Stratospheric Ozone Research Articles

Effect of biodiesel on environmental impacts of diesel mechanical power generation by life cycle assessment

The novel goal of the present research is to integrate response surface and life cycle assessment methods to reduce the environmental impacts of mechanical power generation in a diesel engine fueled by diesel-biodiesel blends. Environmental impacts of mechanical power generation in an OM 314 diesel engine under the effect of biodiesel were investigated using the life cycle assessment method. Response surface methodology was used to find the optimum percentage of alga biodiesel in diesel-biodiesel fuel blends under the effects of different engine loads and speeds. In the optimization process, the dependent variables were engine performance characteristics and emissions. A blend containing 57 % diesel and 43 % biodiesel was found as the optimum fuel blend. The environmental impacts of the optimum diesel-biodiesel blend were calculated by the CML-IA baseline impact assessment model and compared with those of pure diesel and pure biodiesel. The results showed that the values of abiotic, abiotic fossil fuel, and ozone layer depletion indicators decreased by 16.09–44.09 % compared to pure diesel. Also, the values of other indicators decreased by 16.74–131.84 % compared to pure biodiesel. Normalization process showed that the marine aquatic ecotoxicity was the main indicator for all studied fuels.

Physiological and transcriptomic analysis reveals the toxic and protective mechanisms of marine microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa in response to TiO2 nanoparticles and UV-B radiation

Concerns have been raised regarding the adverse effects of nanoparticles (NPs) on marine organisms, as an increasing number of NPs inevitably enter the marine environment with the development of nanotechnology. Owing to the photocatalytic properties, TiO2 NPs' toxicity may be aggravated by enhanced UV-B resulting from stratospheric ozone depletion. However, the molecular mechanisms of phytoplankton in response to TiO2 NPs under UV-B remains poorly understood. In this study, we integrated whole transcriptome analysis with physiological data to provide understanding on the toxic and protective mechanisms of marine Chlorella pyrenoidosa in response to TiO2 NPs under UV-B. The results indicated that the changes in gene expression could be related to the growth inhibition and TiO2 NP internalization in C. pyrenoidosa, and several molecular mechanisms were identified as toxicity response to TiO2 NPs and UV-B. Differential expression of genes involved in glycerophospholipids metabolism indicated that cell membrane disruption allowed TiO2 NPs to enter the algal cell under UV-B exposure, although the up-regulation of genes involved in the general secretory dependent pathway and the ATP-binding cassette transporter family drove cellular secretion of extracellular polymeric substances, acting as a barrier that prevent TiO2 NP internalization. The absence of changes in gene expression related to the antioxidant system may be responsible for the severe oxidative stress observed in algal cells following exposure to TiO2 NPs under UV-B irradiation. Moreover, differential expression of genes involved in pathways such as photosynthesis and energy metabolism were up-regulated, including the light-harvesting, photosynthetic electron transport coupled to photophosphorylation, carbon fixation, glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, indicating that more energy and metabolites were supplied to cope with the toxicity of TiO2 NPs and UV-B. The obtained results provide valuable information on the molecular mechanisms of response of marine phytoplankton exposed to TiO2 NPs and UV-B.

Determination of Total Stratospheric Ozone on Millimeter Waveband over the Central Asian Region

The principles of operation of the main blocks of the radio spectrometer of the millimeter range for the study of the ozone layer are presented. Some results of measurements of the altitude distribution of ozone over the region of Central Asia are presented, according to which the zones of maximum ozone concentration in height are confirmed, and total ozone is determined in the altitude range of 20‑60 km.

Role of Southern Hemisphere sudden stratospheric warming in altering the intensity of Brewer-Dobson circulation and its impact on stratospheric ozone and water vapor

The changes in the intensity of Brewer-Dobson circulation (BDC) in the record-breaking Southern Hemisphere sudden stratospheric warming (SH SSW) event in 2019 are investigated in the present study. Wave driving was observed to be at its highest in 2019 SH SSW, despite the event being classified as a minor warming event. The Eliassen-Palm flux divergence, indicative of wave driving, was observed to be increasing before the SSW, and subsiding afterwards. The stratospheric circulation followed the wave driving and intensified along the warming episode. The resulting stratospheric distribution from Aura Microwave Limb Sounder showed a negative ozone anomaly (∼20%) in the tropical lower stratosphere and a downward propagating positive anomaly in the Southern Hemisphere polar stratosphere around the central dates. The water vapor mixing ratio showed an increase of more than 25% in the polar lower stratosphere and 10% in the tropical upper stratosphere. A cooling of about 5 K was observed in the tropical middle stratosphere. The results indicate that SH SSW can change the intensity of the stratospheric circulation which in turn affects the ozone and water vapor transport from the tropics to the pole.

The impact of tropopause fold event on surface ozone concentration over Tibetan Plateau in July

Tropopause fold events are one of the major processes in stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) in the mid-latitudes. The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is a hotspot of STE in the world. It has been proved that the tropopause fold events over the TP could impact on tropospheric ozone concentration in summer, yet most of these studies only focus on tropopause fold events at individual stations. In this study, we use ozone soundings data over Minle County (38.41°N, 100.65°E) and surface observations in the TP to verify the effect of tropopause fold events on surface ozone concentration. The stratospheric ozone tracers (O3S) simulation by the WACCM model and the passive tracers simulation by the WRF model indicate that the tropopause fold event observed on 11 July 2020 contributed to surface ozone in the northern regions of TP. In addition, we identified all the tropopause fold events that occurred over the TP in each July from 2015 to 2020 and quantified their impacts on surface ozone concentration. The results show that the average increase in surface ozone concentration is 15.94 ppbv during the period affected by the tropopause fold events. The site most affected by tropopause fold events is Shannan City, followed by Nyingchi City. This study revealed the importance of the influence of tropopause fold event on surface ozone concentration in the TP in summer.

Nanocarriers for the Delivery of Quercetin to Inhibit the UV-Induced Aggregation of γD-Crystallin.

Due to gradual environmental changes like ozone layer depletion and global warming, human eyes are exposed to UV light. Exposure to UV light can be a cause of cataracts, one of the ocular diseases that may cause vision impairment. To date, lens replacement has been the only treatment available for cataracts. In our present study, we carried out an extensive examination of polyphenols as inhibitors for UV-induced aggregation of γD-crystallin. On exposure to UV-C light, γD-crystallin forms fibrils instead of amorphous aggregates. Various polyphenols were tested as inhibitors; out of them, quercetin, baicalein, and caffeic acid were found to be effective. As polyphenols are insoluble in water, nanoencapsulation was used to enhance their bioavailability. CS-TPP and CS-PLGA encapsulating systems were considered, as they form biodegradable nanocapsules. Out of three polyphenols (quercetin, baicalein, and caffeic acid), quercetin forms nanocarriers of smaller sizes, a must for crossing the retinal barrier. Quercetin nanocarriers were considered an effective system that could be used for therapeutic applications. For these nanocarriers, encapsulation efficiency and polyphenol release kinetics were studied. CS-PLGA NPs were found to have a better loading efficiency for quercetin than CS-TPP NPs.

PENGARUH PRETREATMENT BAHAN KIMA DAN BIOLOGI TERHADAP AKUMULASI VOLUME BIOGAS DARI LIMBAH MAKANAN

PENGARUH PRETREATMENT BAHAN KIMA DAN BIOLOGI TERHADAP AKUMULASI VOLUME BIOGAS DARI LIMBAH MAKANAN

The Evolution of Solar Tide‐Like Signatures in the Ionospheric Total Electron Content During Major Sudden Stratospheric Warming Events

AbstractBy using total electron content (TEC) from the global ionospheric maps, the solar tide‐like signatures in the ionosphere are explored. We further study how the main components evolve during the 2009 and 2018 major stratospheric sudden warming events (SSWs). The method of a least‐square fit is applied for extracting the solar tide‐like components. The three predominant components are SW2, D0, and SW1, amplitude of which increase in the equatorial ionization anomaly region after the onset of both SSW events, especially in the northern hemisphere. During the SSW events, the solar tide‐like components vary significantly with latitude and their evolutions show hemispherical asymmetries. Each same component presents similar evolutionary trend during both events. The characteristics of ionospheric tide‐like signatures and related mechanisms are discussed. The SW2 tide‐like responses in TEC closely follow the changes in the tidal wind fields in the lower thermosphere, which provide evidences of the atmosphere‐ionosphere coupling during SSW events. In addition, the latitudinal asymmetric distributing of stratospheric ozone and ionospheric TEC background during the SSW may be influence factors for the hemispherical asymmetries in tide‐like signatures responses in TEC.

Technical and environmental assessment of end-of-life scenarios for plastic packaging with electronic tags

The end-of-life management of plastics is challenging, especially when inefficient sorting can limit the quality of recycling streams. Radio frequency identification device (RFID) tags can add value to packaging by assisting with post-collection sorting and end-of-life management. We conducted, for the first time, a technical and environmental (LCA) evaluation of plastic packaging with RFID for different end-of-life scenarios, including mechanical recycling (extrusion), chemical recycling (depolymerisation), and energy-from-waste. The recycling process and plastic quality were unaffected by the RFID, although tag particulates can be transferred to the recyclate. LCA results indicated that mechanical recycling of the plastic with either energy-from-waste treatment (Scenario 1) or chemical recycling (Scenario 3) of the RFID is superior to chemical recycling of the plastic and RFID (Scenario 2) among all the impact categories except stratospheric ozone depletion potential. For example, the global warming potential of Scenario 2 (223.63 gCO2e) was determined to be more than twice than that of the Scenarios 1 and 3 (111.04 and 111.78 gCO2e, respectively). However, as per sensitivity analysis, with further advancements particularly in catalyst development and energy mix, chemical recycling can be a potential solution as it ensures the highest recyclate quality and facilitates the longest retention of the material value. The growing application of RFID tags in consumer goods makes the technical and environmental investigation of its effects on the end-of-life management paramount.

Russian Investigations of Atmospheric Ozone and its Precursors in 2019–2022

The review contains the most significant results of the work of Russian scientists in the field of atmospheric ozone research performed in 2019–2022. It considers observations of tropospheric ozone, its distribution and variability in the territory of the Russian Federation, the relationship with atmospheric parameters, modeling of education processes and the impact on public health. The state of stratospheric ozone over the region, modeling of processes in the ozonosphere, developed methods and instruments were also analyzed. The review is part of Russia’s national report on meteorology and atmospheric sciences, which was prepared for the International Association for Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (IAMAS). The report was reviewed and approved at the XXVIII General Assembly of the International Geodetic and Geophysical Union (IUGG).

Optimizing Time Performance in implementing Green Retrofitting on High-Rise Residential by using System Dynamics and M-PERT

Climate change is a threat and crisis that is engulfing the world today; therefore, the target of Net Zero Emission (NZE) by 2060 should be an obligation for all countries. The greenhouse effect, global warming, destruction of the ozone layer, forest destruction, uncontrolled use of CFCs, and industrial exhaust are factors that cause climate change. The consequences of climate change are dire, resulting in drought, water scarcity, land fires, rising sea levels, flash floods, melting polar ice caps, storms, and a decline in biodiversity. Green buildings (GB) are important in saving energy, water, and other resources by meeting technical construction standards and applying green building principles according to their function and classification at each stage of their implementation. Buildings with measurable performance. Expected to reduce carbon or greenhouse gas emissions. The latest Technical Guidelines for Green Building Performance Assessment Standards were developed through regulations from the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) No.1 of 2022. The way to improve and find a solution to achieve a Green Building according to these regulations is by applying solar modules as an alternative energy source in the building under study, providing significant added value to the assessment process. This research aims to analyze whether the renewable energy source factor is an influencing factor in the application of the Ministry of PUPR Green Building in High-Rise Residential. This research framework is at least initiated from matters where M-PERT, which is an innovation and the latest method of continuation of the PERT method, is proven to be able to provide an accuracy of planning execution time of 99% or with an error rate of 1%. From the research results with the application of M-PERT, it is proven that it can provide an accuracy of implementation time of 98.93% in the Primary Rating, while in the Intermediate Rating, it can provide an accuracy of implementation time of 99.92% and 98.88% accuracy of implementation time for the Main Rating category. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-12-07 Full Text: PDF

Russian Research in the Field of Atmospheric Chemistry in 2019–2022

A brief overview of the work of Russian scientists in the field of atmospheric chemistry in 20190–2022 is presented, including work on the chemistry of the troposphere, the chemistry of the ozone layer, work on the study of heterophase processes, as well as work on the chemical aspects of climate and its change. The review was prepared in the Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry of the Section of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences of the National Geophysical Committee.

전과정평가(LCA)를 이용한 EPS(Electric Power Steering)에 대한 환경영향 평가 연구

This study was quantified using LCA about EPS limited system boundary from raw material extraction until it leaves the factory and assessed six environmental impact categories; Abiotic depletion; Acidification; Eutrophication; Global warming; Ozone layer depletion; and Photochemical oxidants creation. The contributions of raw material extraction to the six environmental impact categories were determined to be as follows:Abiotic depletion 85.2%, Acidification 93.8%, Eutrophication 89.7%, Global warming 86.3%, Ozone layer depletion 99.5%, and Photochemical oxidants creation 93.1%. Sensitivity analysis was performed for data and assumptions to confirm the results reliability of this study. The results of this study confirmed that raw material extraction stage and aluminum material part is the most important environmental impact factors in EPS.

Intellectual Property Rights Regime in Green Technology: Way Forward to Sustainability

Climate change crises and environmental imbalances have been a significant concern globally in recent times. The climatic changes give rise to various issues such as global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, deterioration of natural resources, soil erosion, deforestation, and more. Many international and national agreements and policies have been created to protect the environment, from the UNFCCC to the recent Paris Agreement, aiming to control rising environmental issues. However, developed and developing countries must achieve desirable results in combating climate change. Industrial and technological developments are critical reasons for environmental pollution and degradation. Progress is necessary for planned developing countries, but growth and expansions shall also consider ecological sustainability. Technology shall be novel in adapting to the changes, considering the effects it can produce on the environment. Green technology combines technology with the environment, also called environmental technology, clean technology, or sustainable technology. It is a combination of science and technology together to mitigate climatic changes and protect the environment. Green technology is the modern sustainable solution to pressing environmental concerns. India is one of the countries globally showing rapid green technology developments. The authors of this paper have tried to highlight the dire need to modify technological developments vis-a-vis environmental sustainability to protect the environment. The research paper delves into and understands the interface between clean technology’s importance and relevance for ecological sustainability and the role of patent law, particularly in dealing with issues of the environment. The paper shall also establish a harmonious relationship between patent law and its role in ensuring environmental sustainability.

Evaluation of hydrogen fuel cell-based systematic vehicular application to promote the green economy using LabVIEW

BackgroundThis research work aims to create, develop, and evaluate the Hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) model in LabVIEW targeting vehicular applications. Global warming, colonization, and unexpected bursts in population have led to the formation of problems due to the augmented utilization of Petrochemical substances and have impacted our way of living. To meet the urbanization need, energy is being produced at such a large scale that has never been produced in the entire human history. Excess usage of fossil fuels, coal, and other Petrochemical substances for energy generation has influenced the environment and as a result, hazardous and toxic compounds (carbonic gases) started to emerge in the air and affected the ozone layer surrounding the earth. HFC's operated vehicles are a possible way of conventional energy production and can power up electronics in our industries and vehicles. ResultsFor this, LabVIEW VI simulation targeting the mini-car model is created using the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (HFCEV) formulas and strategic design equations. Through LabVIEW simulation, two study cases (one at a constant temperature while others at static fuel pressure) are made to assess the feasibility and performance of the HFC for vehicular application. The result indicates the disparity in performance (in the form of a relationship) of the vehicle by varying the temperature and concentration of fuel contents in the HFC. ConclusionsThe benefits of the research work include obtaining prior information about the HFCEV parameters.

Intelligent photovoltaic system to maximize the capture of solar energy

The large consumption of electricity worldwide has an impact on the environment which can be said to alter climate change, the degradation of the ozone layer and acid rain. A house has an average daily consumption of 270kWh, this is why solar panels are very useful and can help to have a renewable energy at low costs. To create an intelligent photovoltaic system, different electronic sensors can be applied to follow the sunlight through a series of instructions in some programming software. The article proposes to prototype an intelligent photovoltaic system, based on artificial intelligence with a neural network library "propet" having a positive impact on the optimization of power generation by allowing a more accurate tracking of the sun and a greater collection of photovoltaic energy throughout the day. performing an integration between Arduino and machine learning algorithms such as artificial neural networks in prediction of time series. Different practical experiments were performed to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

UV-B Radiation in the Acclimatization Mechanism of Psidium guajava in Sunlight

The ozone layer (O3) is essential to the absorption and blocking of UV-B radiation, preventing a large portion from reaching the Earth’s surface. The degradation of the ozone layer (O3) caused by increased pollution has led to climate change exerting significant influence on natural ecosystems and has resulted in severe stress on the environment, such as an increase in UV-B radiation, which has deleterious effects on plant physiology. UV-B influences the protection pathways that increase compound production, leading to metabolic adjustments and promoting plant acclimatization. This study evaluated whether UV-B application prior to sunlight exposure induces anthocyanin synthesis, photochemical change, and carbohydrate profile modification, contributing to acclimatization in Psidium guajava seedlings. A higher concentration of H2O2 may have stimulated anthocyanin synthesis. Furthermore, greater instantaneous water use efficiency (iWUE), the absence of trehalose—a stress marker, and lower concentrations of glucose, fructose, and sucrose indicate that these plants acclimatize when exposed to full sun (30 days). Seedlings exposed to increased UV-B may be more resistant to the climate. The radiation can aid in water resource management with elevated carbohydrate concentrations. These conditions may enhance the success of P. guajava in the field. Therefore, it is suggested that UV-B application to seedlings of P. guajava promotes effective acclimatization, as it activates anthocyanin synthesis, inhibits trehalose accumulation, and increases iWUE. UV-B radiation, depending on its radiance, can be used as a technique in seedling production that can be implanted in anthropic environments.

UV filters and high refractive index materials based on carboxymethyl cellulose sodium and CuO@ZnO core/shell nanoparticles

Nanoparticles have substantially contributed to the field of skincare products with ultraviolet (UV) filters to preserve human skin from sun damage. Thus, the current study aims to develop new polymer nanocomposites for the efficient block of UV light that results from the stratospheric ozone layer loss. Co-precipitation method was used to successfully synthesis CuO@ZnO core/shell NPs with a well-crystalline monoclinic CuO core and wurzite ZnO shell. Using the casting method, core/shell NPs were successfully introduced to carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC). The CMC nanocomposites displayed considerably broader optical response extending from near-ultraviolet to visible light, which was likely due to heterojunction between the p-CuO core and n-ZnO shell and defects originating from the synthetic process. The transmittance of pure CMC in the UV, visible, and near IR regions is significantly reduced with the addition of 2 and 4 wt% of CuO@ZnO core/shell NPs to CMC. 99% of UV light is absorbed when 4 wt% of CuO@ZnO core/shell NPs are added. The addition of different concentrations of CMC nanocomposite to one of the sunblock in Egyptian market were studied and showing the highest Sun Protection Factor of 22. Moreover, optical dispersion parameters and refractive index were improved strongly with core/shell NPs addition.

Stratospheric Warming Events in the Period January–March 2023 and Their Impact on Stratospheric Ozone in the Northern Hemisphere

In this investigation, a comparison is presented between variations in temperature and ozone concentration at different altitude levels in the stratosphere for the Northern Hemisphere in the conditions of Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) for the period January–March 2023. Spatial and altitude distribution of atmospheric characteristics derived from MERRA-2 are represented by their Fourier decomposition. A cross-correlation analysis between temperature and Total Ozone Column (TOC) is used. The longitudinal inhomogeneities in temperature, caused by stationary Planetary Waves with wavenumber 1 (SPW1), are found to be significant at altitudes around the maximum of the maximum of the ozone number density vertical distribution. As a result, it is established that the latitudinal and longitudinal distribution of TOC has a noticeable similarity with that of the temperature at altitudes close to the ozone concentration maximum. The results of correlation between temperature at individual stratospheric levels and ozone concentration show that (i) in the region around the ozone concentration maximum, the correlation is high and positive, (ii) at higher altitudes the sign of the correlation changes to negative (~37 km). The examination shows that the anomalous increases in TOC during SSW are due to an increase in ozone concentration in the altitudes between 10 km and 15 km.

Reasons for Low Fraction of Arctic Stratospheric Cloud in 2014/2015 Winter

AbstractPolar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) play a key role in Arctic amplification and stratospheric ozone destruction in polar regions. In this paper, we used the CALIPSO data to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of Arctic PSCs from 2006 to 2021. We found that Arctic PSCs mainly appear in December, peak in late December and early January, disappearing in late February and early March. PSCs can extend from heights near the tropopause to over 25 km. However, there is the lowest fraction of PSCs in the 2014/2015 winter. This study found that the temperature in the 2014/2015 winter was warmer than the 15‐year average temperature, with the lowest temperature slightly below the PSCs formation temperature of about 5 K. The formation of the Ural blocking high accompanied by the poleward propagation of the planetary wave caused a sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event on 3 January 2015, during which the warm air entered the polar vortex and divided it into two lobes. Additionally, a reduction in SO2 column mass density before the SSW event resulted PSCs occurring with a frequency of only 0.148 and dissipating rapidly in December. Moreover, the concentration of H2O and HNO3 in the gravitational settling process of PSCs decreased by 20–50%, the reduction of condensation nuclei made PSCs with the highest frequency of 0.074 in February appear briefly and then disappear. The chemical and dynamic analysis of PSCs formation is needed to further understand the spatiotemporal distribution of Arctic PSCs and to better predict future Arctic amplification and ozone destruction.