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This study presents the first column-averaged dry-air mole fractions of carbon dioxide (XCO2), methane (XCH4) and carbon monoxide (XCO) in the coal mine aggregation area in Shanxi, China, using two portable Fourier transform infrared spectrometers (EM27/SUNs), in the framework of the Collaborative Carbon Column Observing Network (COCCON). The measurements, collected over two months, were analyzed. Significant daily variations were observed, particularly in XCH4, which highlight the impact of coal mining emissions as a major CH4 source in the region. This study also compares COCCON XCO with measurements from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) onboard the Sentinel-5P satellite, revealing good agreement, with a mean bias of 7.15 ± 9.49 ppb. Additionally, comparisons were made between COCCON XCO2 and XCH4 data and analytical data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). The mean biases between COCCON and CAMS were −6.43 ± 1.75 ppm for XCO2 and 15.40 ± 31.60 ppb for XCH4. The findings affirm the stability and accuracy of the COCCON instruments for validating satellite observations and detecting local greenhouse gas sources. Operating COCCON spectrometers in coal mining areas offers valuable insights into emissions from these high-impact sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of fallow season water and straw management on methane (CH4) emissions during the fallow season and the subsequent rice-growing season are rarely reported, and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain unclear. A field experiment was conducted with four treatments: (1) fields flooded in both the fallow and rice seasons (FF), (2) fields drained in the fallow season and flooded in the rice season (DF), (3) FF with straw retention (FFS), and (4) DF with straw retention (DFS). The CH4 emissions in fields under different water and straw treatments were monitored using the static closed chamber method. Methanogenic and methanotrophic communities in these fields were examined using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis based on the mcrA gene and pmoA gene encoding methyl coenzyme M reductase and particulate methane monooxygenase, respectively. The results showed that CH4 emissions were significantly affected by water management, straw retention, season, and their interactions. Over 80% of CH4 emissions occurred during the rice season. Field drainage during the fallow season reduced CH4 emissions by 47.0% and 53.8% with and without straw during the rice season, respectively. Water management altered the abundance and composition of methanogens and methanotrophs, whereas the effects of straw retention were less pronounced. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay revealed that field drainage in the fallow season decreased the mcrA gene abundance by 30.0% and 23.2% with and without straw in rice season, respectively, and increased the pmoA gene abundance by 108.9% and 213.7% with and without straw in rice season, respectively. CH4 flux was significantly positively associated with mcrA gene copy number and the ratio of mcrA to pmoA gene copy number, whereas it was significantly negatively correlated with the pmoA gene copy number. Results indicated that fallow drainage greatly decreased CH4 emission not only during the fallow season but also during the subsequent rice season by altering the community composition of methanogens and methanotrophs. These findings provide scientific insight into the role of water and straw management in controlling CH4 emissions through microbial community dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are sessile organisms and any changes in environmental factors activate various responses and defense mechanisms. Artemisia plants widely inhabit harsh conditions of arid and semiarid ecosystems. Using two species—a subshrub, Artemisia frigida, and an annual–biennial herb, Artemisia scoparia—the functioning of the antioxidant system of plants in semiarid territories have been examined. The activity of enzymatic antioxidants and the content of non-enzymatic antioxidants in both species as well as the antiradical activity of their extracts have been shown. Although the plants were collected in areas differing in moisture supply, the activity of enzymatic antioxidants and the content of non-enzymatic antioxidants corresponds to their physiological level, within the range of the norm of reaction, in wormwood. Consequently, conditions of differing moisture deficiency do not cause a specific biochemical response at the level of the antioxidant system in the studied species, which confirms their adaptability to these conditions. Meanwhile, A. frigida plants show greater morphological and biochemical plasticity than A. scoparia under changing growth conditions. Both species contain tissue monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids, the emission of which provides additional protection against high temperatures and drought. Their composition and contents of phenolic components illustrates the differences in adaptation between perennial and annual plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reservoirs are an important source of methane (CH4) emissions, but the relative contribution of CH4 ebullition and diffusion fluxes to total fluxes has received little attention in the past. In this study, we systematically monitored the CH4 fluxes of nine cascade reservoirs (Dahejia, Jishixia, Huangfeng, Suzhi, Kangyang, Zhiganglaka, Lijiaxia, Nina, and Longyangxia) in the upper reaches of the Yellow River in the dry (May 2023) and wet seasons (August 2023) using the static chamber gas chromatography and headspace equilibrium methods. We also simultaneously measured environmental physicochemical properties as well as the abundance of methanogens and methanotrophs in sediments. The results showed the following: (1) All reservoirs were sources of CH4 emissions, with an average diffusion flux of 0.08 ± 0.05 mg m−2 h−1 and ebullition flux of 0.38 ± 0.41 mg m−2 h−1. Ebullition flux accounted for 78.01 ± 7.85% of total flux. (2) Spatially, both CH4 diffusion and ebullition fluxes increased from upstream to downstream. Temporally, CH4 diffusion flux in the wet season (0.09 ± 0.06 mg m−2 h−1) was slightly higher than that in the dry season (0.08 ± 0.04 mg m−2 h−1), but CH4 ebullition flux in the dry season (0.38 ± 0.48 mg m−2 h−1) was higher than that in the wet season (0.32 ± 0.2 mg m−2 h−1). (3) qPCR showed that methanogens (mcrA gene) were more abundant in the wet season (5.43 ± 3.94 × 105 copies g−1) than that in the dry season (3.74 ± 1.34 × 105 copies g−1). Methanotrophs (pmoA gene) also showed a similar trend with more abundance found in the wet season (7 ± 2.61 × 105 copies g−1) than in the dry season (1.47 ± 0.92 × 105 copies g−1. (4) Structural equation modeling revealed that the ratio of mcrA/pmoA genes, water N/P, and reservoir age were key factors affecting CH4 ebullition flux. Variation partitioning further indicated that the ratio of mcrA/pmoA genes was the main factor causing the spatial variation in CH4 ebullition flux, explaining 35.69% of its variation. This study not only reveals the characteristics and influencing factors of CH4 emissions from cascade reservoirs on the Qinghai Plateau but also provides a scientific basis for calculating fluxes and developing global CH4 reduction strategies for reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak led many countries across the globe to introduce lockdowns (LDs) that effectively caused most anthropic activities to either stop completely or be significantly reduced. In Europe, Italy played a pioneeristic role via the early introduction of a strict nationwide LD on March 9th. This study was aimed at evaluating, using both chemical and meteorological data, the environmental response to that occurrence as observed by the Lamezia Terme (LMT) GAW/WMO station in Calabria, Southern Italy. The first 2020 lockdown was therefore used as a "proving ground" to assess CO, CO2, CH4, BC, and NOx concentrations in a rather unique context by exploiting the location of LMT in the context of the Mediterranean Basin. In fact, its location on the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria and local wind circulation both lead to daily cycles where western-seaside winds depleted in anthropogenic pollutants can be easily differentiated from northeastern-continental winds, enriched in anthropogenic outputs. In addition to this, the first Italian LD occurred during the seasonal transition from winter to spring and, consequently, summer, thus providing new insights on emission outputs correlated with seasons. The findings clearly indicated BC and, in particular, CO as strongly correlated with average daily temperatures, as well as possibly domestic heating. CO2's reduction during the lockdown and consequent increase in the post-lockdown period, combined with wind data, allowed us to constrain the local source of emissions located northeast from LMT. NOx reductions during specific circumstances were consistent with hypotheses from previous research, which linked them to rush hour traffic and other forms of transportation emissions. CH4's stable patterns were consistent with livestock, landfills, and other sources assumed to be nearly constant during LD periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key to a sustainable future is the reduction in humankind's impact on natural systems via the development of new technologies and the improvement in source apportionment. Although days, years and seasons are arbitrarily set, their mechanisms are based on natural cycles driven by Earth's orbital periods. This is not the case for weeks, which are a pure anthropic category and are known from the literature to influence emission cycles and atmospheric chemistry. For the first time since it started data gathering operations, CO (carbon monoxide), CO2 (carbon dioxide), CH4 (methane) and eBC (equivalent black carbon) values detected by the Lamezia Terme WMO/GAW station in Calabria, Southern Italy, have been evaluated via a two-pronged approach accounting for weekly variations in absolute concentrations, as well as the number of hourly averages exceeding select thresholds. The analyses were performed on seven continuous years of measurements from 2016 to 2022. The results demonstrate that the analyzed GHGs (greenhouse gasses) and aerosols respond differently to weekly cycles throughout the seasons, and these findings provide completely new insights into source apportionment characterization. Moreover, the results have been combined into a new parameter: the hereby defined WDWO (Weighed Distribution of Weekly Outbreaks) normalizes weekly trends in CO, CO2, CH4 and eBC on an absolute scale, with the scope of providing regulators and researchers alike with a new tool meant to better evaluate anthropogenic pollution and mitigate its effects on the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane is the second largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide. Once it is released into the atmosphere, methane lingers for over 10 years, during which it traps heat, contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, and affects air quality adversely. Conversely, methane has some benefits that could be harnessed to address its impact on the environment while utilizing it for good. Methane's significant role in global warming and potential for energy production and other beneficial applications necessitate the adoption of innovative solutions to remediate the gas from the atmosphere and harness some of its benefits. This article explores Methylococcus capsulatus, a methanotrophic bacterium, and its potential for revolutionizing sustainable methane capture and utilization. With its unique metabolic abilities, M. capsulatus efficiently oxidizes methane, making it a promising candidate for biotechnological applications. We review current research in its current and potential applications in methane capture and utilization, emphasizing key characteristics, implementation challenges, benefits, and limitations in methane capture and conversion. We also highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations and technological advancements in synthetic biology to maximize its energy production potential. Our article analyzes M. capsulatus' role in addressing methane-related environmental concerns and advancing sustainable energy solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of coastal mangrove wetlands in sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide has been increasingly investigated in recent years. While studies have shown that mangroves are weak sources of methane (CH4) emissions, measurements of CH4 fluxes from these ecosystems remain scarce. In this study, we examined the temporal variation and biophysical drivers of ecosystem-scale CH4 fluxes in China's northernmost mangrove ecosystem based on eddy covariance measurements obtained over a 3-year period. In this mangrove, the annual CH4 emissions ranged from 6.15 to 9.07 g C m−2 year−1. The daily CH4 flux reached a peak of over 0.07 g C m−2 day−1 during the summer, while the winter CH4 flux was negligible. Latent heat, soil temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, and tide water level were the primary factors controlling CH4 emissions. This study not only elucidates the mechanisms influencing CH4 emissions from mangroves, strengthening the understanding of these processes but also provides a valuable benchmark dataset to validate the model-derived carbon budget estimates for these ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane is the second largest contributor to global surface air temperature rise. Reducing atmospheric methane will mitigate climate change and improve air quality. Since the main sink of methane is the hydroxyl radical (OH) in the atmosphere, increasing OH concentration will accelerate the methane oxidation process and reduce methane concentration. Because the primary source of OH is the reaction between water vapor and ozone, scientists have proposed a water vapor enhancement strategy to raise OH concentrations in the atmosphere and remove methane. We use a two-box model to evaluate interactions between OH and methane and a radiative kernel method to calculate radiative responses to water vapor content growth. This proves that increasing OH concentration does have a positive effect on methane reduction. If the concentration of OH is increased by 10% from its current value and maintained for 50 (100) years, 45 Tg yr−1 (67.5 Tg yr−1) more methane will be oxidized by OH, and the cumulative effects of the oxidation are equivalent to a 120.5 Gt (219.6 Gt) reduction in CO2 and will lower the global surface air temperature by 0.054 °C (0.099 °C). Our study also provides insights into a mixed picture of global and regional radiative responses to the growth of water vapor content. The reduced radiative forcing by methane removal cannot overpower the increased radiative forcing by water vapor from the global average point of view. However, due to OH's greater sensitivity to water vapor and weaker radiative response at higher latitudes, this perspective may be reversed if abrupt CH4 emissions from permafrost thaw occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, over half of all preschool-aged children and two-thirds of non-pregnant women of reproductive age suffer from hidden hunger. This situation may worsen due to the expected increase in the world population and the effects of climate change. The objective of this paper is to conduct a review of the relationship between soil, plants, and humans at the nutritional level, factors that affect the availability of nutrients, and sustainable strategies to reduce hidden hunger from an organic waste utilization point of view. Nutritional deficiency in people begins with nutrient-deficient soil, followed by crops that do not meet humans' nutritional needs. According to previous studies, most agricultural soils are deficient in nutrients; however, organic residues containing high concentrations of minerals are present in the non-edible parts that are discarded. New opportunities (based on the circular economy strategy) are opening up to take advantage of the nutrient pool of organic residues, such as the preparation of substrates (technosols) or amendments. Their incorporation into the soil may consider various circumstances to ensure the mineralization and bioavailability of nutrients for crops. Several agronomic practices and methods to monitor soil and crop nutrient depletion can be considered among the best strategies to mitigate and reduce hidden hunger through determining which foods and which parts should be ingested, and how to process them to ensure mineral bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in asthma management include non-invasive methodologies such as sputum analysis, exhaled breath condensate (EBC), and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). These techniques offer a means to assess airway inflammation, a critical feature of asthma, without invasive procedures. Sputum analysis provides detailed insights into airway inflammation patterns and cellular composition, guiding personalized treatment strategies. EBC collection, reflecting bronchoalveolar lining fluid composition, provides a non-invasive window into airway physiology. FeNO emerges as a pivotal biomarker, offering insights into eosinophilic airway inflammation and aiding in asthma diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and the prediction of exacerbation risks. Despite inherent limitations, each method offers valuable tools for a more comprehensive assessment of asthma. Combining these techniques with traditional methods like spirometry may lead to more personalized treatment plans and improved patient outcomes. Future research is crucial to refine protocols, validate biomarkers, and establish comprehensive guidelines in order to enhance asthma management with tailored therapeutic strategies and improved patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its high short-term global warming potential (GWP) compared to carbon dioxide, methane (CH4) is a considerable agent of climate change. This research is aimed at analyzing data on methane gathered at the GAW (Global Atmosphere Watch) station of Lamezia Terme (Calabria, Southern Italy) spanning seven years of continuous measurements (2016–2022) and integrating the results with key meteorological data. Compared to previous studies on detected methane mole fractions at the same station, daily-to-yearly patterns have become more prominent thanks to the analysis of a much larger dataset. Overall, the yearly increase of methane at the Lamezia Terme station is in general agreement with global measurements by NOAA, though local peaks are present, and an increase linked to COVID-19 is identified. Seasonal changes and trends have proved to be fully cyclic, with the daily cycles being largely driven by local wind circulation patterns and synoptic features. Outbreak events have been statistically evaluated depending on their weekday of occurrence to test possible correlations with anthropogenic activities. A cross analysis between methane peaks and specific wind directions has also proved that local sources may be deemed responsible for the highest mole fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malnutrition plays a crucial role as a risk factor in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. To mitigate the risk of complications, nutritional prehabilitation has been recommended for malnourished patients and those at severe metabolic risk. Various approaches have been devised, ranging from traditional short-term conditioning lasting 7–14 days to longer periods integrated into a comprehensive multimodal prehabilitation program. However, a significant challenge is the considerable heterogeneity of nutritional interventions, leading to a lack of clear, synthesizable evidence for specific dietary recommendations. This narrative review aims to outline the concept of nutritional prehabilitation, offers practical recommendations for clinical implementation, and also highlights the barriers and facilitators involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric methane is one of the major greenhouse gases with a drastic impact on climate change. This study developed a random forest model to obtain a daily 5 km resolution atmospheric methane concentration dataset with full spatial coverage (100%) from 2019 to 2021 in mainland China, thereby filling the gap in the methane product data from the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI). The coefficients of determination for a sample-based and spatial-based cross-validation are 0.97 and 0.93, respectively. The average deviation of the seamless methane product reconstructed by the random forest model is less than 1%, validated with the measured methane concentration data from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network sites. Methane concentrations in China show a distribution of high in the east and south and low in the west and north. The high-concentration areas include Central China, the Sichuan Basin, the Pearl River Delta, and the Yangtze River Delta. In terms of time scale, the methane concentration has evident seasonal variation, as it is low in spring (average 1852 ppb) and winter (average 1881 ppb) and high in summer (average 1885 ppb) and autumn (average 1886 ppb). This is mainly due to the significant increase in emissions from rice cultivation and wetlands during the summer and autumn. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the methane concentration decreases significantly and then starts to return to normal around 70 days after the Lunar New Year, indicating that the seamless methane product can potentially detect anomalous changes in methane concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane (CH4) emissions exert large effects on the global climate. Tree stems are vital sources of emissions in ecosystem CH4 budgets. This paper reviewed the number of publications, journals, authors, keywords, research hotspots, and challenges. A total of 990 articles from 2006 to 2022 were collected based on the Web of Science database. The intellectual base was analyzed using CiteSpace 6.3.1 and VOSviewer 1.6.20 softwares. The results illustrated a growing trend in the study of tree stem methane emissions. The United States was the most research-active country; however, the most active institution was the Chinese Academy of Sciences in China. The research on stem methane emission by Vincent Gauci, Katerina Machacova, Zhi-Ping Wang, Kazuhiko Terazawa, Kristofer R. Covey, and Sunitha R. Pangala has had a significant impact. Current research indicates that stem CH4 emissions significantly vary among different tree species and are influenced by leaf type, forest type, tree height, whether the trees are alive or dead, and other environmental conditions (such as soil water content, air temperature, CO2 fluxes, and specific density). Soil CH4 fluxes and production by methanogens in heartwood were the primary sources of tree stem methane. Some pectin or cellulose from trees may also be converted into methane. Moreover, methane can be produced and released during the decomposition of deadwood by basidiomycetes. Furthermore, there are some trends and challenges for the future: (1) distinguishing and quantifying emissions from various sources; (2) accurately assessing the impact of floods on methane emissions is crucial, as the water level is the main factor affecting CH4 emissions; and (3) addressing the limited understanding of the microbial mechanisms of methane production in different tree species and investigating how microbial communities affect the production and emission of methane is vital. These advances will contribute to the accurate assessment of methane emissions from global ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 15 years, the paradigm of viewing the upper and lower airways as a unified system has progressively shifted the approach to chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs). As the global prevalence of CRDs continues to increase, it becomes evident that acknowledging the presence of airway pathology as an integrated entity could profoundly impact healthcare resource allocation and guide the implementation of pharmacological and rehabilitation strategies. In the era of precision medicine, endotyping has emerged as another novel approach to CRDs, whereby pathologies are categorized into distinct subtypes based on specific molecular mechanisms. This has contributed to the growing acknowledgment of a group of conditions that, in both the upper and lower airways, share a common type 2 (T2) inflammatory signature. These diverse pathologies, ranging from allergic rhinitis to severe asthma, frequently coexist and share diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as therapeutic strategies targeting common molecular pathways. Thus, T2 inflammation may serve as a unifying endotypic trait for the upper and lower airways, reinforcing the practical significance of the united airways model. This review aims to summarize the literature on the role of T2 inflammation in major CRDs, emphasizing the value of common biomarkers and integrated treatment strategies targeting shared molecular mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pancreatic cancer is challenging to treat due to late diagnosis and limited options. Surgery, the main treatment, often leads to poor long-term outcomes, prompting exploration of alternative approaches like neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) and total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT). While NAT aims to improve surgical success and overall survival, there is room for enhancement, leading to consideration of neoadjuvant strategies combining full-dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy in TNT. TNT, integrating chemotherapy and radiotherapy before surgery, could increase the likelihood of successful surgery and cure for locally advanced cases. This article explores different TNT strategies, categorized based on radiotherapy techniques, offering a thorough analysis of their effectiveness in borderline resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The central question remains: does more treatment before surgery always yield better results? Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) poses a significant challenge in oncology due to its advanced stage upon diagnosis and limited treatment options. Surgical resection, the primary curative approach, often results in poor long-term survival rates, leading to the exploration of alternative strategies like neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) and total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT). While NAT aims to enhance resectability and overall survival, there appears to be potential for improvement, prompting consideration of alternative neoadjuvant strategies integrating full-dose chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) in TNT approaches. TNT integrates chemotherapy and radiotherapy prior to surgery, potentially improving margin-negative resection rates and enabling curative resection for locally advanced cases. The lingering question: is more always better? This article categorizes TNT strategies into six main groups based on radiotherapy (RT) techniques: (1) conventional chemoradiotherapy (CRT), (2) the Dutch PREOPANC approach, (3) hypofractionated ablative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (HFA-IMRT), and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) techniques, which further divide into (4) non-ablative SBRT, (5) nearly ablative SBRT, and (6) adaptive ablative SBRT. A comprehensive analysis of the literature on TNT is provided for both borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), with detailed sections for each. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an extensive literature review on Light-Emitting Diode (LED) fundamentals and discusses the historical development of LEDs, focusing on the material selection, design employed, and modifications used in increasing the light output. It traces the evolutionary trajectory of the efficiency enhancement of ultraviolet (UV), blue, green, and red LEDs. It rigorously examines the diverse applications of LEDs, spanning from solid-state lighting to cutting-edge display technology, and their emerging role in microbial deactivation. A detailed overview of current trends and prospects in lighting and display technology is presented. Using the literature, this review offers valuable insights into the application of UV LEDs for microbial and potential viral disinfection. It conducts an in-depth exploration of the various microorganism responses to UV radiation based on the existing literature. Furthermore, the review investigates UV LED-based systems for water purification and surface disinfection. A prospective design for a solar-powered UV LED disinfection system is also delineated. The primary objective of this review article is to organize and synthesize pivotal information from the literature, offering a concise and focused overview of LED applications. From our review, we can conclude that the efficiency of LEDs has continuously increased since its invention and researchers are searching for methods to increase efficiency further. The demand for LED lighting and display applications is continuously increasing. Our analysis reveals an exciting horizon in microbial disinfection, where the integration of UV LED systems with cutting-edge technologies such as sensors, solar power, Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, and artificial intelligence algorithms promises high levels of precision and efficacy in disinfection practices. This contribution sets the stage for future research endeavors in the domain of viral disinfection using solar-powered UV LED modules for universal applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanotrophy is a biological process that effectively reduces global methane emissions by utilizing microorganisms that can utilize methane as a source of energy under both oxic and anoxic conditions, using a variety of different electron acceptors. Methanotrophic microbes, which utilize methane as their primary source of carbon and energy, are microorganisms found in various environments, such as soil, sediments, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. These microbes play a significant role in the global carbon cycle by consuming methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and converting it into carbon dioxide, which is less harmful. However, methane is known to be the primary contributor to ozone formation and is considered a major greenhouse gas. Methane alone contributes to 30% of global warming; its emissions increased by over 32% over the last three decades and thus affect humans, animals, and vegetation adversely. There are different sources of methane emissions, like agricultural activities, wastewater management, landfills, coal mining, wetlands, and certain industrial processes. In view of the adverse effects of methane, urgent measures are required to reduce emissions. Methanotrophs have attracted attention as multifunctional bacteria with potential applications in biological methane mitigation and environmental bioremediation. Methanotrophs utilize methane as a carbon and energy source and play significant roles in biogeochemical cycles by oxidizing methane, which is coupled to the reduction of various electron acceptors. Methanotrophy, a natural process that converts methane into carbon dioxide, presents a promising solution to mitigate global methane emissions and reduce their impact on climate change. Nonetheless, additional research is necessary to enhance and expand these approaches for extensive use. In this review, we summarize the key sources of methane, mitigation strategies, microbial aspects, and the application of methanotrophs in global methane sinks with increasing anthropogenic methane emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saprotrophic fungi, key players in global carbon cycling, have been identified as methane (CH4) sources not yet accounted for in the global CH4 budget. This study, for the first time, explores the influence of oxygen (O2) and temperature on CH4 production by two fungi, Laetiporus sulphureus and Pleurotus sapidus. To explore the relationship between these parameters and fungal CH4 formation, we examined CH4 formation under varying O2 levels (0 to 98%) and temperatures (17, 27, and 40 °C) during fungal growth on pine wood, beech wood, and grass under sterile conditions. Our findings show that fungal CH4 formation strongly depends on O2 levels. Methane formation was highest when O2 levels exceeded 5%, whilst no CH4 formation was observed after complete O2 consumption. Reintroducing O2 immediately resumed fungal CH4 production. Methane formation normalized to O2 consumption (CH4_norm) showed a different pattern. L. sulphureus showed higher CH4_norm rates with higher O2 levels, whereas P. sapidus showed elevated rates between 0 and 5%. Temperature also significantly influenced CH4 and CH4_norm rates, with the highest production at 27 °C, and comparatively lower rates at 17 and 40 °C. These findings demonstrate the importance of O2 levels and temperature in fungal CH4 emissions, which are essential for refining CH4 source predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of oilseed rape (OS, Brassica napus L.) as a winter green manure is crucial for enhancing soil fertility and reducing chemical N application in paddy fields. However, the impacts of replacing varying amounts of chemical N with OS on CH4 and N2O emissions in paddy soils have not been well evaluated. In this study, GHG emissions, soil properties and OS decomposition in a rice-ratooning system with different OS-urea N replacement rates (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) were investigated. Our results indicate that 84.7–90.7% of the initial C and 97.5–98.4% of the N were released during the 192-day decomposition process, and that the mineralization patterns of net C and net N in the OS residue were consistent with a single exponential decay model. The lowest CH4 emissions (9.97 g m−2) were observed at 0% OS, while the highest N2O emissions (0.40 g m−2) were observed at this level of substitution. Conversely, the highest CH4 emissions (20.71 g m−2) and lowest N2O emissions (0.07 g m−2) were observed at 100% OS. Compared to 0% substitution, 25% substitution significantly decreased GWP and GHGI without reducing rice grain yield. Environmental parameters such as soil redox, NH4+-N and residual N and C were shown to be significantly associated with CH4 emissions, whereas soil redox, NH4+-N and residual C were the main drivers of N2O emissions. In conclusion, 25% substitution of OS was the most cost-effective measure for balancing greenhouse gas emission and rice yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a thorough examination of methane capture from Polish coal mines, contextualized within the framework of the European Union's (EU) climate policy objectives. Through a strategic analysis encompassing the interior of coal mines, the surrounding environment, and the macro environment, this study elucidates the complex dynamics involved in methane emissions and capture initiatives. The key findings include a declining trend in absolute methane emissions since 2008, despite fluctuations in coal extraction volumes, and a relatively stable level of methane capture exceeding 300 million m3/year since 2014. The analysis underscores the critical role of government support, both in terms of financial incentives and streamlined regulatory processes, to facilitate the integration of methane capture technologies into coal mining operations. Collaboration through partnerships and stakeholder engagement emerges as essential for overcoming resource competition and ensuring the long-term success of methane capture projects. This paper also highlights the economic and environmental opportunities presented by methane reserves, emphasizing the importance of investment in efficient extraction technologies. Despite these advancements, challenges persist, particularly regarding the low efficiency of current de-methanation technologies. Recommendations for modernization and technological innovation are proposed to enhance methane capture efficiency and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane emissions from flooded rice paddies are a major source of atmospheric methane and represent a significant greenhouse gas with high climate-forcing potential due to anthropogenic activities globally. For sustainable agriculture, it is necessary to find effective methods for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions without reducing crop productivity. We investigated mechanisms to reduce methane emissions during rice cultivation by applying rice straw, rice husk biochar, humic acid, and a humic acid–iron complex, assessing greenhouse gases and rice yield over a single season. The results demonstrated that the treatment plots with rice straw and the humic acid–iron complex significantly reduced methane emissions (563 ± 113.9 kg ha−1) by 34.4% compared to plots treated with rice straw alone (859 ± 126.4 kg ha−1). Rice yield was not compromised compared to the control group treated with only NPK fertilizer, and growth in terms of plant height and tiller number was enhanced in the plots treated with rice straw and the humic acid–iron complex. Conversely, the plots treated solely with rice husk biochar and humic acid did not show a methane reduction effect when compared to the NPK treatment. The humic acid–iron complex has demonstrated potential as a methane mitigation agent with practical applicability in the field, warranting further long-term studies to validate its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating challenge of waste management demands innovative strategies to mitigate environmental impacts and harness valuable resources. This study investigates waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies for municipal waste management in Kočevje, Slovenia. An analysis of available waste streams reveals substantial energy potential from mixed municipal waste, biodegradable waste, and livestock manure. Various WtE technologies, including incineration, pyrolysis, gasification, and anaerobic digestion, are compared. The results show that processing mixed municipal waste using thermochemical processes could annually yield up to 0.98 GWh of electricity, and, separately, 3.22 GWh of useable waste heat for district heating or industrial applications. Furthermore, by treating 90% of the biodegradable waste, up to 1.31 GWh of electricity and 1.76 GWh of usable waste heat could be generated annually from biodegradable municipal waste and livestock manure using anaerobic digestion and biogas combustion in a combined heat and power facility. Gasification coupled with a gas-turbine-based combined heat and power cycle is suggested as optimal. Integration of WtE technologies could yield 2.29 GWh of electricity and 3.55 GWh of useable waste heat annually, representing an annual exergy yield of 2.98 GWh. Within the Kočevje municipality, this amount of energy could cover 23.6% of the annual household electricity needs and cover the annual space and water heating requirements of 10.0% of households with district heating. Additionally, CO2-eq. emissions could be reduced by up to 20%, while further offsetting emissions associated with electricity and district heat generation by 1907 tons annually. These findings highlight the potential of WtE technologies to enhance municipal self-sustainability and reduce landfill waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild boars have become a common yet controversial species in France, where the main response to the species' development and the problems it may cause is an increased hunting effort. However, wild boars are an extremely adaptive species, and their response to human activities (including hunting) is not fully understood. Moreover, hunting may be a source of conflict with other stakeholders and a topic for public debate, which questions its sustainability. To discuss wild boar behaviour, as well as (other) means to coexist with these animals, we developed a role-playing board game framed around wild boars and hunting. In this paper, we outline the design of the WILD BOAR(D) GAME and reflect on the first three game sessions, which we conducted in our research areas (Gorges du Gardon and Camargue Biosphere Reserves, France). We show that a continuous back and forth between the game and reality allows the participants to elicit their knowledge as well as learn from the other participants, which contributes to filling in the knowledge gaps identified previously in the game design as well as mitigating conflicts regarding wild boars. Finally, we discuss the interest of including wild boars as a role in itself to reflect on their agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes a hard- and software controlled complex for gas-strain monitoring, consisting of stationary laser strainmeters and a laser nanobarograph, a stationary gas analyzer, and a weather station installed at Shultz Cape in the Sea of Japan; and a mobile shipboard complex, consisting of a gas analyzer and a weather station installed in a scientific research vessel. In the course of trial methodological measurements on these systems, general patterns were identified in the dynamics of greenhouse gases and deformation of the Earth's crust in the range of diurnal and semi-diurnal tides, and also in the range of ultra-low frequencies, caused by atmospheric wave processes and, possibly, individual tones of the Earth's eigen oscillations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon dioxide and methane in near real time and with good spatial resolution is crucial for enhancing our understanding of the sources and sinks of these gases. A novel approach can be proposed using a constellation of small satellites equipped with miniaturized spectrometers having a spectral resolution of a few nanometers. The objective of this study is to describe expected results that can be obtained with a single satellite named Uvsq-Sat NG. The SolAtmos end-to-end simulator and its three tools (IRIS, OptiSpectra, and GHGRetrieval) were developed to evaluate the performance of the spectrometer of the Uvsq-Sat NG mission, which focuses on measuring the main GHGs. The IRIS tool was implemented to provide Top-Of-Atmosphere (TOA) spectral radiances. Four scenes were analyzed (pine forest, deciduous forest, ocean, snow) combined with different aerosol types (continental, desert, maritime, urban). Simulated radiance spectra were calculated based on the wavelength ranges of the Uvsq-Sat NG, which spans from 1200 to 2000 nm. The OptiSpectra tool was used to determine optimal observational settings for the spectrometer, including Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and integration time. Data derived from IRIS and OptiSpectra served as input for our GHGRetrieval simulation tool, developed to provide greenhouse gas concentrations. The Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm was applied iteratively to fine-tune gas concentrations and model inputs, aligning observed transmittance functions with simulated ones under given environmental conditions. To estimate gas concentrations (CO2, CH4, O2, H2O) and their uncertainties, the Monte Carlo method was used. Based on this analysis, this study demonstrates that a miniaturized spectrometer onboard Uvsq-Sat NG is capable of observing different scenes by adjusting its integration time according to the wavelength. The expected precision for each measurement is of the order of a few ppm for carbon dioxide and less than 25 ppb for methane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilized an infrared spotlight Hyperspectral infrared Atmospheric Sounder (HIRAS) and the Medium Resolution Spectral Imager (MERSI) mounted on FY3D cloud products from the National Satellite Meteorological Center of China to obtain methane profile information. Methane inversion channels near 7.7 μm were selected based on the different distribution of methane weighting functions across different seasons and latitudes, and the selected retrieval channels had a great sensitivity to methane but not to other parameters. The optimization method was employed to retrieve methane profiles using these channels. The ozone profiles, temperature, and water vapor of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) fifth-generation reanalysis data (ERA5) were applied to the retrieval process. After validating the methane profile concentrations retrieved by HIRAS, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) compared with Civil Aircraft for the Regular Investigation of the Atmosphere Based on an Instrument Container (CARIBIC) flight data, the average correlation coefficient, relative difference, and root mean square error were 0.73, 0.0491, and 18.9 ppbv, respectively, with lower relative differences and root mean square errors in low-latitude regions than in mid-latitude regions. (2) The methane profiles retrieved from May 2019 to September 2021 showed an average error within 60 ppbv compared with the Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) station observations of the Infrared Working Group (IRWG) of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC). The errors between the a priori and retrieved values, as well as between the retrieved and smoothed values, were larger by around 400–500 hPa. Apart from Toronto and Alzomoni, which had larger peak values in autumn and spring respectively, the mean column averaging kernels typically has a larger peak in summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Australia remains committed to the Paris Agreement and to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, it was late in joining the 2021 Global Methane Pledge. Finding suitable methane (CH4) mitigation solutions for Australia's livestock industry should be part of this journey. Based on a 2020–2023 systematic literature review and multicriteria decision approach, this study analyses the available strategies for the Australian beef and dairy sector under three scenarios: baseline, where all assessment criteria are equally weighted; climate emergency, with a significant emphasis on CH4 reduction for cattle in pasture and feedlot systems; and conservative, where priority is given to reducing costs. In total, 46 strategies from 27 academic publications were identified and classified as 'Avoid', 'Shift', or 'Improve' with respect to their impact on current CH4 emissions. The findings indicate that 'Avoid' strategies of conversion of agricultural land to wetlands, salt marshes, and tidal forest are most efficient in the climate emergency scenario, while the 'Improve' strategy of including CH4 production in the cattle breeding goals is the best for the conservative and baseline scenarios. A policy mix that encourages a wide range of strategies is required to ensure CH4 emission reductions and make Australia's livestock industry more sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve global climate goals, it is necessary to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes from ecosystems. To obtain a comprehensive assessment of CO2, CH4, and N2O natural fluxes for the Russian Federation, we used the "bottom-up" method and updated estimates for forest ecosystems based on State Forest Inventory data and satellite monitoring of forest disturbances. For grassland ecosystems, it was based on the correct distribution of areas between steppe and non-steppe zones. The estimated net uptake of natural ecosystems in Russia was 1.1 ± 1.8 billion tons of CO2-eq./year. The study shows that if only CO2 is taken into account, the net absorption of terrestrial ecosystems in Russia corresponds to more than −2.5 billion tons of CO2 (35% of forests' contribution). However, given the emissions of non-CO2 GHGs, total net absorption in Russia's natural ecosystems is reduced to about −1 billion tons of CO2-eq (with the forests' contribution increasing to 80%). With regard to anthropogenic fluxes, the overall balance of GHGs in Russia corresponds to net emissions of 1 billion tons of CO2-eq/year into the atmosphere. To improve reporting under the Paris Agreement, countries should aim to include only anthropogenic ("manageable") GHG fluxes on managed land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the second most predominant greenhouse gas, methane-targeted emission mitigation holds the potential to decelerate the pace of global warming. Satellite remote sensing is an important monitoring tool, and we review developments in the satellite detection of methane. This paper provides an overview of the various types of satellites, including the various instrument parameters, and describes the different types of satellite retrieval algorithms. In addition, the currently popular methane point source quantification method is presented. Based on existing research, we delineate the classification of methane remote sensing satellites into two overarching categories: area flux mappers and point source imagers. Area flux mappers primarily concentrate on the assessment of global or large-scale methane concentrations, with a further subclassification into active remote sensing satellites (e.g., MERLIN) and passive remote sensing satellites (e.g., TROPOMI, GOSAT), contingent upon the remote sensing methodology employed. Such satellites are mainly based on physical models and the carbon dioxide proxy method for the retrieval of methane. Point source imagers, in contrast, can detect methane point source plumes using their ultra-high spatial resolution. Subcategories within this classification include multispectral imagers (e.g., Sentinel-2, Landsat-8) and hyperspectral imagers (e.g., PRISMA, GF-5), contingent upon their spectral resolution disparities. Area flux mappers are mostly distinguished by their use of physical algorithms, while point source imagers are dominated by data-driven methods. Furthermore, methane plume emissions can be accurately quantified through the utilization of an integrated mass enhancement model. Finally, a prediction of the future trajectory of methane remote sensing satellites is presented, in consideration of the current landscape. This paper aims to provide basic theoretical support for subsequent scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing detection of natural gas leaks remains challenging when using ground vegetation stress to detect underground pipeline leaks. Other natural stressors may co-present and complicate gas leak detection. This study explores the feasibility of identifying and distinguishing gas-induced stress from other natural stresses by analyzing the hyperspectral reflectance of vegetation. The effectiveness of this discrimination is assessed across three distinct spectral ranges (VNIR, SWIR, and Full spectra). Greenhouse experiments subjected three plant species to controlled environmental stressors, including gas leakage, salinity impact, heavy-metal contamination, and drought exposure. Spectral curves obtained from the experiments underwent preprocessing techniques such as standard normal variate, first-order derivative, and second-order derivative. Principal component analysis was then employed to reduce dimensionality in the spectral feature space, facilitating input for linear/quadratic discriminant analysis (LDA/QDA) to identify and discriminate gas leaks. Results demonstrate an average accuracy of 80% in identifying gas-stressed plants from unstressed ones using LDA. Gas leakage can be discriminated from scenarios involving a single distracting stressor with an accuracy ranging from 76.4% to 84.6%, with drought treatment proving the most successful. Notably, first-order derivative processing of VNIR spectra yields the highest accuracy in gas leakage detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research indicates that detecting near-surface methane point sources using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery can offer crucial data support for mitigating climate change. However, current retrieval methods necessitate the identification of reference images unaffected by methane, which presents certain limitations. This study introduces the use of a matched filter, developing a novel methane detection algorithm for Sentinel-2 imagery. Compared to existing algorithms, this algorithm does not require selecting methane-free images from historical imagery in methane-sensitive bands, but estimates the background spectral information across the entire scene to extract methane gas signals. We tested the algorithm using simulated Sentinel-2 datasets. The results indicated that the newly proposed algorithm effectively reduced artifacts and noise. It was then validated in a known methane emission point source event and a controlled release experiment for its ability to quantify point source emission rates. The average estimated difference between the new algorithm and other algorithms was about 34%. Compared to the actual measured values in the controlled release experiment, the average estimated values ranged from −48% to 42% of the measurements. These estimates had a detection limit ranging from approximately 1.4 to 1.7 t/h and an average error percentage of 19%, with no instances of false positives reported. Finally, in a real case scenario, we demonstrated the algorithm's ability to precisely locate the source position and identify, as well as quantify, methane point source emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth system models (ESMs) are a common tool for estimating local and global greenhouse gas emissions under current and projected future conditions. Efforts are underway to expand the representation of wetlands in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) Land Model (ELM) by resolving the simultaneous contributions to greenhouse gas fluxes from multiple, different, sub-grid-scale patch-types, representing different eco-hydrological patches within a wetland. However, for this effort to be effective, it should be coupled with the detection and mapping of within-wetland eco-hydrological patches in real-world wetlands, providing models with corresponding information about vegetation cover. In this short communication, we describe the application of a recently developed NDVI-based method for within-wetland vegetation classification on a coastal wetland in Louisiana and the use of the resulting yearly vegetation cover as input for ELM simulations. Processed Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) datasets were used to drive the sub-grid composition of simulated wetland vegetation each year, thus tracking the spatial heterogeneity of wetlands at sufficient spatial and temporal resolutions and providing necessary input for improving the estimation of methane emissions from wetlands. Our results show that including NDVI-based classification in an ELM reduced the uncertainty in predicted methane flux by decreasing the model's RMSE when compared to Eddy Covariance measurements, while a minimal bias was introduced due to the resampling technique involved in processing HLS data. Our study shows promising results in integrating the remote sensing-based classification of within-wetland vegetation cover into earth system models, while improving their performances toward more accurate predictions of important greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a promising method for controlling greenhouse gas emissions by converting CO2 and CH4 into syngas, a mixture of CO and H2. Ni-based catalysts have been intensively investigated for their use in the DRM. However, they are limited by the formation of carbonaceous materials on their surfaces. In this review, we explore carbon-induced catalyst deactivation mechanisms and summarize the recent research progress in controlling and mitigating carbon deposition by developing coke-resistant Ni-based catalysts. This review emphasizes the significance of support, alloy, and catalyst structural strategies, and the importance of comprehending the interactions between catalyst components to achieve improved catalytic performance and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents a formidable challenge due to its aggressive nature and poor prognosis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) in PDAC, characterized by intense stromal desmoplastic reactions and a dominant presence of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), significantly contributes to therapeutic resistance. However, within the heterogeneous CAF population, fibroblast activation protein (FAP) emerges as a promising target for Gallium-68 FAP inhibitor positron emission tomography (Ga68FAPI-PET) imaging. Notably, 68Ga-FAPI-PET demonstrates promising diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, especially in conjunction with low tracer uptake in non-tumoral tissues. Moreover, it provides valuable insights into tumor–stroma interactions, a critical aspect of PDAC tumorigenesis not adequately visualized through conventional methods. The clinical implications of this innovative imaging modality extend to its potential to reshape treatment strategies by offering a deeper understanding of the dynamic TME. However, while the potential of 68Ga-FAPI-PET is evident, ongoing correlative studies are essential to elucidate the full spectrum of CAF heterogeneity and to validate its impact on PDAC management. This article provides a comprehensive review of CAF heterogeneity in PDAC and explores the potential impact of 68Ga-FAPI-PET on disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Networks of fixed-point continuous monitoring systems are becoming widely used in the detection and quantification of methane emissions from oil and gas facilities in the United States. Regulatory agencies and operators are developing performance metrics for these systems, such as minimum detection limits. Performance characteristics, such as minimum detection limits, would ideally be expressed in emission rate units; however, performance parameters such as detection limits for a continuous monitoring system (CMS) will depend on meteorological conditions, the characteristics of emissions at the site where the CMS is deployed, the positioning of CMS devices in relation to the emission sources, and the amount of time allowed for the CMS to detect an emission source. This means that certifying the performance of a CMS will require test protocols with well-defined emission rates and durations; initial protocols are now being used in field tests. Field testing results will vary, however, depending on meteorological conditions and the time allowed for detection. This work demonstrates methods for evaluating CMS performance characteristics using dispersion modeling and defines an approach for normalizing test results to standard meteorological conditions using dispersion modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, data on the emission of climate-active gases from soils of different types of use of the south taiga sub-zone were obtained. Soils of the boreal belt are key elements of the global carbon cycle. They determine the sink and emission of climate-active gases. Soils near large cities are a major carbon sink, in the face of climate change, soils from sinks can become a source of carbon and contribute significantly to climate change on the planet. Studies of FCO2 and FCH4 fluxes were carried out on the territory of the monitoring site "Ladoga" located in the southern taiga subzone in soils of land not used in agriculture, former agriculture lands, and wetlands. During the chamber measurements, a portable gas analyzer GLA131-GGA (ABB, Canada) was used. The chamber was placed on the soil, after which the concentration of CO2, CH4 and H2O in the mobile chamber was recorded. As a result of the study it was found that the lowest emission of carbon dioxide is characteristic of soils developing on the soils of wetland and is 0.64 gCO2/(m2*year). Which is associated with a high degree of hydrophobicity of the territory and changes in the redox regime. The highest emission of carbon dioxide is registered in soils on the land not used in agriculture and is 4.16 gCO2/(m2*year). This is due to the formation of predominantly labile forms of carbon in the soil, which can be relatively rapidly involved in the carbon cycle and affect the active emission of carbon from the soil. According to the data obtained on FCH4 emission from soils, it was found that soils of land not used in agriculture and former agriculture lands were net sinks, while soils of wetlands were characterized by CH4 source, the emission was from 0.05 to 0.83 gCH4/(m2*year). The results obtained indicate spatial heterogeneity and changes in the carbon cycle within the monitoring site "Ladoga", which are due to the change of plant communities and habitat type. Monitoring the release of important greenhouse gases in close proximity to major urban areas is an important task in the face of predicted climate change and increasing rates of urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean Basin is involved in a recurring phenomenon wherein air masses laden with dust from North Africa impact the southern regions of the European continent. Saharan dust has been associated with increased mortality and respiratory symptoms. Palermo is a large coastal city, and in addition to the impact of desert dust particles, it has a mixture of anthropogenic sources of pollutants. In this study, we collected Saharan dust samples during August 2022 and October 2023, following a high-intensity Saharan dust event, and measured concentrations of 33 major and trace elements as well as Rare Earth Elements (REE). The mineralogical characterization of the deposition dust collected during Saharan events revealed calcite, dolomite, quartz, and clay minerals. The presence of palygorskite is indicative of Saharan events. Seven elements (Ca, Mg, Al, Ti, Fe, K, and Na) account for 98% of the total analyzed inorganic burden. Elemental ratios are valuable tools in atmospheric sciences for estimating sources of air masses. The results highlight that the city of Palermo is mainly affected by dust from the north-western Sahara. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation on dunes regulates the water supply from the dunes to the inter-dune lowland, which is a crucial factor affecting lake water dynamics in the inter-dune lowland. Previous researchers have paid insufficient attention to the water regulation function of dunes on a landscape- and regional scale. To fill this gap, both remote sensing technology and field observations were used to analyze the variations in the lake area and their influence factors, such as vegetation coverage and precipitation in the lake watershed, on a multi-year scale (2000–2020) and one-year scale (2021), respectively. The results showed that precipitation is the main factor influencing the changes in lake water, and artificial sand vegetation can regulate the changes in lake water. On the multi-year scale, with the coverage of artificial sand-fixing vegetation increasing on sand dunes in the lake watershed, the areas of the lakes were gradually decreasing. On the one-year scale, with dune vegetation coverage increased, the water supply from dunes to lakes showed a decreasing trend. This model can provide a possibility for estimating and predicting the influence of water supply from dunes to lakes that is affected by sand-fixing vegetation. The findings have significant theoretical and practical utility for the rational utilization of water resources in sandy land, as well as for assisting in the selection of an optimized construction mode for desert control projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of coastal ecosystems on global greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets and their response to increasing inundation and salinization remains poorly constrained. In this study, we have integrated an uncertainty quantification (UQ) and ensemble machine learning (ML) framework to identify and rank the most influential processes, properties, and conditions controlling methane behavior in a freshwater floodplain responding to recently restored seawater inundation. Our unique multivariate, multiyear, and multi-site dataset comprises tidal creek and floodplain porewater observations encompassing water level, salinity, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), nitrous oxide (pN2O), methane (pCH4), and the stable isotopic composition of methane (δ13CH4). Additionally, we incorporated topographical data, soil porosity, hydraulic conductivity, and water retention parameters for UQ analysis using a previously developed 3D variably saturated flow and transport floodplain model for a physical mechanistic understanding of factors influencing groundwater levels and salinity and, therefore, CH4. Principal component analysis revealed that groundwater level and salinity are the most significant predictors of overall biogeochemical variability. The ensemble ML models and UQ analyses identified DO, water level, salinity, and temperature as the most influential factors for porewater methane levels and indicated that approximately 80% of the total variability in hourly water levels and around 60% of the total variability in hourly salinity can be explained by permeability, creek water level, and two van Genuchten water retention function parameters: the air-entry suction parameter α and the pore size distribution parameter m. These findings provide insights on the physicochemical factors in methane behavior in coastal ecosystems and their representation in local- to global-scale Earth system models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change mitigation requires countries to report their annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and sinks, including those from land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF). In Finland, the LULUCF sector plays a crucial role in achieving net-zero GHG emissions, as the sector is expected to be a net sink. However, accurate estimates of LULUCF-related GHG emissions, such as methane (CH 4 ), remain challenging. We estimated LULUCF-related CH 4 emissions in Finland in 2013–2020 by combining national land cover and remote-sensed surface wetness data with CH 4 emissions estimated by an inversion model. According to our inversion model, most of Finland's CH 4 emissions were attributed to natural sources such as open pristine peatlands. However, our research indicated that forests with thin tree cover surrounding open peatlands may also be a significant source of CH 4 . Unlike open pristine peatlands and pristine peatlands with thin tree cover, surrounding transient forests are included in the Finnish GHG inventory if they meet the criteria used for forest land. The current Finnish national GHG inventory may therefore underestimate CH 4 emissions from forested organic soils surrounding open peatlands, although more precise methods and data are needed to verify this. Given the potential impact on net GHG emissions, CH 4 emissions from transitional forests on organic soils should be further investigated. Furthermore, the results demonstrate the potential of combining atmospheric inversion modelling of GHGs with diverse data sources and highlight the need for methods to more easily combine atmospheric inversions with national GHG inventories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing tailored emission reduction strategies and estimating their potential is crucial for achieving low-carbon rice production in a specific region, as well as for advancing China's dual carbon goals in the agricultural sector. By utilizing water-saving and drought-resistant rice (WDR) with enhanced water and nitrogen utilization efficiency, the mitigation strategies were constructed for rice production systems, and their potential for emission reduction was estimated in the southern rice propagation base of Hainan Province. This study revealed that the implementation of a reduction strategy, which involves dry direct seeding and dry cultivation, combined with a 53% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer, can effectively synergize the mitigation of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from rice paddies. Compared with traditional flooded rice cultivation, this integrated approach exhibits an impressive potential for reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 97% while simultaneously doubling economic benefits. Moreover, when combined with plastic film mulching, the strategy not only sustains rice yields but also achieves a remarkable emission reduction of 92%, leading to a fourfold increase in economic benefits. Our study provides a comprehensive low-carbon sustainable development strategy for rice production in the southern rice propagation base of Hainan Province and offers valuable insights for researching GHG emissions in other regions or crops. These emission reduction pathways and the assessment method could contribute to the realization of low-carbon agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane leaks are a significant component of greenhouse gas emissions and a global problem for the oil and gas industry. Emissions occur from a wide variety of sites with no discernable patterns, requiring methodologies to frequently monitor these releases throughout the entire production chain. To cost-effectively monitor widely dispersed well pads, we developed a methane point instrument to be deployed at facilities and connected to a cloud-based interpretation platform that provides real-time continuous monitoring in all weather conditions. The methane sensor is calibrated with machine learning methods of Gaussian process regression and the results are compared with artificial neural networks. A machine learning approach incorporates environmental effects into the sensor response and achieves the accuracies required for methane emissions monitoring with a small number of parameters. The sensors achieve an accuracy of 1 part per million methane (ppm) and can detect leaks at rates of less than 0.6 kg/h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drivers of natural high-latitude biogenic methane fluxes were studied by combining atmospheric inversion modelling results of methane fluxes (CTE-CH4 model) with datasets on permafrost (ESA Permafrost CCI), climate (Köppen–Geiger classes) and wetland classes (BAWLD) and seasonality of soil freezing (ESA SMOS F/T) for the years 2011–2019. The highest emissions were found in the southern parts of the study region, while areas with continuous permafrost, tundra climate, and tundra wetlands had the lowest emissions. The magnitude of the methane flux per wetland area followed the order of permafrost zones excluding non-permafrost, continuous permafrost having the smallest flux and sporadic the largest. Fens had higher fluxes than bogs in the thaw period, but bogs had higher fluxes in the colder seasons. The freezing period when the soil status is between complete thaw and frozen contributed to annual emissions more in the warmest regions studied than in other regions. In the coldest areas, freezing period fluxes were lower and closer to wintertime values than elsewhere. Emissions during freezing periods were smaller than those during winter periods, but were of comparable magnitude in warm regions. The contribution of the thaw period to the total annual emission varied from 86% in warmest areas to 97% in the coldest areas, suggesting that the longest winter periods did not contribute significantly to the annual budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere, extreme weather events have become more frequent and their impacts on human lives have become more severe. Therefore, the need for short-term GHG mitigations is urgent. Recently, methane has been recognized as an important mitigation target due to its high global warming potential (GWP). However, methane's low concentration in the atmosphere and stable molecular structure make its removal from the air highly challenging. This review first discusses the fundamental aspects of the challenges in atmospheric methane removal and then briefly reviews the existing research strategies following the mechanisms of natural methane sinks. Although still in its infancy, recent research on methane removal from the air holds great potential for slowing down global warming. At the same time, it is important to carefully examine the energy consumption of these methane removal strategies and whether they will be able to achieve net GHG reduction. In addition, due to the scale of methane removal from the air, any potential solution's environmental impacts must be carefully evaluated before it can be implemented in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria play a relevant role in rice soils due to their contribution to soil fertility through nitrogen (N2) fixation and as a promising strategy to mitigate methane (CH4) emissions from these systems. However, information is still limited regarding the mechanisms of cyanobacterial modulation of CH4 cycling in rice soils. Here, we focused on the response of methane cycling microbial communities to inoculation with cyanobacteria in rice soils. We performed a microcosm study comprising rice soil inoculated with either of two cyanobacterial isolates (Calothrix sp. and Nostoc sp.) obtained from a rice paddy. Our results demonstrate that cyanobacterial inoculation reduced CH4 emissions by 20 times. Yet, the effect on CH4 cycling microbes differed for the cyanobacterial strains. Type Ia methanotrophs were stimulated by Calothrix sp. in the surface layer, while Nostoc sp. had the opposite effect. The overall pmoA transcripts of Type Ib methanotrophs were stimulated by Nostoc. Methanogens were not affected in the surface layer, while their abundance was reduced in the sub surface layer by the presence of Nostoc sp. Our results indicate that mitigation of methane emission from rice soils based on cyanobacterial inoculants depends on the proper pairing of cyanobacteria–methanotrophs and their respective traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Enteric methane emissions from ruminants have emerged as a major challenge to the global agriculture industry. However, the lack of tools available to commercial farmers to measure and mitigate these emissions is preventing this challenge from being addressed. This study aimed to evaluate natural sugarcane extract's potential to mitigate these emissions in a commercial dairy environment and assess any impact on milk production and composition. The results of this study indicate a significant increase in milk production, with less methane detected across the herd. Bulk tank somatic cell counts were also reduced indicating improved udder health of cows. (1) Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of a natural sugarcane extract (Polygain™) on milk production, milk composition and methane emissions on a commercial dairy farm. (2) Methods: A three-week baseline was established for lactating Holstein × Friesian animals. Following this baseline period, these animals were fed Polygain™ at 0.25% of their estimated dry matter intake for 3 weeks. Methane concentration in the feed bin was determined at each milking using the Gascard NG Infrared Sensor (Edinburgh Sensors LTD). (3) Results: During the intervention phase milk yield increased significantly from 26.43 kg to 28.54 kg per cow per day, whilst methane emissions and bulk tank somatic cell counts decreased significantly in the intervention phase. For methane concentration, an average of 246 ppm during the baseline periods reduced to an average of 161.09 ppm during the intervention phase. For the bulk tank somatic cell counts, the average was observed at 283,200 during the baseline and reduced to an average value of 151,100 during the intervention phase. (4) Conclusions: The natural sugarcane extract was shown to have the potential to mitigate enteric methane emissions while also increasing production and animal wellbeing outcomes in a commercial dairy setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]