Search

While there has been a growing interest on the concept of Circular Economy (CE), its correlation with sustainability remains controversial. In this work, the combination of Statistical Entropy Analysis (SEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is proposed as a new methodology to evaluate recycling processes from the perspective of materials circularity and environmental impacts using a Li‐ion battery recycling process as a case study. This work addresses the need of quantitative circularity indicators, as SEA evaluates the concentration of materials at a systems level, while LCA measures the environmental impact of recycling processes in comparison with virgin raw materials production. It was found that process optimization points can be found by simultaneously accounting for materials recovery and the LCA categories of global warming potential, ozone depletion and mineral resource scarcity. Furthermore, a strong correlation was found for the first time between the recovery of critical elements and the environmental impact of raw materials production. The proposed methodology thus offers a robust analysis of a product lifecycle that aids in its design and optimization from the CE perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the sorption and residues of phosphine in fruits and vegetables relevant for export. Sorption patterns varied among the commodities: mango exhibited a constant sorption range of 10–12%, bitter gourd displayed a distinct pattern with peak sorption of 20% at 8 hours, and chilli demonstrated a higher range of sorption percentage, peaking at 60% at 8 hours. ANOVA (F (4,8) = 0.449, p = 0.771) and regression (F (1,11) = 0.851, p = 0.376) analysis revealed a non-significant relationship between the sorption percentage and exposure period. Residue analysis using Gas Chromatography with FPD detector revealed relatively low levels of phosphine residues in mango (0.009–0.01 µL/L), negligible traces in chilli samples, residues within the maximum residue limit (MRL) range for bitter gourd after 4–6 hours of aeration. Detecting phosphine residues within acceptable limits underscores the significance of post-fumigation protocols to meet stringent food safety standards, thereby safeguarding product integrity for global trade. Therefore, phosphine fumigation could serve as a viable alternative to methyl bromide fumigation for quarantine treatment of perishables as it doesn’t leave detectable toxic residues in produce following aeration and has no role in ozone depletion thus making it a more sustainable solution for international trade in fresh produce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of four acrylic acid production routes. Acrylic acid, an important industrial chemical, is currently produced using fossil fuel-based propylene but it can be sustainably produced from biodiesel derived glycerol through different pathways that involve intermediates such as acrolein, allyl alcohol, or lactic acid. Environmental impacts, including global warming potential, water footprint, acidification, eutrophication, ozone layer depletion, photochemical smog, and human toxicity, are evaluated. Glycerol-based processes exhibit significant environmental impacts mainly due to the energy-intensive production of epichlorohydrin-derived glycerol. The total potential global warming for glycerol-based processes having intermediates allyl alcohol, lactic acid and acrolein, was 1.67 × 105, 1.80 × 105 and 1.34 × 105 kg CO2 eq. FU-1 respectively, with epichlorohydrinderived glycerol, whilst this value was 0.552 × 105 kg CO2 eq. FU-1 for the propylene-based process. However, changing the source of glycerol to purified crude glycerol from the biodiesel industry results in a considerable reduction of the environmental impact. A sensitivity analysis using the two-factor interaction (2FI) model showed that the global warming potential varies from 0.676 × 105 to 1.45 × 105 kg CO2 eq. FU-1 depending on the purification method used to purify crude glycerol and the glycerol content in the crude glycerol. It showed that a vacuum distillation purification process with 50% glycerol content had the least global warming values. This assessment provides insights into environmental performance trade-offs, guiding efforts towards more sustainable acrylic acid production and emphasizing the potential of using by-products from other industries to enhance the sustainability in chemical production processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iodine and bromine play central roles in polar atmospheric chemistry: iodine influences the atmospheric oxidative capacity and can generate cloud condensation nuclei, while bromine participates in ozone depletion reactions, known as bromine explosions. Here we present a very sensitive analytical method for Br and I speciation by coupling the ion chromatography system (IC) with an inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometer (ICP-SFMS). We achieved sub-picogram-per gram (pg g−1) as limits of detection (LODs) ranging from 0.4 pg g−1 for I−, 0.8 pg g−1 for IO3−, 4 pg g−1 for Br−, and 1 pg g−1 for BrO3−, respectively. These values represent a decrease of up to 30 times compared to the LODs reported in other studies. The method was validated using deep snow samples from the Svalbard Islands, collected at the end of the polar night to quantify various oxidized compounds during their seasonal minimum. In the future, this method could prove useful in the paleoclimatic study of ice cores and snow, as well as in ice chemistry research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stratospheric temperature perturbations (STPs) caused by for example, variations in stratospheric ozone, are an important driver of changes in tropospheric dynamics, particularly pertinent to the long‐term climatic evolution of the Southern Hemisphere. However, the impact of ocean feedbacks on this interaction has not been fully examined. To study it, positive STPs were applied in three otherwise identical, idealized model configurations –atmosphere‐only (A), atmosphere + slab‐ocean (AS), and fully‐coupled atmosphere‐ocean (AO)–and the resulting atmospheric changes compared. In the AO model, changes in the tropics (extratropics) experienced a poleward‐expansion (shift) and positive (negative) feedback after ∼100–200 years, whilst the AS model showed atmospheric and sea surface temperature changes that did not resemble those seen in the AO model. In the AO model, changes in tropical ocean heat content were responsible for the atmospheric changes, attributable to changes in the Ekman transport. These results indicate that full atmosphere‐ocean coupling should be accounted for when studying the long‐term (100+ years) tropospheric response to STPs in the Southern Hemisphere. Validation with higher‐resolution and more realistic models is necessary. Plain Language Summary: In recent decades, the Southern Hemisphere has seen significant climatic changes in response to stratospheric ozone depletion. It is important to understand what impact oceanic feedbacks might have on this response. To that end, experiments were performed, in which temperature perturbations were applied to the stratospheres of three otherwise identical atmospheric models–with/without oceans present–and their results compared. Ocean feedbacks were found to significantly amplify (weaken) and expand (shift) the atmospheric responses toward the poles in the tropics (extratropics) after about 100–200 years. This was caused by wind‐driven changes in sea surface temperatures in the tropics. These results underscore the importance of accounting for oceanic feedbacks when studying long‐term (100+ years) climatic changes, caused by stratospheric changes, in the Southern Hemisphere. However, further verification of these results with higher‐resolution and more realistic models will be necessary to ensure their applicability, and to better quantify their effects. Key Points: Ocean feedbacks significantly alter the atmospheric response to applied stratospheric temperature perturbations after 100–200+ yearsChanges in the tropical and midlatitude ocean heat content, driven by alterations to the Ekman transport, are responsible [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new class of fourth-generation, zero ozone depletion potential, hydrofluoroolefin-based blowing agents were used to prepare phenolic foam. While hydrofluoroolefin blowing agents have been used previously to prepare polyurethane foams, few studies have been reported on their use in phenolic foams. We introduce an effective method for foam preparation using two low-boiling blowing agents, cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene, and their combinations with hexane. Traditionally, phenolic foams have been prepared using chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, which can have harmful effects on the environment due to their high ozone depletion potential or global warming potential. Conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) modeling studies were performed to understand the effects of different blowing agent combinations on their boiling points. A series of phenolic foams were prepared by varying the concentration of the hydrofluoroolefin and the hydrofluoroolefin–hexane blowing agent combinations. The concentrations of the surfactant, Agnique CSO 30, and the toughening agent, polyethylene glycol, were also varied to yield a formulation with the optimal properties. The foams formulated with the hydrofluoroolefin–hexane mixture displayed a higher compressive strength and a lower thermal conductivity than those prepared with either hydrofluoroolefin or hexane alone. The cell microstructure of all the foams was examined using scanning electron microscopy. By introducing flexible chains into the resin matrix, PEG facilitates proper distribution of hydrofluoroolefin–hexane blowing agents and other reagents and thereby increases the mechanical strength of the foam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ozone layer is often noted to exhibit self-healing, whereby depletion of ozone aloft induces ozone increases below, explained as resulting from enhanced ozone production due to the associated increase in ultraviolet (UV) radiation below. Similarly, ozone enhancement aloft can reduce ozone below (reverse self-healing). This paper considers self-healing and reverse self-healing to manifest a general mechanism we call photochemical adjustment, whereby ozone perturbations lead to a downward cascade of anomalies in UV and ozone. Conventional explanations for self-healing imply that photochemical adjustment is stabilizing, damping perturbations towards the surface. However, photochemical adjustment can be destabilizing if the enhanced UV disproportionately increases the ozone sink, as can occur if the enhanced UV photolyzes ozone to produce atomic oxygen, which speeds up catalytic destruction of ozone. We analyze photochemical adjustment in two linear ozone models (Cariolle v2.9 and LINOZ), finding that (1) photochemical adjustment is destabilizing above 40 km in the tropical stratosphere and (2) self-healing often represents only a small fraction of the total photochemical stabilization. The destabilizing regime above 40 km is reproduced in a much simpler model: the Chapman cycle augmented with destruction of O and O 3 by generalized catalytic cycles and transport (the Chapman+2 model). The Chapman+2 model reveals that photochemical destabilization occurs where the ozone sink is more sensitive than the source to perturbations in overhead column ozone, which is found to occur when the window of overlapping absorption by O 2 and O 3 is optically unsaturated, i.e., when overhead slant column ozone is below approximately 10 18 molec. cm -2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lichens are important components of high‐latitude boreal and Arctic habitats. While stress tolerant, they are among the most sensitive ecosystem components to climate change, in particular, an increase in ultraviolet light (UV) arising from polar ozone depletion and deforestation. This study is the first to explore the effects of UV‐B on gene expression in lichens to predict metabolic pathways involved in tolerance. Using transcriptome profiling and bioinformatic analyses, here we studied the effects of UV‐B on gene expression in lichens using Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoff. as a model species. UV‐B exposure causes significant browning of the upper cortex of the thallus, which correlates to an increased expression of biosynthetic gene clusters involved in the synthesis of eu‐ and allomelanins and melanin precursors. Based on transcriptome analyses, we suggest that the biosynthesis of melanins and other secondary metabolites, such as naphthalene derivates, tropolones, anthraquinones, and xanthones, is a trade‐off that lichens pay to protect essential metabolic processes such as photosynthesis and respiration. Expression profiles of general stress‐associated genes, in particular, related to reactive oxygen species scavenging, protection of proteins, and DNA repair, clearly indicate that the mycobiont is the more UV‐B‐responsive and susceptible partner in lichen symbiosis. Our findings demonstrate that UV‐B stress activates an intricate gene network involved in tolerance mechanisms of lichen symbionts. Knowledge obtained here may enable the prediction of likely effects on lichen biodiversity caused by climate change and pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV-B radiation is becoming a bigger threat to plants as a result of the ozone layer's depletion. As an alpine plant, Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall. (R. chrysanthum) may grow regularly under UV-B radiation throughout its lengthy acclimatization period, although the mechanism of acclimatization is still poorly understood. The current investigation uncovered a number of adaptation strategies that R. chrysanthum has developed in reaction to UV-B rays. UV-B radiation impeded photosynthesis and damaged the photosystem, according to OJIP testing. Through transcriptomics and proteomics analyses, this study found that the differential proteins and differential genes of R. chrysanthum were significantly enriched in glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle pathways after UV-B treatment. The metabolomics results showed that a total of eight differential metabolites were detected in the glycolytic and TCA cycle pathways, and the changes in the expression of these metabolites reflected the final outcome of gene regulation in the glycolytic and TCA cycle pathways. The combined experimental results demonstrated that R. chrysanthum's photosynthetic system was impacted by UV-B stress and, concurrently, the plant activated an adaptation mechanism in response to the stress. To maintain its energy supply for growth, R. chrysanthum adapts to UV-B stress by adjusting the expression of the relevant proteins, genes, and metabolites in the glycolytic and TCA cycling pathways. This study provides a new perspective for understanding the changes in the carbon metabolism of R. chrysanthum under UV-B stress and its mechanisms for UV-B resistance, and provides an important theoretical basis for the study of enhancing plant resistance to stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zusammenfassung: Unser Beitrag ist ein theoretischer Artikel, der die Bildung im Anthropozän durch die Brille einer kritischen Pädagogik betrachtet. Die Diskussion stützt sich vor allem auf Philosophie und Anthropologie, greift aber auch auf zahlreiche Konzepte der Erziehungswissenschaften und der Bildung zurück. Wir beginnen mit einer Beschreibung des globalen Systemphänomens Anthropozän und der Gefahr plötzlicher irreversibler Veränderungen, die die Fähigkeit des Menschen, in einer Gesellschaft zu leben, gefährden würden, wenn bestimmte Kipppunkte überschritten werden. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Menschheit und insbesondere die Pädagog_innen angesichts der anstehenden Probleme vor einer großen Herausforderung stehen, aber auch angesichts der Tatsache, dass der politische und soziale Wandel nur sehr langsam vonstatten geht, obwohl wir uns der Situation durchaus bewusst sind. Es gilt also, spezifische Formen der Entfremdung zu berücksichtigen, die über das Problem der Unwissenheit hinausgehen, das seit der Zeit der Aufklärung angeklagt wird. Unter diesem Gesichtspunkt mag es schließlich angebracht sein, eine Pädagogik der Befreiung, wie die von Paulo Freire, zu unterstützen, da sie den Wunsch nach individueller und politischer Emanzipation – d.h. die verschiedenen Ebenen, die im Zusammenhang mit dem Phänomen des Anthropozäns eine Rolle spielen – klar zum Ausdruck bringt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, organic Rankine cycle (ORC) combined with geothermal energy applied for distributed generation (DG) was developed to resolve the problem in Indonesia, especially for remote areas. High investment cost for building traditional power plant in remote areas is a big problem. To increase the utilization of renewable energies, geothermal energy is a great heat source and able to be chosen for resolving energy shortage in Indonesia, in which the useful range of heat source temperature for ORC is between 110 and 180 °C on predictions in this work. The potential energy calculated in Mataloko-02, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, for geothermal was 11,795.57 kW. The predictions of net power generation, net thermal efficiency and exergy were carried out with various heat source temperatures with different working fluids, which were R245fa, R1233zde, R1224ydz, Novec649, R1336mzzz, R1234zez, R141b and Butane. The result showed that R141b has a good performance with the highest net thermal efficiency and exergy. The highest net power generation achieved by using Butane. According to environmental consideration, R141b had high values of Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) compared with other working fluids selected. Based on predictions, R1233zde and R1224ydz presented as potential working fluids to replace the R141b with the best performance in ORC system. In addition, there is an idea proposed to combined ORC and DG to resolve the problem facing of sustainability electricity development and decrease the high investment cost on grid power supply and power losses for the remote areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) play a crucial role in ozone depletion in the polar stratosphere. In this study, the space-based PSCs record from CALISPO and an offline three-dimensional chemical transport model (SLIMCAT) are used to analyze the PSCs in the Arctic and the Antarctic for the period 2006−2021. Observations indicate that the seasonal evolution of the Antarctic PSC area is similar from year to year. In contrast, the Arctic PSCs show large differences in seasonal variations of coverage and duration in different years. The SLIMCAT simulations effectively capture the seasonal and interannual variations of PSCs. However, the simulated PSC areas are larger than CALIPSO observations, which can be attributed to the relatively high instrumental detection threshold of CALIPSO. SLIMCAT can capture the zonal asymmetry of PSCs in both the Antarctic and Arctic, and it can reproduce a more accurate spatial distribution of PSCs when the PSC coverage area is larger. In addition, accurate simulation of HNO3 is important for PSC simulation. Because the simulation of denitrification processes is poor in SLIMCAT, which uses the thermodynamic equilibrium PSC scheme, the PSCs modeled by SLIMCAT are located at higher altitudes compared to the observation in the Antarctic, where the denitrification processes are strong. In contrast, for ice PSCs of which HNO3 is not required in calculations and the Arctic where denitrification is weak, the simulated PSC at different altitudes closely matches the observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 conversion is gradually seen as a better way for society to effectively use carbon sources and avoid climate crisis associated with fossil CO2 emissions. And the decision to deploy CO2 technology scale should be relied on its environmental impact. In this work, life cycle assessment model evaluates the environmental performance of CO2 conversion by photocatalytic reaction process with two different catalysts (NiAl-LDH and Co-ZIF-9). Six impact categories considered in this analysis, including climate change, acidification potential, depletion of abiotic resources, eutrophication potential, ozone layer depletion potential, and photochemical oxidation potential. Results indicated that CO2 conversion with Co-ZIF-9 photocatalyst has a better environmental impact than the NiAl-LDH photocatalyst route. Moreover, the Co-ZIF-9 catalyst scenario also has a lower total environmental burden than the conventional CO production route. Sensitivity analysis shows that recycle performance of the catalyst is highly sensitive to the production process in two scenarios. This study could provide a framework for robust decisions in CO2 conversion by photocatalytic reaction, which is useful for policymakers to decide the feasibility of industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The recycling of lithium-ion batteries is an emerging field faced with the challenge of recovering more than the most valuable elements from the batteries. While the literature presents many innovative approaches to the problem, an overview of the technical and environmental prospects of hydrometallurgical black mass recycling remains crucial. The goal was to analyze the impacts of a black mass process flowsheet and suggest ways to further reduce the impacts of battery recycling. Methods: The flowsheet was drafted from the literature by combining both state-of-the-art and experimentally demonstrated unit processes by starting with the leaching system, where reductive leaching is performed using only the copper and iron impurities already present in the black mass. The process targeted copper, manganese, cobalt, nickel, and lithium recovery, and three scenarios for manganese recovery were investigated. The flowsheet was simulated using HSC Sim software, and the mass and energy balances were adapted into internally consistent life cycle inventories. The scope was "gate-to-gate" in Europe and CML methodology was used for impact assessment. Results and discussion: Assuming that mechanical pre-treatment carries more environmental benefits than burdens, the results indicated that hydrometallurgical black mass recycling had a tentatively lower environmental footprint compared to virgin raw materials in all impact categories except ozone depletion, the results indicated that hydrometallurgical black mass recycling had a tentatively lower environmental footprint compared to virgin raw materials in all impact categories except ozone depletion. Sulfuric acid and neutralizing chemicals were among the most significant contributors to the impacts, and therefore further analysis was conducted based on an experimental study on low acid leaching with a low (< 0.5 M) initial sulfuric acid concentration instead of the baseline 2 M. This reduced the impacts by approximately 30–40% in all categories by decreasing downstream chemical consumption, and more significantly decreased ozone depletion. The challenges and opportunities for further process improvement were also considered. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of process optimization to improve the environmental sustainability of battery chemical production, but also revealed critical research gaps in the experimental literature. Rather than focusing on a single unit process, experimental black mass recycling research should aim at finding solutions that are optimal for the up- and downstream units, such as minimization of aluminum in the black mass and acid consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of planetary health examines the impact of human actions on the Earth's ecosystems and human health. It recognizes that human behaviors and systems are interconnected with environmental factors and that addressing environmental degradation is crucial for human well-being. Planetary health research reveals the extensive health effects of humanity's environmental footprint, including the spread of infectious diseases, the impact on mental health, and the risks of food and water scarcity. There is a moral imperative to prioritize sustainability and justice, as the poorest nations are most vulnerable to the planetary health crisis. Practical actions to promote planetary health include disseminating information to the public, engaging with influencers and communities, implementing policy changes, and investing in research and education. The planetary health movement calls for a transition towards sustainable practices and a holistic approach to address the environmental and health crises. [Extracted from the article]

Climate change is a global threat to the environment and human health. Two of the main greenhouse gases that cause the greenhouse effect and raise global temperatures are carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. In this review paper, we investigated the effects of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides on climate change and the effects of climate change on Afghanistan. We found that high concentrations of carbon dioxide, which is now CO2 levels, have increased by 50% than before the Industrial Revolution, contributing to a rise in global temperature and precipitation. At the same time, Nitrous oxide is an important greenhouse gas, with 310-fold higher potential for global warming than CO2 and leads to the depletion of stratospheric Ozone and other Nitrogen oxides, has a significant impact on plant health, including effects on chlorophyll levels, oxidative stress, and antioxidant responses. Afghanistan's climate change is predicted to increase the country's prevalence of illnesses linked to dust storms and poor air quality, especially in Kabul, the nation's capital. In addition, air pollution in Kabul is also likely to increase as a result of climate change. The alarming impacts of air pollution, with more than 3,000 deaths attributed to air pollution annually. Additionally, at least 700,000 individuals in Kabul have experienced various respiratory diseases. Due to climate change, Afghanistan's total glacier area has shrunk by 13.8%. In 2023, Afghanistan experienced early snow melt and below-average precipitation, causing second-season and irrigated crops to have less access to water. Reducing emissions and coping with the changing climate are essential steps towards tackling the complex issues these gases present and their wider effects on the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable airport buildings aim to minimize environmental impacts through energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste management. This is achieved by employing green building materials and utilizing renewable energy sources to reduce their carbon footprint. In this study, life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to assess the environmental impacts of three main construction materials—concrete, steel, and wood—used in sustainable airport buildings. These materials were selected for their widespread use in eight different airport terminal buildings with sustainability certifications. The environmental impacts of these materials were calculated and compared using OpenLCA 1.9.0 software and the ECOinvent database, adhering to the standards set forth by the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) initiative. The findings indicate that wood, as a construction material, has a significantly lower impact on global warming compared to steel and concrete, with a global warming potential (GWP) ratio of less than 60%. Steel, with a GWP of approximately 90% of that of concrete, also showed a lower impact than concrete. Additionally, other environmental impacts, such as stratospheric ozone depletion potential (ODP) and acidification potential (AP), were also examined, highlighting the trade-offs associated with each material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood is considered a promising raw material for the circular bioeconomy and has the ability to store biogenic carbon, and this is one reason why we want to extend the service life of the wood. In order to consider the influence of durability in our study, we used two wood species with different lifespans. Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) belongs to the group of very sensitive wood species, as the durability of the untreated wood is estimated to be around 5 years; meanwhile, pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) belongs to the group of moderately resistant wood species, where the durability of the untreated wood is estimated to be up to 15 years. While toxic chemicals are often used for wood preservation, hydroxyapatite offers an environmentally friendly solution for wood mineralization. This study presents life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) analyses comparing a novel hydroxyapatite (HAp) mineralization method with a service life of 50 years to a non-mineralized reference alternative. LCA was based on EN ISO 14040 and EN ISO 14044, while LCC was adapted from the European Commission's LCC tool for public procurement. The results of the LCA show that mineralized wood has a lower overall impact on the environment than surface-treated beech wood but a higher impact than surface-treated pine wood. Most impact categories were determined by electricity consumption with the exception of stratospheric ozone depletion, water consumption, and land use. Water consumption proved to be the category where the mineralization process was problematic due to water consumption during the leaching process. The LCC showed that mineralized wood is the most cost-effective solution for the exterior façade, as all costs, but especially investment costs, were lower. The differences in the LCA and LCC results are mainly due to the different lifetimes of the two alternatives. It can be concluded that if energy-intensive processes and chemicals are used in the production of the material, the extended lifetime must be sufficient to account for the additional impacts that occur during the production phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use measurements of trace gases from the Microwave Limb Sounder and polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) from the Cloud‐Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization to investigate how the extraordinary stratospheric water vapor enhancement from the 2022 Hunga eruption affected polar processing during the 2023 Antarctic winter. Although the dynamical characteristics of the vortex itself were generally unexceptional, the excess moisture initially raised PSC formation threshold temperatures above typical values. Cold conditions, especially in early July, prompted ice PSC formation and unusually severe irreversible dehydration at higher levels (500–700 K), while atypical hydration occurred at lower levels (380–460 K). Heterogeneous chemical processing was more extensive, both vertically (up to 750–800 K) and temporally (earlier in the season), than in prior Antarctic winters. The resultant HCl depletion and ClO enhancement redefined their previously observed ranges at and above 600 K. Albeit unmatched in the satellite record, the early‐winter upper‐level chlorine activation was insufficient to induce substantial ozone loss. Chlorine activation, denitrification, and dehydration processes ran to completion by July/August, with trace gas evolution mostly following the climatological mean thereafter, but with chlorine deactivation starting slightly later than usual. While cumulative ozone losses at 410–550 K were relatively large, probably because of the delayed chlorine deactivation, they were not unprecedented. Thus, ozone depletion was unremarkable throughout the lower stratosphere. Although Hunga enhanced PSC formation and chemical processing in early winter, saturation of lower stratospheric denitrification, dehydration, and chlorine activation (as is typical in the Antarctic) prevented an exceptionally severe ozone hole in 2023. Plain Language Summary: The 2022 eruption of the Hunga volcano produced an increase in stratospheric water vapor unmatched in the satellite record. Excess moisture pervaded the Antarctic stratosphere at the beginning of the 2023 Southern Hemisphere winter. Cold moist conditions prompted formation of ice clouds in the Antarctic stratosphere at higher altitudes than usual. Falling ice particles caused unusually severe permanent removal of water vapor from these levels and deposited it at lower altitudes. Chemical processing on polar stratospheric cloud particles occurred both earlier in the season and over a broader vertical domain than typical, resulting in exceptional early‐winter upper‐level conversion of chlorine from nonreactive into ozone‐destroying forms. Chemical processing ran its course by midwinter (i.e., July/August), with trace gases, including ozone, mostly following average behavior thereafter. Deactivation (reconversion of chlorine into nonreactive forms) started slightly later than in most years. While cumulative seasonal ozone losses were relatively large at some levels, probably because of the delayed chlorine deactivation, they were not unprecedented. Thus, although Hunga accelerated and expanded the vertical extent of chemical processing in early winter, that chemical processing reached completion as usually happens in Antarctic midwinter, preventing an extraordinarily severe ozone hole in 2023. Key Points: Hydration from Hunga led to unusually early and vertically extensive polar stratospheric cloud activity in the 2023 Antarctic vortexAs a result, heterogeneous chlorine activation occurred weeks earlier and at higher altitudes and dehydration removed more H2O than typicalDespite exceptional early‐winter conditions, cumulative ozone losses were unremarkable because stratospheric chemical processing saturated [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrous oxide (N2O) decomposition is increasingly acknowledged as a viable strategy for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and addressing ozone depletion, aligning significantly with the UN's sustainable development goals (SDGs) and carbon neutrality objectives. To enhance efficiency in treatment and explore potential valorization, recent developments have introduced novel N2O reduction catalysts and pathways. Despite these advancements, a comprehensive and comparative review is absent. In this review, we undertake a thorough evaluation of N2O treatment technologies from a holistic perspective. First, we summarize and update the recent progress in thermal decomposition, direct catalytic decomposition (deN2O), and selective catalytic reduction of N2O. The scope extends to the catalytic activity of emerging catalysts, including nanostructured materials and single-atom catalysts. Furthermore, we present a detailed account of the mechanisms and applications of room-temperature techniques characterized by low energy consumption and sustainable merits, including photocatalytic and electrocatalytic N2O reduction. This article also underscores the extensive and effective utilization of N2O resources in chemical synthesis scenarios, providing potential avenues for future resource reuse. This review provides an accessible theoretical foundation and a panoramic vision for practical N2O emission controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aircraft observations of the four chloromethanes: carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), methyl chloride (CH3Cl), dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), and chloroform (CHCl3), collected over North America between 2000 and 2022, were used to evaluate their vertical distributions and temporal trends in the atmosphere. We examine the vertical profiles, from the surface to the lower stratosphere (LS), of these increasingly important contributors to ozone‐depleting chlorine in both altitude and potential temperature space. Airborne chloromethane trends were compared with those measured at long‐term, ground‐based monitoring stations. Below 20 km altitude, CCl4 trends were decreasing at all levels studied in the North American atmosphere (−1.1 ppt yr−1). CHCl3 and CH2Cl2 airborne observations were comparable to ground network measurements: CHCl3 increased between 2000 and 2018 and then decreased leading to a negligible trend over the 22 years studied and CH2Cl2 has been increasing at all levels in the troposphere (+2.41 ppt yr−1, 2000–2022, <20 km). Plain Language Summary: Atmospheric processes can transport surface emissions of organic chlorine (Cl) compounds to higher altitudes, including the lower stratosphere (LS). At these high altitudes, organic Cl compounds will react, releasing the Cl radical. Subsequent Cl‐radical reactions can lead to the depletion of ozone. The ozone layer surrounds the globe at these high altitudes and is responsible for protecting life on the surface from harmful UV radiation. Therefore, it is important to have data on species containing organic Cl, especially those that are of increasing concern because their sources and sinks are not fully understood. We collect information about four different Cl‐containing species, three of which are not currently regulated by the Montreal Protocol and calculate how their abundances at different altitudes in the atmosphere have changed over 22 years. We use data collected from aircraft flights over North America and ground‐based monitoring sites within America to determine the mixing ratios of these species. Key Points: Evaluated chloromethane abundances over North American troposphere and lower stratosphereCollated 22 years of chloromethane measurements collected from airborne platformsCalculated trends from annual means at different atmospheric levels and were comparable to long‐term surface site measurements [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in trends and variabilities of precipitation, temperature, and evaporation are some of the pronounced effects of climate change. This study assessed the effects of precipitation and temperature trends and variabilities on soil moisture storage. Forty-one years' historical data on precipitation, temperature, and soil moisture were collected for four agrarian local government areas in southern and northern Nigeria. Trend changes and variabilities were analyzed using the Mann Kendall, modified Mann Kendall, Palmer drought severity index, standardized precipitation evaporation index, standardized precipitation index, and temperature indices. Observed precipitation in the northern part experienced very significant decrease and both the southern and northern divides experienced significant temperature increase over the last four decades. However, the temperature indices including hottest days (TXx), summer day (SU35), and diurnal temperature range (DTR) indicated northern Nigeria experienced more extreme temperature increase and thus more drought than southern Nigeria. The northern part had averages TXx, SU35, and DTR of 39.66 °C, 66.49 days, and 17.99 °C, while the southern part had 33.61 °C, 0.075 days, and 9.47 °C, respectively. The continuous increase in temperature and precipitation decrease are attributable to climate change caused by ozone layer depletion. Low precipitation and high temperature resulted to significant reduction of soil moisture storage in northern Nigeria, while soil moisture reductions were limited in southern Nigeria. Effects of temperature and precipitation trends on soil moisture trends therefore emphasize the need for proper water management, continuous soil moisture conservation, and intense irrigation practices, to enhance food production and security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased UV-B radiation due to ozone depletion adversely affects plants. This study focused on the metabolite dynamics of Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall. (R. chrysanthum) and the role of ABA in mitigating UV-B stress. Chlorophyll fluorescence metrics indicated that both JA and ABA increased UV-B resistance; however, the effect of JA was not as strong as that of ABA. Metabolomic analysis using UPLC−MS/MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry) revealed significant fluctuations in metabolites under UV-B and ABA application. UV-B decreased amino acids and increased phenolics, suggesting antioxidant defense activation. ABA treatment upregulated lipids and phenolic acids, highlighting its protective role. Multivariate analysis showed distinct metabolic clusters and pathways responding to UV-B and ABA, which impacted amino acid metabolism and hormone signal transduction. Exogenous ABA negatively regulated the JA signaling pathway in UV-B-exposed R. chrysanthum, as shown by KEGG enrichment. This study deepens understanding of plant stress-tolerance mechanisms and has implications for enhancing plant stress tolerance through metabolic and hormonal interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical looping dry reforming of methane (CLDRM) using perovskites as a catalyst is considered a promising option for producing hydrogen from biogas. In this work, the life-cycle performance of a system compiling a CLDRM unit paired with a water gas shift unit, a pressure swing adsorption unit, and a combined cycle scheme to provide steam and electricity was assessed. The main data needed to reflect the behavior of the reforming reaction was obtained experimentally and implemented in an Aspen Plus® simulation. Inventory data was obtained through process simulation and used to assess the environmental performance of the process in terms of carbon footprint, acidification, freshwater eutrophication, ozone depletion, photochemical ozone formation, and depletion of minerals and metals. Overall, the environmental viability of the production of green hydrogen from biogas was found to be heavily dependent on the biogas leakage in anaerobic digestion plants. The CLDRM system was benchmarked against a conventional DRM implementation for the same feedstock. While the conventional DRM plant environmentally outperformed the perovskite-based CLDRM, the latter might present advantages from an implementation point of view. [Display omitted] • Scaled-up chemical looping dry reforming of biogas for hydrogen production was simulated. • The life-cycle performance of the configuration with a perovskite catalyst was assessed. • Environmental hotspots refer to biogas leakage, natural gas processes, and catalyst metals. • Environmental advantages of conventional dry reforming were linked to heat integration. • Green hydrogen qualification requires avoiding leakages from anaerobic digestion plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia production traditionally relies on steam methane reforming (SMR), but it emits carbon and harms the environment. To address decarbonization frameworks of industrial-scale ammonia production process, a 100,000-ton ammonia manufacturing plant is presented using green ammonia synthesis methods. This study presents two promising hydrogen production methods for ammonia production, utilizing water electrolysis as scenario 1 and biomass gasification as scenario 2, while nitrogen is supplied using a cryogenic air separation unit (CASU). The techno-economic analysis shows that the ammonia production via SMR as the base case has lower total costs than Scenarios 1 and 2 due to not using green electricity. Through the environmental impact assessment of climate change, ozone depletion, terrestrial ecotoxicity, and natural land transformation, it is shown that Scenario 1 has lower impacts than the base case and Scenario 2 due to using green electricity. It is noted that the base case and Scenario 1 ensure the lowest production cost and environmental impacts, respectively, and Scenario 2 is the best balance between the economy and the environment. [Display omitted] • New comparisons of three 100,000-ton ammonia manufacturing plant designs are addressed. • The ammonia production via SMR (base process) ensures the lowest total costs due to not using green electricity. • Scenario 1 by using water electrolysis has the lowest environmental impacts due to using green electricity. • Scenario 2 by using biomass gasification is at the best balance between the economy and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Antarctic ozone hole exerts a substantial impact on the climate of the Southern Hemisphere, yet research exploring its potential influence on the Northern Hemisphere climate is limited. This study unveils a significant positive relationship between interannual variations of Antarctic total column ozone (TCO) during September–October and East Asian precipitation in the subsequent boreal winter. Specifically, ~10% of the East Asian winter precipitation variability is attributed to Antarctic TCO during September–October. Both observational data and model results indicate that the increased Antarctic TCO during September–October triggers a simultaneous meridional southern Indian Ocean tripole sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) through the negative phase of the Southern Annular Mode. This SSTA pattern persists from September–November through the boreal winter, subsequently weakening the local-scale zonal-vertical circulation anomalies in the Indian Ocean. The process leads to positive outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) anomalies over the southern Marine Continent. As a result, the linear response of wind anomalies at 850 hPa over East Asia to the OLR-induced diabatic heating anomalies exhibits southwesterlies, as demonstrated by a linear baroclinic model. These anomalous winds facilitate the transport of abundant moisture from the tropics to East Asia, favoring the formation of winter precipitation. We employ the Specified-Chemistry version of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model to validate that the increase of September–October Antarctic ozone substantially enhances East Asian precipitation during boreal winter. Importantly, the relationship between Antarctic ozone and East Asian winter precipitation is found to be independent of El Niño-Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole Mode. Our findings provide a fresh insight into the prediction of the East Asian winter precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polar stratospheric chemistry is highly sensitive to changes in water vapor content and temperature. We identified an unusual behavior of water vapor and temperature in the southern polar winter stratosphere in 2023. The relationships between the Hunga-Tonga eruption injection of water vapor (detected in the tropics) and its transport to SH high latitudes, temperature changes and ozone anomalies at southern high latitudes are discussed, as well as the roles of zonal wind and the meridional flux of zonal mean zonal momentum. These parameters exhibit a consistent pattern in anomalous year 2023. In the winter of 2023 in the Southern Hemisphere, an unexpected decrease in ozone levels and the emergence of an excessive ozone hole were observed. This event marked one of the deepest Antarctic ozone holes with the largest area since 2011. This appears to be associated with the Hunga Tonga eruption anomalous water vapor injection. This study highlights importance of water vapor for evolution of the Antarctic stratosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the ensemble of 20 seasonal predictions calculated by the INM RAS climate model (INMCM5), the simulation of the stratospheric polar vortex variability in the Arctic from 1991 to 2023 is studied. The best predicted monthly mean speeds of zonal mean wind at the level of 10 hPa ( 30 km) and at 60° N as compared with the ERA5 reanalysis data with differences to 5 m/s were revealed in the winter seasons with the strong stable stratospheric polar vortex in 2010/2011 and 2019/2020 and, consequently, with the greatest depletion of the ozone layer. A statistically significant correlation was found between predicted monthly mean speeds of zonal mean wind and the reanalysis data for the first month after the start. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A review dedicated to the state on compression high-temperature heat pump steam systems. • The refrigerant and compressor that can be used in compression high-temperature heat pump steam systems are reviewed. • Research trend and the main technical problems of compression high-temperature heat pump steam systems to be solved are proposed. • The progress in developing, manufacturing, and optimizing high-temperature, high-pressure ratio compressors is summarized. • The primary technique for lowering discharge temperature in water vapor compressors is indicated. Compression high-temperature heat pump steam system (HTHPSS) has higher energy efficiency than electric, coal-fired and gas boilers for steam production. The system efficiently recovers waste heat from the factory and the CO 2 emissions can be reduced depending on the driving electricity mix, which is in line with the carbon neutral energy saving and environmental protection development strategy. However, there are few reviews published in the existing literature that specifically address the status of research on HTHPSS. This work not only reviews the status of research on compression HTHPSS in two directions: increasing the efficiency of high-temperature heat pump (HTHP) and increasing the steam temperature, respectively, but also indicates the future development trend of HTHPSS. The key to the research of HTHP is the development of high-temperature refrigerant and high compression ratio compressors. In this work, the refrigerants that can be used in HTHP are reviewed. Natural refrigerants R718 show promise as HTHP refrigerants because they have zero ozone depletion potential (ODP), zero global warming potential (GWP) and a high critical temperature. In addition, the research status of high-temperature and high-pressure compressor with a focus on their design and strategies for reducing the discharge temperature of scroll, piston, and screw compressors. The future focus of research is to develop a high compression ratio for the compressor. Moreover, the three main water vapor compressors, centrifugal, Roots and screw compressors, are introduced respectively. Finally, according to the operational requirements of the compression HTHPSS, research trend and the technical problems to be solved are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well established that the reaction cycles involving some halogenated alkanes (so-called ozone-depleting substances—ODSs) contribute to the depletion of ozone in the stratosphere, prompting the Montreal Protocol (initially signed in 1987), and later amendments. The Protocol called for the scheduled phase-out of ODSs, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), halon, methyl chloroform (CH3CCl3), methyl chloride (CH3Cl), and even hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). In view of the urgent importance of ozone layer protection to the global ecological environment, the Taiwanese government has taken regulatory actions to reduce ODS consumption since 1993, through the joint venture of the central competent authorities. Under the government's regulatory requirements, and the industry's efforts to adopt both alternatives to ODSs and abatement technologies, the phase-out of some ODSs (i.e., CFCs, CCl4, halon, and CH3CCl3) was achieved prior to 2010. The consumption of HCFCs and methyl chloride has significantly declined over the past three decades (1993–2022). However, HFC emissions indicated a V-type variation during this period. Due to local production and extensive use of HFCs in Taiwan, the country's emissions increased from 663 kilotons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq) in 1993 to 2330 kilotons of CO2eq in 2001, and then decreased to 373 kilotons of CO2eq in 2011. Since then, the emissions of HFCs largely used as the alternatives to ODSs showed an upward trend, increasing to 1555 kilotons of CO2eq in 2022. To be in compliance with the Kigali Amendment (KA-2015) to the Montreal Protocol for mitigating global warming, the Taiwanese government has taken regulatory actions to reduce the consumption of some HFC substances with high global warming potential (GWP) under the authorization of the Climate Change Response Act in 2023, aiming at an 80% reduction by 2045 of the baseline consumption in 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar proton events (SPEs) affect the Earth's atmosphere, causing additional ionization in the high-latitude mesosphere and stratosphere. Ionization rates from such solar proton events maximize in the stratosphere, but the formation of ozone-depleting nitrogen and hydrogen oxides begins at mesospheric altitudes. The destruction of mesospheric ozone is associated with protons with energies of about 10 MeV and higher and will strongly depend on the intensity of the flux of these particles. Most studies investigating the impact of SPEs on the characteristics of the middle atmosphere have been based on either simulations or reanalysis datasets, and some studies have used satellite observations to validate model results. We study the impact of SPEs on cold-season ozone loss in both the northern and southern hemispheres using Aura MLS mesospheric ozone measurements over the 2004 to 2024 period. Here, we show how strongly SPEs can deplete polar mesospheric ozone in different hemispheres and attempt to evaluate this dependence on the intensity of solar proton events. We found that moderate SPEs consisting of protons with an energy of more than 10 MeV and a flux intensity of more than 100 pfu destroy mesospheric ozone in the northern hemisphere up to 47% and in the southern hemisphere up to 33%. For both hemispheres, the peak of winter ozone loss was observed at about 76 km. In the northern hemisphere, maximum winter ozone loss was observed on the second day after a solar proton event, but in the southern hemisphere, winter ozone depletion was already detected on the first day. In the southern hemisphere, mesospheric ozone concentrations return to pre-event levels on the ninth day after a solar proton event, but in the northern hemisphere, even on the tenth day after a solar proton event, the mesospheric ozone layer may not be fully recovered. The strong SPEs with a proton flux intensity of more than 1000 pfu lead to a maximum winter ozone loss of up to 85% in the northern hemisphere, and in the southern hemisphere winter, ozone loss reaches 73%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of Low Impact Development (LID) structures in mitigating urban floods and improving water quality have been widely recognized. In the previous chapter, a multicriteria decision analysis was conducted to determine suitable LID options for the study site, by integrating AHP and SWMM. It was found that bioretention cells were among the best choices based on the analyzed criteria, a conclusion supported by other studies. This thesis aimed to achieve flood mitigation and urban water governance goals through a sustainable approach, focusing on LIDs, their selection, and their placements. To further advance this sustainable approach, a comprehensive investigation was conducted on the environmental impact of LIDs throughout their entire life cycle. Given the suitability of bioretention cells for the study site and their general performance-based attributes that make them ideal choices for treating various pollutants under different spatial conditions, this paper extensively examined their environmental footprints. The life cycle of bioretention cells, comprising eight configurations with varying media amendments, was analyzed using the standard life cycle impact assessment procedure (IS 14,040). This study holds significance as the selection of media type, availability, transportation, and pollutant removal efficiencies directly impact on-site implementation, and each configuration incurs varying levels of environmental impacts that need quantification to meet sustainable and low-impact LID selection requirements. The primary data source for this study was the Ecoinvent database, supplemented by locally sourced data from practitioners. The TRACI 2.1 impact assessment method was employed in OpenLCA software. The results indicated that pumice had the highest environmental impacts, primarily stemming from ozone depletion, smog, and fossil fuel consumption categories due to transportation distance requirements. This Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study of bioretention cells will be instrumental for practitioners in making environmentally sustainable design choices without compromising system efficiency. Additionally, government agencies can utilize these findings to devise incentives for optimized design providers as it addresses emerging trends in the field of catalysis related to environmental impact evaluation and sustainable design choices for bioretention cell systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions sourced from agricultural and industrial activities have gained much attention because of their contribution to the global greenhouse effect and ozone layer depletion. Significant efforts have been devoted to developing the cost-effective and highly efficient technologies for N 2 O removal. The direct N 2 O decomposition is limited by the thermodynamic equilibrium at high temperatures. Recently, catalytic reduction of N 2 O with carbon-free hydrogen derived from in situ ammonia decomposition is considered as an ideal approach. Herein, thermal decomposition of N 2 O is investigated by employing a BaCe 0.85 Fe 0.15 O 3-δ -BaCe 0.15 Fe 0.85 O 3-δ (BCF8515-BCF1585) hydrogen-transporting membrane or a Ce 0.85 Sm 0.15 O 1.925 -Sm 0.6 Sr 0.4 FeO 3-δ (SDC-SSF) oxygen-transporting membrane respectively. It is noted that the membrane catalysis of N 2 O decomposition by reacting with permeated hydrogen or via in-situ oxygen removal displayed significant advantages over the direct thermal decomposition of N 2 O under a fixed bed condition. Moreover, the N 2 O conversion as well as hydrogen/oxygen permeability of such membranes were greatly improved by the introduction of porous Ni–CeO 2 or SDC-NCO layers due to the increased catalytic activities and hydrogen/oxygen surface exchange kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It remains unresolved whether the La Niña-like sea surface temperature (SST) trend pattern during the satellite era, featuring a distinct warming in the northwest/southwest Pacific but cooling in the tropical eastern Pacific, is driven by either external forcing or internal variability. Here, by conducting a comprehensive analysis of observations and a series of climate model simulations for the historical period, we show that a combination of internal variability and human activity may have shaped the observed La Niña-like SST trend pattern. As in observations, SSTs in each model ensemble member show a distinct multi-decadal swing between El Niño-like and La Niña-like trend patterns due to internal variability. The ensemble-mean trends for some models are, however, found to exhibit an enhanced zonal SST gradient along the equatorial Pacific over periods such as 1979–2010, suggesting a role of external forcing. In line with this hypothesis, single-forcing large ensemble model simulations show that human-induced stratospheric ozone depletion and/or aerosol changes have acted to enhance the zonal SST gradient via strengthening of Pacific trade winds, although the effect is model dependent. Our finding suggests that the La Niña-like SST trend is unlikely to persist under sustained global warming because both the ozone and aerosol impacts will eventually weaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, one of the main challenges that industry faces is its impact on global warming, linked to the greenhouse effect and ozone hole problems. These two environmental issues have not yet been solved completely and, concerning the industrial cold sector, countries are making various decisions on refrigerants. Magnetic refrigeration potentially represents a less impactful refrigeration technology. In this review, the physical basis of magnetic refrigeration is analysed, in order to propose this technology for industrial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on a novel, medium-weight (∼ 25 kg) optical spectrometer coupled to an automated sun tracker for direct sun observations from azimuth-controlled balloon platforms weighing approximately 12 kg. It is designed to measure a suite of UV–Vis absorbing gases relevant in the context of stratospheric ozone depletion using the differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) method, i.e. O3 , NO2 , BrO , OClO , HONO , and IO. Here, we describe the design and major features of the instrument. Further, the instrument's performance during two stratospheric deployments from Esrange near Kiruna (Sweden) on 21 August 2021 and from Timmins (Ontario, Canada) on 23 August 2022 is discussed along with the first results concerning inferred mixing ratios of BrO above balloon float altitude. Using a photochemical correction for the partitioning of stratospheric bromine ([BrO]/[Bry]) obtained by chemical transport simulations, the inferred total stratospheric bromine load [Bry] amounts to (17.5 ± 2.2) ppt , with a purely statistical error amounting to 1.5 ppt in (5.5 ± 1.0)-year old air. The latter is inferred from simultaneous measurements of N2O by the GLORIA (Gimballed Limb Observer for Radiance Imaging of the Atmosphere) mid-IR instrument, resulting in a stratospheric entry of the investigated air mass in early 2017 ± 1 year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric sensitivities (gradients), quantifying the atmospheric response to emissions or other perturbations, can provide meaningful insights on the underlying atmospheric chemistry or transport processes. Atmospheric adjoint modeling enables the calculation of receptor-oriented sensitivities of model outputs of interest to input parameters (e.g., emissions), overcoming the numerical cost of conventional (forward) modeling. The adjoint of the GEOS-Chem atmospheric chemistry-transport model is a widely used such model, but prior to v36 it lacked extensive stratospheric capabilities. Here, we present the development and evaluation of the discrete adjoint of the global chemistry-transport model (CTM) GEOS-Chem unified chemistry extension (UCX) for stratospheric applications, which extends the existing capabilities of the GEOS-Chem adjoint to enable the calculation of sensitivities that include stratospheric chemistry and interactions. This development adds 37 new tracers, 273 kinetic and photolysis reactions, an updated photolysis scheme, treatment of stratospheric aerosols, and all other features described in the original UCX paper. With this development the GEOS-Chem adjoint model is able to capture the spatial, temporal, and speciated variability in stratospheric ozone depletion processes, among other processes. We demonstrate its use by calculating 2-week sensitivities of stratospheric ozone to precursor species and show that the adjoint captures the Antarctic ozone depletion potential of active halogen species, including the chlorine activation and deactivation process. The spatial variations in the sensitivity of stratospheric ozone to NO x emissions are also described. This development expands the scope of research questions that can be addressed by allowing stratospheric interactions and feedbacks to be considered in the tropospheric sensitivity and inversion applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an analysis of Antarctic polar winters from 2005 to 2023 as observed by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE). The unique broad band infrared spectral features in ACE "residual" spectra are used to classify the spectra of polar aerosols by composition into polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) and sulfate aerosols. The spectra of PSCs are further classified into nitric acid trihydrate, supercooled ternary solutions, supercooled nitric acid, ice‐mix, and mixtures of PSCs. A breakdown of PSC composition is presented for each year. Antarctic winter seasons with unusual compositions are: 2011, in which volcanic ash mixed with PSCs was observed from July to August; 2019, which experienced a stratospheric warming event; 2020, the PSC season following the Australian Black Summer pyrocumulonimbus event; and 2023, which had unusually large sulfate aerosols following the Honga‐Tonga Honga Ha'apai eruption of 2022. Plain Language Summary: Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) are clouds that form during polar night when temperatures in the stratosphere drop to extreme lows. These clouds play a crucial role in the annual depletion of ozone (the Antarctic "ozone hole"). We present a summary of PSC observations made from the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE), which is a satellite‐based mission that has been operational since 2004. Key Points: Antarctic polar stratospheric cloud composition distribution during August and September observed by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE)Polar stratospheric cloud (PSC) composition impacted by large scale stratospheric events such as Australian Black Summer pyrocumulonimbus event and volcanic eruptionsPSC composition distribution is mostly governed by temperature [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastics are predominant in numerous sectors like packaging, agriculture, hardware, electronics, and many others. Annual plastic demand has been rapidly growing in the last few decades because of the increasing dependency on plastics. As a consequence, massive amounts of plastic waste are being generated every year. These plastic wastes are non-biodegradable, and hence their disposal poses a serious threat to the ecosystem and causes significant environmental problems such as endangering the safety of marine life, wildlife, air, water, and soil, etc. A large portion of plastic waste ends up in landfills, and only a small fraction is recycled. The continuous dependence on landfills as the main disposal method for plastic waste is costly and ineffective. Common solutions to plastic waste management are incineration and recycling; however, incineration emits harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases that contribute to ozone layer depletion and global warming; moreover, recycling is expensive and inefficient. As an alternative to recycling and incineration, the pyrolysis process can convert plastic wastes into more valuable fuel products. Pyrolysis is a thermal process that converts raw material into pyrolysis liquid, solid wax, and non-condensable gases in the absence of oxygen. This process is attractive because it is economical and energy-efficient, and it can be used to convert various types of plastic waste into valuable products. In recent years, there have been significant developments in pyrolysis applications in liquid fuel production from plastic wastes. This work reviews recent advances in and challenges for the pyrolysis process for converting plastic wastes into a valuable alternative fuel, focusing on studies of advanced pyrolysis processes published over the last five years. The paper also highlights the numerical modeling of pyrolysis of plastic wastes and the potential impact of pyrolysis on the future of sustainable waste-management practices of plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of global warming, dangerous emissions, greenhouse effect, and ozone depletion, the usage of fossil fuels is being decreased these days. In recent years, renewable energy has risen to prominence as one as for the most important and promising the sources of energy generation, needing increased transmission capacity and system stability. The advancement of technology in the wind energy business has resulted in the wind turbines variablespeed generation development that has significant merits over turbines of fixed-speed. In the generation systems of wind energy, commonly employed are Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM), Doubly fed induction generator (DFIG). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian mega-wildfires in the summer of 2019-2020 injected smoke into the stratosphere, causing strong ozone depletion in the lower stratosphere. Here, we model the smoke plume and reproduce its unexpected trajectory toward the middle stratosphere at ~35-kilometer altitude. We show that a smoke-charged vortex (SCV) induced and maintained by absorbing aerosols played a key role in lofting pollutants from the lower stratosphere and nearly doubled the southern hemispheric aerosol burden in the middle stratosphere. The SCV caused a redistribution of stratospheric aerosols, which boosted heterogeneous chemistry in the middle stratosphere and enhanced ozone production, compensating for up to 70% of the ozone depletion in the lower stratosphere. As global warming continues, we expect a growing frequency and importance of SCVs in promoting the impacts of wildfires on stratospheric aerosols and chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar particle events (SPEs) are short-lived bursts of high-energy particles from the solar atmosphere and are widely recognized as posing significant economic risks to modern society. Most SPEs are relatively weak and have minor impacts on the Earth's environment, but historic records contain much stronger SPEs which have the potential to alter atmospheric chemistry, impacting climate and biological life. The impacts of such strong SPEs would be far more severe when the Earth's protective geomagnetic field is weak, such as during past geomagnetic excursions or reversals. Here, we model the impacts of an extreme SPE under different geomagnetic field strengths, focusing on changes in atmospheric chemistry and surface radiation using the atmosphere-ocean-chemistry-climate model SOCOL3-MPIOM and the radiation transfer model LibRadtran. Under current geomagnetic conditions, an extreme SPE would increase NOx concentrations in the polar stratosphere and mesosphere, causing reductions in extratropical stratospheric ozone lasting for about a year. In contrast, with no geomagnetic field, there would be a substantial increase in NOx throughout the entire atmosphere, resulting in severe stratospheric ozone depletion for several years. The resulting ground-level ultraviolet (UV) radiation would remain elevated for up to 6 y, leading to increases in UV index up to 20 to 25% and solar-induced DNA damage rates by 40 to 50%. The potential evolutionary impacts of past extreme SPEs remain an important question, while the risks they pose to human health in modern conditions continue to be underestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction As environmental and climate issues permeate all areas of human activity, it is increasingly likely that discussions about these problems and solutions will arise daily in teaching across disciplines. The knowledge of sustainability and climate change among teachers of different education levels is not very systematic, which can hinder the growth of climate awareness in society. The problem Misunderstood or oversimplified concepts about the nature of the problem can lead to erroneous conclusions and practices. In order to design more effective teacher training and better learning materials for both teachers and students, it is important to understand the nature of the misconceptions, what content of scientific explanations is missed or failed to be integrated into one's knowledge system, and which knowledge might be distorted to fit the lay understanding. The study's first aim was to describe the knowledge of the teachers who participated in specially organised interdisciplinary training on the nature of, and adaptation to, climate change. Specifically, teachers' pseudo-, synthetic, and misconceptions about climate change were the focus of the analysis. The study's second aim was to assess the impact of climate awareness training to take the first steps in examining the effectiveness of this increasingly common way of spending resources, which can problematically generate an illusion of knowledge acquisition. Thus, the study assessed how climate-related training impacted the change in knowledge among the trainees. The method The three research questions guiding the study were: 1) How science-based is teachers' understanding of the nature of, and the adaptation to, climate change? 2) How much and what kind of misconceptions characterise teachers' understanding regarding the nature of climate change? 3) Do climate-related misconceptions (their type and frequency) change as a result of the short interdisciplinary course delivered by top experts in the field? The questions posed to the teachers were as follows: • Why does the addition of greenhouse gases warm the global climate? • Please describe the most important actions that you think would help adaptation to climate change. For assessing the understanding of the nature of climate change, five expert knowledge components were distinguished in the science-based answers to this question: • Greenhouse gases absorb heat radiation • Energy is added to the climate system • The extra energy warms the climate • Warming continues until a new energy balance is reached • Greenhouse gases throw the original system out of energetic balance. The results Only some of these components are represented in the teachers' answers. While almost half of the teachers mentioned that the energy added to the system warms the climate, none noted that the warming lasts until a new energy balance is reached. The ontological category or cognitive schema for the emergence of a new energy balance due to the addition of greenhouse gases was missing in the teachers' answers, with only six of them mentioning disturbed energy balance. A lack of understanding of the energy balance process is likely to mean that the dangers of climate change to human society will probably remain unclear to the respondent. This may be why climate topics are undervalued in schools and curricula. An in-depth understanding may make it possible to better assess the current situation and the future. Our second research question revealed reasoning that does not really describe the nature of climate change. The misconceptions included, firstly, the concepts from the wrong ontological category - for example, there were suggestions that climate warming is related to the hole in the ozone layer. Secondly, there were synthetic or pseudo-concepts that demonstrated a simplified understanding of the scientific content - for example, that greenhouse gases create a "film" in the upper layers of the atmosphere. These distorted concepts could result from the oversimplified explanations or metaphorical terms used in science communication, which for the scientist may have scientific content but become common-sensical in the listener's thinking as they focus on some aspect of the metaphor that the scientist did not, in fact, want to emphasise. In the case of the term "adaptation", the clearest gap was understanding the difference between climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation. However, as we do not know whether the respondents might have understood "adaptation" correctly but chose to answer concentrating on how to prevent the need to adapt, we have not labelled this a misconceptualisation. Nevertheless, some of the answers to the open questions indicate that for the respondents, "adaptation" was a new term yet to be filled with content. In conclusion, we found that some core aspects of the relevant knowledge are missing from the teachers' understanding of climate change, and, at the same time, some synthetic and pseudo-conceptual approaches confuse the information on the climate system and climate change. In further teacher training, we need to consider these conclusions in order to enable teachers to discuss, in particular, the missing or misunderstood concepts. Thirdly, we examined the change in knowledge related to the climate change process after a one-day training session on climate change. There was no change in the understanding of the nature of climate change. Several reasons might be contributing to this result. Firstly, before this study, it was not very clear which aspects of climate change knowledge might need the most support, and the training focused equally on all the relevant knowledge. Secondly, especially when learning complex topics, offering learning methods that help the construction of new knowledge is needed. This would enable noticing and becoming aware of one's own misconceptions. However, the premise of such learning is enabling meaningful discussion and construction of knowledge (for example, problem-before-theory-after design). Thirdly, the more complex the topic to be studied and the more numerous the prior misconceptions, the more times should the learner (re)construct new knowledge in their mind before properly grasping the correct approach. The question on adaptation to climate change indicated that the concept of adaptation was generally unfamiliar to many. Thus, the responses addressed climate mitigation instead of adaptation. The focus remained mostly the same both before and after the training. Nevertheless, the training had a statistically significant effect on referring to the concept of adaptation and the adoption of related topics in the answers after the training (e.g., topics of heat, preparedness for climate-related disasters, etc.). Another significant change is that after the training day, the following elements were referred to more frequently: on the individual level - changes to be made in individual life; need for individual awareness and self-education; individual adaptation measures; on the level of systemic changes, there was an increase in mentioning the state and institutional reorganisation in the context of climate change. These changes were statistically significant. It is unclear why the changes in social science knowledge were more significant compared to natural science knowledge. However, based on the theories of concept development, it could be assumed that facts and knowledge related to social life are more directly related to people's everyday practices and as such, are easier to learn. As a rule, this knowledge is also less in conflict with prior knowledge and intuitive conclusions. At the same time, there can be no intuitively correct - if any - understanding of many processes and laws arrived at by natural sciences. Thus, the more effective transferability of social science knowledge compared to natural science knowledge is probably related to experientiality: during the training, heat waves and other changes influencing peoples' lives directly and demonstrating the effects of climate warming were repeatedly discussed. The emergence and further development of this connection may be the reason why, in this case, there has been a statistically significant shift in the answers related to adaptation. Teachers' increased knowledge of climate change leads to greater concern about climate change and, thus, to a greater willingness to act to protect the climate (Seroussi et al., 2019). More accurate and scientifically correct knowledge enables discussions in classrooms on the inevitably complex topic of climate change. As better knowledge is established, more resources and more time can be dedicated to discussions on what can actually be changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) is the predominant mode of climate variability across the Southern Hemisphere (SH) extratropical region. During the late 20th century, the SAM has undergone a remarkable positive trend, particularly pronounced in austral summer (December-January-February, DJF), which is mainly attributed to the ozone depletion in Antarctic stratosphere. However, 42 state-of-the-art models archived in CMIP6 exhibit noteworthy inter-model spread of the simulated long-term trend of the DJF SAM, with an inter-model standard deviation of 0.19 (per decade) both in AMIP and historical experiments. This study aims to explore the potential sources of model uncertainty in simulating the DJF SAM trend. Corresponding results from AMIP experiments indicate that the dominant mode of SH extratropical sea surface temperature (SST), namely the Southern Ocean Dipole (SOD), plays an important role in model performance in reproducing the SAM variability. Models with stronger linkage between the SOD and the SAM tend to simulate a more positive trend as well as a more realistic inter-annual variability of the DJF SAM, the averaged explained variance is over 30% in AMIP experiment. The possible reason for the inter-model uncertainty in depicting the responses of the SAM to the SOD in DJF could be explained by the different sensitivities of atmospheric baroclinicity in middle and high latitudes to the underlying SST anomalies in each model, which may be associated with the internal processes of the climate system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for heating and air conditioning is rising due to rapidly changing climatic conditions. The market for heat pumps and air conditioning systems is seeing a steady increase in low global warming potential. There is a growing need to use environment-friendly refrigerants. Contemporary Refrigerants (HCFCs) such as those found in heat pump air conditioning systems have the potential to cause global warming and ozone depletion. Using more environmentally friendly refrigerants, including hydrocarbon and blend refrigerant mixtures, is one way to lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Ozone depletion potential. This study examines the performance of several alternative refrigerants, including R32, R134A, R410A, R22 and R290. To examine the performance of R290, theoretical and simulation results are compared for various refrigerants while taking into account several performance parameters, including the refrigerant energy efficiency ratio, mass flow rate, coefficient of performance, cooling capacity and compressor work for One Ton of Refrigeration (1TR) air conditioners. One player with a very low GWP is R290. However, the only drawback is that it can catch fire and is hazardous to use in splittype commercial heat pump air conditioning applications. The environmental and thermo physical properties of R290 are significantly better than those of other materials, according to theoretical and simulation studies utilising Cool Pack software, hence it is a viable replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Freon, a greenhouse gas that contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer, has been the subject of investigation in this study. The catalytic hydrolysis enhancement of CFC-12 by ZrO2 was examined using a density functional theory approach. A detailed reaction mechanism and a new reaction pathway were proposed. The study found that CFC-12 is more likely to be adsorbed on the ZrO2 surface in the CFC-12-TO(F) configuration, while H2O is more likely to be adsorbed on the ZrO2 surface in the H2O-TO(H) configuration. Additionally, H2O replaces CFC-12 on the surface of ZrO2. The hydrolysis of CFC-12 is primarily determined by the first dechlorination process, while the defluorination process is comparatively easier. ZrO2 has a catalytic effect on both dechlorination and defluorination processes, with a more pronounced effect on the former. The production of C–OH bonds is inhibited, which facilitates the dechlorination and defluoridation processes. Methods: This work was carried out in the Dmol3 program in the Material Studio 2017, including the geometric structure optimization and energy calculations. The GGA/PBE method was used in this work, along with the DNP basis, spin-polarized set, and DFT-D correction. The possible TSs were guessed based on the linear synchronous transit/quadratic synchronous transit/conjugate gradient (LST/QST/CG) method, and they were further confirmed and reoptimized to ensure that the only one imaginary frequency exists in the TSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the need for a life cycle approach to classifying the toxicity of refrigerants. Refrigeration and air conditioning systems contribute to a significant amount of electricity consumption and have environmental impacts due to emissions. The American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air‐Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) currently classifies refrigerants based on their flammability and toxicity. However, this classification only considers the parent compound and not the precursors or degradation products. The article suggests that a life cycle assessment (LCA) framework should be used to analyze the environmental and human health impacts of refrigerants throughout their production, usage, and disposal. The LCA approach can help identify overlooked impacts and inform the development of strategies to address the environmental footprint of refrigerants. [Extracted from the article]