The latest findings of a series of studies on mice that examined harmful effects caused by spending time in space show that gene expression related to liver met
Ice core data show why air pollution is dropping more slowly in US and Western Europe despite lower sulfur emissions
The air in the United States and Western Europe is much cleaner than even a decade ago. Low-sulfur gasoline standards and regulations on power plants have successfully cut sulfate concentrations in the air, reducing the fine particulate matter that harms human health and cleaning up the environmental hazard of acid rain.
Despite these successes, sulfate levels in the atmosphere have declined more slowly than sulfur dioxide emissions, especially in wintertime. This unexpected phenomenon suggests sulfur dioxide emission reductions are less efficient than expected for cutting sulfate aerosols.
Ice Core Data Shows Why Air Pollution is Reducing Slower than Sulfur Emissions Reductions
Written by AZoCleantechJun 1 2021
Ice core data obtained from Greenland indicates why air pollution has been decreasing slower compared to reductions in sulfur emissions.
The researchers in the drilling operation (left) and the drilled samples (right). Image Credit: Hokkaido University
When cloud droplets turn out to be less acidic, the chemical reaction that converts sulfur dioxide into sulfate aerosol becomes more effective. These findings can enhance the models that predict climate change and air quality.
In the United States and Western Europe, the air is much cleaner compared to how it was a decade ago. Low-sulfur gasoline standards and regulations on power plants have been successful in cutting sulfate concentrations in the air, thereby decreasing the fine particulate matter that tends to impact human health and cleaning up the environmental risk of acid rain.