Article
Environmental Sciences
Shuai Shao, Douglas A. Burns, Huizhong Shen, Yilin Chen, Armistead G. Russell, Charles T. Driscoll
Summary: Modeling studies project continued recovery of surface waters in the northeast US from acidification, but climate change may limit improvements in acid-base status, requiring further reductions in acid deposition to restore ecosystem structure and function under a changing climate.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
T. C. McDonnell, C. T. Driscoll, T. J. Sullivan, D. A. Burns, B. P. Baldigo, S. Shao, G. B. Lawrence
Summary: Acidic deposition has various environmental impacts on forested landscapes, including soil acidification, toxic aluminum mobilization, nutrient cation depletion, and effects on forest and aquatic species. Research in the Adirondack region of New York State suggests potential for ecosystem recovery of soils and streams, but many low-order streams and associated soils are currently experiencing adverse effects from nitrogen and sulfur deposition.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paul A. Bukaveckas
Summary: Lake surveys conducted in 1987-88 and 2018-19 show changes in the chemical and optical properties of Adirondack lakes recovering from acidification. The recovery process is characterized by increases in pH, reductions in monomeric Al, and significant increases in light attenuation, DOC, and CDOM. The findings suggest that reductions in light attenuation by CDOM have led to greater water clarity in acidified lakes during recovery, and this process has been reversed following declines in sulfate deposition.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jae Hong Park, Seung Young Oh, Jichul Ryu, Jae Kwan Lee, Dong Seok Shin
Summary: The study developed two methods, Load Conversion Method (LCM) and Multi-regression Equation Method (MREM), to estimate discharge load considering rainfall changes. LCM showed a more precise result and may be useful as a tool for estimating discharge load in the TMDL process, according to the application results of this study.
DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
Michael Schramm, Anna Gitter, Lucas Gregory
Summary: Fecal indicator bacteria are commonly used to assess surface water quality, but their effectiveness in reducing concentrations has been debated. This study evaluated trends in Escherichia coli concentrations at 721 freshwater stream sites in Texas from 2001 to 2021 and found no significant differences in improvement between pre- and post-Total Maximum Daily Load sites.
JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY WATER RESEARCH & EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mahnaz Valipour, Chris E. Johnson, John J. Battles, John L. Campbell, Timothy J. Fahey, Habibollah Fakhraei, Charles T. Driscoll
Summary: The biogeochemical model PnET-BGC was modified and validated using field data from experimental cutting watersheds, showing high accuracy in predicting ecosystem responses to cutting. Despite initial differences among cut watersheds, simulations consistently matched expectations and demonstrated the model's effectiveness in depicting ecosystem dynamics following forest cutting.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Joseph Wasswa, Charles T. Driscoll, Teng Zeng
Summary: Photochemical degradation led to decreases in the apparent quantum yields of O-1(2), (DOM)-D-3*, and (OH)-O-center dot, while (photo-)biodegradation resulted in increases in the yield of O-1(2) and (DOM)-D-3*. Both photodegradation and (photo-)biodegradation also caused shifts in the energy distribution of (DOM)-D-3* in different directions. Multivariate statistical analyses revealed the potential relevance of photo-biodegradation in driving changes in the yield of O-1(2) and (DOM)-D-3*, prioritizing five bulk DOM optical and redox properties that best explained the variations in yield along the watershed terrestrial-aquatic continuum.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jacqueline R. Gerson, Natalie Szponar, Angelica Almeyda Zambrano, Bridget Bergquist, Eben Broadbent, Charles T. Driscoll, Gideon Erkenswick, David C. Evers, Luis E. Fernandez, Heileen Hsu-Kim, Giancarlo Inga, Kelsey N. Lansdale, Melissa J. Marchese, Ari Martinez, Caroline Moore, William K. Pan, Raul Perez Purizaca, Victor Sanchez, Miles Silman, Emily A. Ury, Claudia Vega, Mrinalini Watsa, Emily S. Bernhardt
Summary: The Peruvian Amazon is facing the highest known input of mercury pollution in any ecosystem globally, especially the forests near artisanal gold mining. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is the largest global source of mercury, surpassing coal combustion. This study found that intact forests in the Peruvian Amazon near gold mining intercept large amounts of mercury, resulting in elevated mercury levels in the atmosphere, canopy foliage, and soils. Significant mercury accumulation was also observed in soils, biomass, and resident songbirds in protected and biodiverse areas, raising concerns about the impact of mercury pollution on conservation efforts in tropical ecosystems.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jhih-Shyang Shih, Charles T. Driscoll, Dallas Burtraw, Huizhong Shen, Richard A. Smith, Amelia Keyes, Kathy Fallon Lambert, Yilin Chen, Armstead G. Russell
Summary: This study integrates energy, air quality, and water quality models to investigate the potential impacts of policy-driven nitrogen deposition changes on coastal water quality in the US. The findings suggest that population growth is the most significant driver of coastal nitrogen flux, while energy policies play a minor role in offsetting the negative effects of population growth.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biology
John L. Campbell, Charles T. Driscoll, Julia A. Jones, Emery R. Boose, Hilary A. Dugan, Peter M. Groffman, C. Rhett Jackson, Jeremy B. Jones, Glenn P. Juday, Noah R. Lottig, Brooke E. Penaluna, Roger W. Ruess, Katharine Suding, Jonathan R. Thompson, Jess K. Zimmerman
Summary: Forest and freshwater ecosystems provide important services, but climate change is affecting their species composition, structure, and function. Long-term studies are critical to understanding the impacts of climate change on these ecosystems.
Article
Biology
Julia A. Jones, Charles T. Driscoll
Summary: This article discusses the importance of long-term ecological research in understanding the response of ecosystems to climate change. The study found that air temperature and moisture variability have increased in diverse ecosystems, leading to changes in primary production and matter cycling. The research also highlights the unique drivers of change in different regions and the interactions between climate change drivers and human activities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Connor Olson, Benjamin M. Geyman, Colin P. Thackray, David P. Krabbenhoft, Michael T. Tate, Elsie M. Sunderland, Charles T. Driscoll
Summary: This study presents a spatial analysis of soil mercury across the conterminous United States. The results show that the accumulation and turnover of mercury in soils play a crucial role in determining whether they act as an atmospheric source or sink. The study also suggests that a significant portion of soil mercury remains unexplained by parental sources.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Petros N. Vasilakos, Huizhong Shen, Qasim Mehdi, Peter Wilcoxen, Charles Driscoll, Kathy Fallon, Dallas Burtraw, Maya Domeshek, Armistead G. Russell
Summary: This study compares the air quality benefits of different future policy scenarios for controlling electricity generating units (EGU) emissions. While these policies aim to reduce CO2 emissions, they also have significant co-benefits for ozone and PM2.5. Various clean energy policies were examined to assess their time-varying costs and benefits, with a focus on achieving low or zero CO2 emissions by 2050. The forecasts show significant reductions in ozone and PM in the eastern US, and all policies result in air quality improvements.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Todd C. McDonnell, Jennifer Phelan, Alan F. Talhelm, Bernard J. Cosby, Charles T. Driscoll, Timothy J. Sullivan, Tara Greaver
Summary: This study compared critical loads and target loads derived from steady-state and dynamic models for determining the thresholds of air pollution damage to ecosystems. Results showed that dynamic models produced a broader range of values and allowed for evaluation of timedependent phenomena and period needed for recovery. It is recommended to use dynamic models in areas with available data, but steady-state models remain a useful tool for understanding broad spatial patterns. Future work should focus on improving model input parameters and exploring the effects of climate change.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nathan R. Pavlovic, Shih Ying Chang, Jiaoyan Huang, Kenneth Craig, Christopher Clark, Kevin Horn, Charles T. Driscoll
Summary: This study used machine learning models to assess the impact of nitrogen and sulfur atmospheric deposition on tree species and calculated the uncertainty of critical loads. The research found a significant uncertainty range that should be considered in management and decision-making.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Renata Ontman, Peter M. Groffman, Charles T. Driscoll, Zhongqi Cheng
Summary: Soil microbes play a crucial role in biogeochemical processes in forest ecosystems. Soil pH is an important factor that positively affects these processes. However, our study found weak and/or curvilinear relationships between soil pH and microbial biomass and activity, suggesting that plant-microbial interactions and other complexities may inhibit or mask microbial response to changes in pH.
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. A. Brannon, C. A. Scholz, C. T. Driscoll
Summary: Lake sediment plays a crucial role in phosphorus storage and release. The study on Skaneateles Lake reveals that the redox processes of Fe-bound and Mn-bound phosphorus are the primary controls for its storage and release. The concentrations of phosphorus in sediment are influenced by water depth and the presence of calcium.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexandra R. Contosta, John J. Battles, John L. Campbell, Charles T. Driscoll, Sarah R. Garlick, Richard T. Holmes, Gene E. Likens, Nicholas L. Rodenhouse, Shannon H. Rogers, Pamela H. Templer, Matthew A. Vadeboncoeur, Peter M. Groffman
Summary: This article explores the potential decline in resilience of global forest ecosystems due to disturbances. By analyzing data on multiple ecosystem state variables from the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire, USA, the study shows that around 60% of the early warning signals indicate decreasing resilience. These signals are important for assessing the health and development direction of forest ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eve-Lyn S. Hinckley, Charles T. T. Driscoll
Summary: Sulfur, an essential nutrient for plant growth, has been increasingly used in fertiliser applications for many crops, coinciding with declines in atmospheric sulfur deposition. The increase in sulfur fertiliser has outpaced other major nutrient fertilisers, highlighting the need for improved sulfur management tools to optimize fertiliser applications and minimize environmental impacts.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Hailong Huang, Wei Wu, Katherine Elliott, Chelcy Miniat, Charles Driscoll
Summary: Climate change has significant impacts on primary productivity and biogeochemical cycles in forest ecosystems, with variations observed between different elevation watersheds. Higher elevation watersheds are more affected by climate change on vegetation processes.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Waqas, Majid Nazeer, Man Sing Wong, Wu Shaolin, Li Hon, Joon Heo
Summary: The socio-economic restriction measures implemented in the United States have significantly reduced nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions. The study highlights the impact of factors such as human mobility, population density, income, climate, and stationary sources on the reduction of NO2 at different stations. The research emphasizes the scientific impacts of the NO2 reduction and income inequality revealed by the pandemic on air quality and health disparities.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guorui Zhi, Jinhong Du, Aizhong Chen, Wenjing Jin, Na Ying, Zhihui Huang, Peng Xu, Di Wang, Jinghua Ma, Yuzhe Zhang, Jiabao Qu, Hao Zhang, Li Yang, Zhanyun Ma, Yanjun Ren, Hongyan Dang, Jianglong Cui, Pengchuan Lin, Zhuoshi He, Jinmin Zhao, Shuo Qi, Weiqi Zhang, Wenjuan Zhao, Yingxin Li, Qian Liu, Chen Zhao, Yi Tang, Peng Wei, Jingxu Wang, Zhen Song, Yao Kong, Xiangzhe Zhu, Yi Shen, Tianning Zhang, Yangxi Chu, Xinmin Zhang, Jiafeng Fu, Qingxian Gao, Jingnan Hu, Zhigang Xue
Summary: An comprehensive emission inventory for China in 2019, which includes both air pollutants and greenhouse gases, was developed in this study. The inventory utilizes existing frameworks and data to provide comparable emissions data and demonstrates the relationship between emissions and economic development.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
I-Ting Ku, Yong Zhou, Arsineh Hecobian, Katherine Benedict, Brent Buck, Emily Lachenmayer, Bryan Terry, Morgan Frazier, Jie Zhang, Da Pan, Lena Low, Amy Sullivan, Jeffrey L. Collett Jr
Summary: Unconventional oil and natural gas development (UOGD) in the United States has expanded rapidly in recent decades, raising concerns about its impact on air quality. This study conducted extensive air monitoring during the development of several large well pads in Broomfield, Colorado, providing a unique opportunity to examine changes in local air toxics and VOC concentrations during well drilling and completions and production. The study identified significant increases in VOC concentrations during drilling operations, highlighting the importance of emissions from synthetic drilling mud. The findings suggest opportunities to mitigate emissions during UOGD operations.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Puji Lestari, Akbar R. Tasrifani, Wiranda I. Suri, Martin J. Wooster, Mark J. Grosvenor, Yusuke Fujii, Vissia Ardiyani, Elisa Carboni, Gareth Thomas
Summary: This study developed field emission factors for various pollutants in peatland fires and estimated the total emissions. Gas samples were collected using an analyzer, while particulate samples were collected using air samplers. The study found significant emissions of CO2, CO, PM2.5, carbon aerosols, water-soluble ions, and elements from the fires in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia in 2019.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ligang Li, Yuyu Chen, Lu Fan, Dong Sun, Hu He, Yongshou Dai, Yong Wan, Fangfang Chen
Summary: A high-precision retrieval method based on a deep convolutional neural network and satellite remote sensing data is proposed to obtain accurate methane vertical profiles.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hyung Joo Lee, Toshihiro Kuwayama, Michael Fitzgibbon
Summary: This study investigated the changes in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution levels and their disparities in California, U.S. during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The results showed a decrease in NO2 concentrations, especially in urban and high-traffic areas. However, socially vulnerable populations still experienced higher levels of NO2 exposure. The study suggests that reducing NO2 disparities, particularly racial inequity, can be achieved through continued regulatory actions targeting traffic-related NOx emissions.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Chiara Pietrogrande, Beatrice Biffi, Cristina Colombi, Eleonora Cuccia, Umberto Dal Santo, Luisa Romanato
Summary: This study investigates the chemical composition and oxidative potential of PM10 particles in the Po Valley, Italy, and demonstrates the impact of high levels of atmosphere ammonia. The rural area had significantly higher ammonia concentrations compared to the urban site, resulting in higher levels of secondary inorganic aerosol. Although the SIA components did not contribute significantly to the PM10 oxidative reactivity, they were correlated with the oxidative potential measurements. This suggests that the contribution of SIA to PM oxidative toxicity cannot be ignored.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Natalie Allen, Jan Gacnik, Sarrah M. Dunham-Cheatham, Mae Sexauer Gustin
Summary: Accurate measurement of atmospheric reactive mercury is challenging due to its reactivity and low concentrations. The University of Nevada, Reno Reactive Mercury Active System (RMAS) has been shown to be more accurate than the industry standard, but has limitations including long time resolution and sampling biases. Increasing the sampling flow rate negatively affected RM concentrations, but did not impact the chemical composition of RM captured on membranes.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chin-Yu Hsu, Wei-Ting Hsu, Ching-Yi Mou, Pei-Yi Wong, Chih-Da Wu, Yu-Cheng Chen
Summary: This study estimated the daily exposure concentrations of PM2.5 for elderly individuals residing in different regions of Taiwan using land use regression with machine learning (LUR_ML) and microenvironmental exposure (ME) models. The accuracy of the models varied across regions, with the ME models exhibiting higher predictions and lower biases. The use of region-specific microenvironmental measurements in the ME model showed potential for accurate prediction of personal PM2.5 exposure.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaohan Si, Kerrie Mengersen, Chuchu Ye, Wenbiao Hu
Summary: This study found that there is an interactive effect between air pollutants and weather factors, which significantly affects influenza transmission. Future research should consider the interactive effects between pollutants and temperature or humidity to evaluate the environment-influenza association.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luxi Xu, Ruijun Xu, Yunshao Ye, Rui Wang, Jing Wei, Chunxiang Shi, Qiaoxuan Lin, Ziquan Lv, Suli Huang, Qi Tian, Yuewei Liu
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of ambient air pollution on hospital admissions for angina. The results showed that exposure to ambient particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone are associated with an increased risk of hospital admissions for angina. The association with nitrogen dioxide exposure was found to be the strongest.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xinyu Yu, Man Sing Wong, Majid Nazeer, Zhengqiang Li, Coco Yin Tung Kwok
Summary: This study proposes a novel method to address the challenge of missing values in satellite-derived AOD products and creates a comprehensive daily AOD dataset for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. By reconstructing missing values and developing a new model, the derived dataset outperforms existing products and agrees well with ground-based observations. Additionally, the dataset exhibits consistent temporal patterns and more spatial details.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yidan Zhang, Yifan Xu, Bo Peng, Wu Chen, Xiaoyu Cui, Tianle Zhang, Xi Chen, Yuan Yao, Mingjin Wang, Junyi Liu, Mei Zheng, Tong Zhu
Summary: This study developed a sensitive method to measure the metallic components of atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and compared the results with different analysis methods. The concentrations of metallic components in personal PM2.5 samples were found to be significantly different from corresponding fixed-site samples. Personal sampling can reduce exposure misclassifications, and measuring metallic components is useful for exploring health risks and identifying sources of PM2.5.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jamie Leonard, Lea Ann El Rassi, Mona Abdul Samad, Samantha Prehn, Sanjay K. Mohanty
Summary: Increasing concentrations of microplastics in the Earth's atmosphere could have adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. The deposition rate of airborne microplastics is influenced by both land use and climate, and a global analysis suggests that climate may have a greater impact on the concentration and deposition rate of microplastics than land use.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tian Zhou, Xiaowen Zhou, Zining Yang, Carmen Cordoba-Jabonero, Yufei Wang, Zhongwei Huang, Pengbo Da, Qiju Luo, Zhijuan Zhang, Jinsen Shi, Jianrong Bi, Hocine Alikhodja
Summary: This study investigated the long-range transport and effects of North African and Middle Eastern dust in East Asia using lidar observations and model simulations. The results showed that the dust originated from multiple sources and had a long transport time. The vertical distribution of the dust was found to be crucial for assessing its impacts.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
