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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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Harvard/Nanjing study: China’s war on PM2.5 pollution is causing more severe ozone pollution

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Cities restricted the number of cars on the road, coal-fired power plants reduced emissions or were shuttered and replaced with natural gas. pollution is falling, harmful ground-level ozone pollution is on the rise, especially in large cities. There was so much particulate matter in Chinese cities that it stunted the ozone production.

Ozone 262
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CSIRO study finds ozone uptake in oceans much lower than previously thought

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CSIRO scientists have developed a new way to account for ozone in computer simulations of the climate. This latest modeling shows that the oceans take much less ozone out of the atmosphere than previously thought. Ozone (O 3 ) is formed by reactions of chemicals such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds—i.e.,

Ozone 150
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Satellite method provides insight into ozone-NOx-VOCs sensitivity for different locations

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Ozone pollution near Earth’s surface is one of the main ingredients of summertime smog. It is also not directly measurable from space due to the abundance of ozone higher in the atmosphere, which obscures measurements of surface ozone. —Jin et al.

Ozone 150
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California 2017 GHG inventory shows 1.2% total drop from 2016; transportation sector emissions up 1%

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The California Air Resources Board’s latest state inventory of greenhouse gas emissions shows that California’s GHG emissions continue to decrease. Changes in emissions by Scoping Plan sector between 2000 and 2017. 2017 GHG Emissions by Scoping Plan Sector and Sub-Sector Category. MMTCO 2 e (6%) from 2013 to 2017.

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Emissions of potent GHG HFC-23 have grown, contradicting reports of huge reductions

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Despite reports that global emissions of the potent greenhouse gas, HFC-23, were almost eliminated in 2017, an international team of scientists, led by the University of Bristol, has found atmospheric levels growing at record values. This gas has very few industrial applications.

Emissions 199
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Latest GHG Inventory shows California remains below 2020 emissions target; much steeper rate of GHG reductions required

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California’s latest greenhouse gas data shows that while the state continues to stay below its 2020 target for emissions, there is much more work to do to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. million metric tons in 2017. million metric tons between 2017 and 2018, the first such decline since 2013. tons per person to 10.7

2020 221