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Upper atmosphere facilitates changes that let mercury enter food chain

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New research shows that the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere work to transform elemental mercury into oxidized mercury, which can easily be deposited into aquatic ecosystems and ultimately enter the food chain. Exposures to mercury can affect the human nervous system and harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system.

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PCAST suggests 6 key components for climate change strategy to President Obama; adaptation and mitigation

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The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a letter to President Obama describing six key components the advisory group believes should be central to the Administration’s strategy for addressing climate change. Both approaches are essential parts of an integrated strategy for dealing with climate change.

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Study from Thuringia shows 50% of harmful soot comes from local sources, 50% from long-distance transport

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From the researchers’ point of view, this underlines the need to further reduce emissions of soot that is harmful to health and the climate, as the carbon-containing particles still contribute to health hazards and climate warming even over distances of several hundred kilometers. forest fires). Poulain et al.

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EPA proposes CO2 emission standards for new fossil fuel-fired power plants

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The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed Clean Air Act standards to reduce CO 2 emissions from fossil-fuel fired power plants (electric utility generating units, EGUs). Currently, nearly a dozen states have already implemented or are implementing their own market-based programs to reduceCO 2 emissions.

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EPA, NSF, NOAA, Southern Company and EPRI contribute >$20M to fund SouthEast Atmosphere Study

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SAS involves dozens of other domestic and international research institutions, and is one of the largest North American air quality and climate studies in decades. SOAS objectives include the direct quantification of VOC, ozone and NO x surface fluxes and the reconciliation of differences with “blank-down” emission estimates.

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Berkeley study finds renewable portfolio standards insufficient to meet 2030 GHG emission targets; new policy required

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The least expensive way for the Western US to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to help prevent the worst consequences of global warming is to replace coal with renewable and other sources of energy that may include nuclear power, according to a new study by University of California, Berkeley, researchers. Click to enlarge.

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California ARB and NOAA Collaborating in $20M Research on Interaction of Air Pollution and Climate Change; One Atmosphere Approach

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Schematic diagram of the trade-offs between the implications for regional air quality and global climate change of new policies for management of the atmosphere. The project builds upon the idea that air quality and climate change issues are linked through “one atmosphere”, an approach that demands coordination and multi-tiered approaches.