Article
Oceanography
A. Murata, J. Inoue, S. Nishino, S. Yasunaka
Summary: The study found that CO2 uptake in the western Arctic Ocean in early winter was comparable to that in summer, and the spatial variations of pCO(2) in surface seawater were mainly caused by mixing changes of TCO2 and TA, making water mass mixing as important as biological processes in affecting the pCO(2) and CO2 uptake in the region.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sayantee Roy, Gazala Habib, Rishabh Dev, Swati Joshi, Adnan Mateen Qadri, Tarun Gupta, Ramya Sunder Raman
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between physiochemical and optical characteristics of aerosols in a desert-urban region impacted by anthropogenic sources and desert dust. The results show that during high pollution periods, elemental and organic carbon and secondary inorganics dominate PM2.5 mass, while during clear pollution periods, carbonaceous fraction and secondary inorganics also play a significant role. The findings also reveal the impact of coating/mixing on the light absorption capacity of EC and dust.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
John T. Abatzoglou, Caroline S. Juang, A. Park Williams, Crystal A. Kolden, Anthony LeRoy Westerling
Summary: The research shows a strong correlation between fire danger days in western US forests and strain on national fire suppression resources, with a projected doubling of synchronous fire danger days in the coming decades.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Krishna B. Khatri, Binod Pokharel, Courtenay Strong
Summary: Cloud seeding operations in Western United States have been regular annual programs to enhance winter precipitation and water supply. The study proposes an objective method to derive SWE-based indices for cloud seeding suspension criteria, which have been successfully implemented in Utah. The revised suspension criterion are 17-30% higher in magnitude than previous ones, capturing the spatial and temporal variability of hydro-meteorological conditions within and between watersheds.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pricila H. Mullachery, Usama Bilal
Summary: Opioid misuse in the United States is linked to a surge in opioid analgesic prescribing. Research shows that in commuting zones with lower populations, opioid prescription rates increase in a superlinear manner, while in zones with higher populations, the rates increase sublinearly.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel J. McEvoy, Benjamin J. Hatchett
Summary: In April 2021, an alarming rate of snow melt occurred throughout the western US, leading to degraded hydrologic conditions and declining summer water supply forecasts. This study aims to quantify the magnitude and climatological context of snow water equivalent (SWE) melt rates and understand the hydrometeorological drivers during April 2021. The findings show widespread snow drought conditions and record 7-day snow melt rates, influenced by upper atmospheric ridging and heat waves.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Samain Sabrin, Maryam Karimi, Rouzbeh Nazari, Md Golam Rabbani Fahad, Robert W. Peters, Alley Uddin
Summary: During the pandemic in the U.S., different stay-at-home orders were implemented, with findings showing that states under longer lockdown experienced improved air quality, with a decrease in PM2.5 concentration. This also had a positive impact on harmful gases like nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Keli Nicole Gerken, Bryson Alberto Ndenga, Kevin Omondi Owuor, Christabel Achieng Winter, Krish Seetah, Angelle Desiree LaBeaud
Summary: The study aims to assess the risk of Rift Valley fever virus introduction in urban Kisumu, Kenya and map the livestock origins. RVFV was detected in multiple markets in Western Kenya, with the highest seroprevalence in a county bordering Tanzania. Road quality and animal health influenced stakeholders' transport choices.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Brendan F. O'Leary, Alex B. Hill, Katherine G. Akers, Hector J. Esparra-Escalera, Allison Lucas, Gelareh Raoufi, Yaoxian Huang, Noribeth Mariscal, Sanjay K. Mohanty, Chandra M. Tummala, Timothy M. Dittrich
Summary: This study conducts a scoping review of air quality data in the Detroit area, establishing a foundation of historical air quality data and evaluation criteria that can be applied to other urban centers. The study finds that particulate matter, nitrous oxides, and sulfur dioxide are the most commonly studied air pollutants, with asthma being the most frequently associated health outcome in relation to air pollution datasets.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cheng-En Yang, Joshua S. Fu, Yongqiang Liu, Xinyi Dong, Yang Liu
Summary: This study evaluates the impact of wildfires on air pollutants and air toxics in the western US under future climate scenarios. The results show that despite small changes in the future, the contribution of wildfires to air pollution may increase by more than tenfold, leading to more severe impacts on air quality and health.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mehdi Nemati, Dat Tran
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has redefined the concept of home, turning it into a multifunctional space where people work, socialize, and seek entertainment. This shift towards remote work has had a significant impact on consumer behavior and resource consumption. A study conducted on water utilities in various states in the US found that water consumption increased during stay-at-home orders, particularly in residential areas, while non-residential properties saw a decrease in water consumption.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lili Ren, Yang Yang, Hailong Wang, Pinya Wang, Xu Yue, Hong Liao
Summary: Widespread wildfires occurred in the western United States in 2020, causing property damage and threatening human lives. Simultaneously, the global COVID-19 pandemic disrupted human activities. A study using an earth system model and observations investigated the impact of emissions reductions during the pandemic on fire weather in the western United States in 2020. The study found that reductions in aerosols contributed to increased wildfire risks, while decreases in greenhouse gases countered this influence.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Bethani Turley, Alida Cantor, Kate Berry, Sarah Knuth, Dustin Mulvaney, Noel Vineyard
Summary: Governments, utilities, and energy companies are increasingly focusing on energy storage technologies to extend the availability of renewable power sources. This Perspective analyzes the emerging landscapes of renewable energy storage in the Western United States, highlighting the rollout of utility-scale lithium-ion batteries and proposals for new pumped storage hydropower. The study reveals that energy storage technologies can have significant land use and water impact, generating opposition from groups concerned about environmental degradation and justice issues. The authors propose future research to ensure the socio-ecological benefits and justice of energy storage development.
ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Linfeng Duan, Wei Hu, Di Deng, Weikai Fang, Min Xiong, Peili Lu, Zhenliang Li, Chongzhi Zhai
Summary: The study in Chongqing's road transport sector found that shifting transportation modes scenario presented the most significant potential for energy-saving and emission reductions, while improving energy efficiency also provided significant co-benefits for reducing air pollutants and CO2 emissions. However, promoting alternative fuel scenario may increase fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions compared to business as usual scenario.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yizhou Zhuang, Rong Fu, Benjamin D. Santer, Robert E. Dickinson, Alex Hall
Summary: Recent studies have shown that the increase in wildfire activity in the western United States in recent years is likely attributed to both natural weather pattern changes and anthropogenic warming, with approximately 68% of the observed trend in vapor pressure deficit (VPD) being due to human influence. Climate models indicate that anthropogenic forcing explains an even larger fraction (88%) of the VPD trend, providing a lower and upper bound on the true impact of anthropogenic warming on VPD trends in the region. In August 2020, during the occurrence of the August Complex Gigafire, it is estimated that anthropogenic warming explained 50% of the exceptionally high VPD anomalies.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kerry E. Kelly, Wei W. Xing, Tofigh Sayahi, Logan Mitchell, Tom Becnel, Pierre-Emmanuel Gaillardon, Miriah Meyer, Ross T. Whitaker
Summary: Short-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution is harmful to health, and low-cost sensor networks with Gaussian process models can accurately assess pollution gradients, revealing geographic differences.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Dustin Roten, Dien Wu, Benjamin Fasoli, Tomohiro Oda, John C. Lin
Summary: The paper presents a novel algorithm that reduces the computational effort for atmospheric models by tracing the sources of a subset of OCO-3 measurements and inferring the rest, improving the efficiency of CO2 source analysis.
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
T. Y. Wilmot, A. G. Hallar, J. C. Lin, D. Mallia
Summary: The study reveals a connection between air quality trends in Western US urban centers during August and September from 2000 to 2019, with wildland fire activity. Spatially consistent trends in extreme levels of pollutants like PM2.5 and organic carbon were observed in the US Pacific Northwest in August. Furthermore, emerging trends were also identified in regions like the Pacific Northwest, western Montana, and Wyoming in September.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Brett Raczka, Timothy J. Hoar, Henrique F. Duarte, Andrew M. Fox, Jeffrey L. Anderson, David R. Bowling, John C. Lin
Summary: The Western United States is heavily influenced by natural lands that are crucial for carbon balance, water quality, and timber reserves, while also being susceptible to forest mortality from various factors. By adjusting simulations and incorporating water limitations, it is possible to improve carbon monitoring and understand the impact of water availability on carbon uptake through photosynthesis.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN MODELING EARTH SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel L. Mendoza, Tabitha M. Benney, Ryan Bares, Erik T. Crosman
Summary: Research tracked emissions patterns in a mid-sized, high-altitude city during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown as a natural experiment to understand the effects of human behavior on air pollution. The results showed differences in emissions between commercial and residential areas during lockdown, with both experiencing a rebound post-lockdown.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Y. Luo, M. A. Mischna, J. C. Lin, B. Fasoli, X. Cai, Y. L. Yung
Summary: Inverse Lagrangian modeling techniques were used to identify methane emission regions, revealing that the northwestern crater floor inside Gale crater has the strongest influence on methane detections, while the common upstream regions for all methane spikes outside Gale crater extend northwards.
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
V Monteiro, N. L. Miles, S. J. Richardson, J. Turnbull, A. Karion, J. Kim, L. Mitchell, J. C. Lin, J. C. M. Sargent, S. Wofsy, F. Vogel, K. J. Davis
Summary: We tested the capabilities of urban greenhouse gas measurement networks to detect abrupt changes in emissions, specifically during the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. The results showed a significant decrease in CO2 and CO emissions during the lockdown period, while changes in CH4 emissions were variable and not statistically significant. The study demonstrated the sensitivity of these tower networks to rapid changes in urban emissions, which were mainly influenced by reductions in traffic. Additionally, using measurements at different altitudes in urban observatories could improve the sensitivity of the observational network to both city-scale and local fluxes.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Logan E. Mitchell, John C. Lin, Lucy R. Hutyra, David R. Bowling, Ronald C. Cohen, Kenneth J. Davis, Elizabeth DiGangi, Riley M. Duren, James R. Ehleringer, Clayton Fain, Matthias Falk, Abhinav Guha, Anna Karion, Ralph F. Keeling, Jooil Kim, Natasha L. Miles, Charles E. Miller, Sally Newman, Diane E. Pataki, Steve Prinzivalli, Xinrong Ren, Andrew Rice, Scott J. Richardson, Maryann Sargent, Britton B. Stephens, Jocelyn C. Turnbull, Kristal R. Verhulst, Felix Vogel, Ray F. Weiss, James Whetstone, Steven C. Wofsy
Summary: Urban regions are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing numbers of urban policymakers and stakeholders are taking action to reduce emissions and establish monitoring networks. However, the coordination among these efforts is limited, necessitating the integration of urban observations to enable comprehensive analyses and address scientific questions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Taylor Y. Wilmot, Derek Mallia, A. Gannet Hallar, John C. Lin
Summary: In recent decades, wildfire activity in western North America has increased, leading to degradation of air quality in urban centers. A study using atmospheric modeling and observational data links the worsening air quality to regional wildfire sources. The study finds that many urban centers in western US have experienced significant increases in extreme air quality episodes caused by wildfires, particularly in August and September. The results highlight the importance of regional forest management and understanding the connection between climate change, wildfire activity, and air quality.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Emily G. Yang, Eric A. Kort, Lesley E. Ott, Tomohiro Oda, John C. Lin
Summary: Since a majority of CO2 emissions from fossil fuels come from cities, it is important to use novel techniques to utilize satellite observations of CO2 and proxy species to control urban CO2. This study aims to establish the relationship between satellite observations of CO2 and the proxy species of NO2 and estimate CO2 emissions based on NO2 data. The method was tested in Buenos Aires, Melbourne, and Mexico City and proved to be viable throughout the year. This method provides a valuable observational constraint on urban CO2 emissions, with comparable monthly urban CO2 emissions estimates to inventory estimates.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Logan E. Mitchell, Chris A. B. Zajchowski
Summary: Utah has a rich history of air pollution, which has become a major concern for urban residents. The shift in fuel sources and scientific advances have changed the relationship between air pollution and the state's residents. Efforts have been made to raise public awareness and improve air quality through legislation and court rulings. The future of air quality in Utah presents both challenges and opportunities, and can serve as a case study for other urban areas grappling with similar issues.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Dien Wu, John C. Lin, Henrique F. Duarte, Vineet Yadav, Nicholas C. Parazoo, Tomohiro Oda, Eric A. Kort
Summary: The study highlights the challenges in estimating fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions in urban areas due to biogenic carbon exchanges. By developing a simple model representation, it was possible to estimate ecosystem respiration and gross primary production across cities globally. Through advanced data analysis and modeling, the study provides valuable insights into the dynamics of biogenic carbon fluxes in urban environments.
GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuming Jin, Ralph F. Keeling, Eric J. Morgan, Eric Ray, Nicholas C. Parazoo, Britton B. Stephens
Summary: In this study, a new transformed isentropic coordinate M-theta e is introduced and effectively used to study the seasonal cycle of CO2, serving as an alternative to latitude in related research. The findings suggest that when calculating the CO2 seasonal cycle using M-theta e, the relationship with pressure is more stable and short-term variability is smaller compared to organizing by latitude and pressure.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amy Hrdina, Jennifer G. Murphy, Anna Gannet Hallar, John C. Lin, Alexander Moravek, Ryan Bares, Ross C. Petersen, Alessandro Franchin, Ann M. Middlebrook, Lexie Goldberger, Ben H. Lee, Munkh Baasandorj, Steven S. Brown
Summary: Wintertime ammonium nitrate pollution events in urban mountain basins are exacerbated by persistent cold-air pools, leading to the build-up of secondary pollutants like PM2.5 NH4NO3 causing severe haze. The study in Utah found that fine particulate matter was dominated by secondary NH4NO3 during pollution events, with excess NHx and a potential significant role of uptake by coarse-mode dust.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2021)
