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

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Levels of two major air pollutants have been reduced significantly since lockdowns began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a secondary pollutant—ground-level ozone—has increased in China, according to new research. Ozone is harmful to humans at ground-level, causing pulmonary and heart disease. —Guy Brasseur.

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Study quantifies impact of oil and gas emissions on Denver’s ozone problem

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The first peer-reviewed study to directly quantify how emissions from oil and natural gas (O&NG) activities influence summertime tropospheric ozone (O 3 ) pollution in the Colorado Front Range confirms that chemical vapors from oil and gas activities are a significant contributor to the region’s chronic ozone problem.

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San José International deploys 10 Proterra electric buses in airport fleet

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Funded in part by a $5-million zero-emissions grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, the electric buses replace the aging compressed natural gas bus fleet that has been operating at SJC since 2008. The electric bus fleet is anticipated to reduce ozone emissions by 1.1

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Study Links Springtime Ozone Increases Above Western North America to Emissions in Asia

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Springtime ozone distributions for 1984, 1995–2008 in the mid-troposphere (3.0–8.0 Springtime ozone levels above western North America are rising primarily due to air flowing eastward from the Pacific Ocean, a trend that is largest when the air originates in Asia. km), and air mass source regions. Credit: Nature, Cooper et al.

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Reducing Black Carbon Emissions and Ground-Level Ozone Would Provide Immediate Benefit Against Climate Change

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Reducing emissions of black carbon soot and ground-level ozone would quickly make a considerable dent in the climate change problem and would also contribute to public health and protect crop yields, according to an essay in the September/October issue of Foreign Affairs. Besides a danger to breathe, ozone lowers crop yields.

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WMO: Atmospheric Concentrations of Main Greenhouse Gases in 2008 Set New Highs

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Relative contribution of major greenhouse gases to the overall change in radiative forcing between 1979 and 1984 (a) and from 2003 to 2008 (b). Atmospheric levels of major greenhouse gases continue to increase, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) 2008 Greenhouse Gas Bulletin. from 2007 to 2008.

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California SCAQMD petitioning EPA for national ultra-low NOx standard for trucks

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Without a nationwide ultra-low NO x emission standard, SCAQMD argues, California will not be able to meet the 2023 deadline for achieving the federally mandated 8-hour ozone standard, which was adopted in 1997 and set at 80 parts per billion. liter engine, produced by Cummins Westport Inc., Earlier post.).

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