.2 and 4.6 for Salmonella and 4.6 for E. coli) together with with reduced levels of CO2 and increased O2. This suggests that packaged beer with appreciable levels of carbon dioxide and negligible levels of oxygen will not support the growth of pathogens. However, draught alcohol free beer may be vulnerable to pathogens.

Southern Hemisphere Winter Storm Tracks Respond Differently to Low and High CO2 Forcings

Abstract In the Southern Hemisphere, Earth system models project an intensification of winter storm tracks by the end of the twenty-first century. Previous studies using idealized models showed that storm track intensity saturates with increasing temperatures, suggesting that the intensification of the winter storm tracks might not continue further with increasing greenhouse gases. Here, we examine the response of midlatitude winter storm tracks in the Southern Hemisphere to increasing CO2 from two to eight times preindustrial concentrations in more realistic Earth system models. We find that at high CO2 levels (beyond 4×CO2), winter storm tracks no longer exhibit an intensification across the extratropics. Instead, they shift poleward, weakening the storm tracks at lower midlatitudes and strengthening at higher midlatitudes. By analyzing the eddy kinetic energy (EKE) budget, the nonlinear storm-track response to an increase in CO2 levels in the lower midlatitudes is found to stem from a scale-dependent conversion of eddy available potential energy to EKE. Specifically, in the lower midlatitudes, this energy conversion acts to oppositely change the EKE of long and short scales at low CO2 levels, but at high CO2 levels, it mostly reduces the EKE of shorter scales, resulting in a poleward shift of the storms. Furthermore, we identify a “tug of war” between the upper and lower temperature changes as the primary driver of the nonlinear-scale-dependent EKE response in the lower midlatitudes. Our results suggest that in the highest emission scenarios beyond the twenty-first century, the storm tracks’ response may differ in magnitude and latitudinal distribution from projected changes by 2100. Significance Statement The Southern Hemisphere winter storm track is projected to intensify by the end of the century, with the most significant intensification occurring in the higher midlatitudes. However, we show that the intensification is not a linear function of the radiative forcing associated with increasing CO2 levels. In fact, our study shows a poleward shift at very high CO2 levels, with the storm track moving southward. This suggests that the Southern Hemisphere winter storm track may require time-sensitive adaptation strategies, as the impacts of global warming on the storm track may not be a linear function of CO2 concentration in the atmosphere.

Implications of Traditional Cooking on Air Quality and Female Health: An In-Depth Analysis of Particulate Matter, Carbon Monoxide, and Carbon Dioxide Exposure in a Rural Community

Indoor air pollution, particularly in rural communities, is a significant health determinant, primarily due to the prevalence of traditional cooking practices. The WHO estimates 4.3 million annual deaths related to household air pollution. This study quantifies indoor pollutants and assesses health impacts and perceptions regarding traditional cooking. Using Extech air quality monitoring equipment, the study measured particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2) in 48 rural homes. A survey of 39 women gathered insights on their use of wood for cooking and perceptions of air quality. This dual approach analyzed both environmental and social dimensions. Findings showed fine particulate matter (0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 μm) exceeded safety limits by threefold, while coarser particulates (5.0 and 10 µm) were concerning but less immediate. CO levels were mostly acceptable, but high concentrations posed risks. CO2 levels indicated good ventilation. Survey responses highlighted reliance on wood and poor air quality perceptions demonstrating little awareness of health risks. Common symptoms included eye discomfort, respiratory issues, and headaches. The study emphasizes the need for interventions to reduce exposure to indoor pollutants and increase awareness of health risks to encourage cleaner cooking practices in rural communities.

Molecular Insights into CO2 Diffusion Behavior in Crude Oil

CO2 flooding plays a significant part in enhancing oil recovery and is essential to achieving CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage). This study aims to understand the fundamental theory of CO2 dissolving and diffusing into crude oil and how these processes vary under reasonable reservoir conditions. In this paper, we primarily use molecular dynamics simulation to construct a multi-component crude oil model with 17 hydrocarbons, which is on the basis of a component analysis of oil samples through laboratory experiments. Then, the CO2 dissolving capacity of the multi-component crude was quantitatively characterized and the impacts of external conditions—including temperature and pressure—on the motion of the CO2 dissolution and diffusion coefficients were systematically investigated. Finally, the swelling behavior of mixed CO2–crude oil was analyzed and the diffusion coefficients were predicted; furthermore, the levels of CO2 impacting the oil’s mobility were analyzed. Results showed that temperature stimulation intensified molecular thermal motion and increased the voids between the alkane molecules, promoting the rapid dissolution and diffusion of CO2. This caused the crude oil to swell and reduced its viscosity, further improving the mobility of the crude oil. As the pressure increased, the voids between the internal and external potential energy of the crude oil models became wider, facilitating the dissolution of CO2. However, when subjected to external compression, the CO2 molecules’ diffusing progress within the oil samples was significantly limited, even diverging to zero, which inhabited the improvement in oil mobility. This study provides some meaningful insights into the effect of CO2 on improving molecular-scale mobility, providing theoretical guidance for subsequent investigations into CO2–crude oil mixtures’ complicated and detailed behavior.