Article
Environmental Sciences
Sabine S. Lange, Lalita Shrestha, Nnamdi Nnoli, Stanley Aniagu, Swati Rawat, Darrell McCant
Summary: Starting from 2008, the expansion of oil and natural gas production in Texas caused concern about its impact on air quality, particularly in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Through analyzing 6-12 years of hourly air monitoring data from 15 sites, it was found that the concentrations of lighter alkane hydrocarbons were most affected by the number of gas wells, while heavier alkane concentrations were influenced by condensate production and urbanicity. The study also showed that the levels of organic compounds did not exceed the air monitoring values for human health or odor based on comparisons with Texas standards.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francesco Pietro Colelli, Johannes Emmerling, Giacomo Marangoni, Malcolm N. Mistry, Enrica De Cian
Summary: This study reveals that climate adaptation can lead to higher energy demand, power system costs, and carbon prices, but the benefits of mitigation can offset decarbonization costs. Adaptation actions increase power generation capacity and costs, but in ambitious mitigation scenarios, energy system costs may be lower or even negative due to reduced adaptation needs.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Curtis D. Davis, Clara Frazier, Nihal Guennouni, Rachael King, Hannah Mast, Emily M. Plunkett, Zack J. Quirk
Summary: Compressor stations maintain pressure along natural gas pipelines while releasing chemical pollutants into the air, posing risks to human health and local communities. We provide policy recommendations to minimize harm and protect affected populations.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Madhu S. S. Gyawali, Lok N. N. Lamsal, Jay R. R. Sedai, Bimal Gyawali, Keshav Bhattarai, Quintaria Williams, Shannon Neige, Shriram Sharma, Rudra Aryal
Summary: Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are important air pollutants that have been examined using satellite and in situ surface observations. In Texas, there were significant reductions in NO2 levels in highly populated cities, but increases in oil and gas producing regions. COVID-19 travel restrictions led to a temporary but larger reduction in NO2 levels compared to previous years, highlighting the potential for technological advancements to reduce NOx emissions.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Srijana Rai, Danny Hage, James Littlefield, Gabrielle Yanai, Timothy J. Skone
Summary: This study compares the life cycle global warming potential (GWP) of three major RNG pathways (anaerobic digestion, thermal gasification, and power-to-gas) with fossil natural gas (FNG) pathway. The results show that RNG production is not always carbon neutral or negative.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Madhu S. Gyawali, Lok N. Lamsal, Jay R. Sedai, Bimal Gyawali, Keshav Bhattarai, Quintaria Williams, Shannon Neige, Shriram Sharma, Rudra Aryal
Summary: Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are significant air pollutants with a crucial role in atmospheric chemistry. A comparison between Ozone Measuring Instrument's (OMI) NO2 records and in-situ surface measurements from the US Environmental Protection Agency and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality network was conducted to understand the relationship between satellite and surface observations and identify potential synergies. The analysis showed a correlation (r) ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 between daily surface site observations and OMI data, which improved significantly for monthly averages. The study also revealed significant reductions in NO2 levels in highly populated cities and urban centers, while oil and gas producing regions experienced an increase during the studied period. In addition, temporary reductions in NO2 levels were observed in major cities of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, surpassing previous records and indicating the potential of technological advancements in reducing NOx emissions.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Eric D. Lebel, Drew R. Michanowicz, Kelsey R. Bilsback, Lee Ann L. Hill, Jackson S. W. Goldman, Jeremy K. Domen, Jessie M. Jaeger, Angelica Ruiz, Seth B. C. Shonkoff
Summary: The presence of hazardous air pollutants in natural gas may pose risks to human health. This study analyzed unburned natural gas samples from residential stoves in California and found significant regional variability in the concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and total xylenes. The study estimated that leaked natural gas in California contributes to benzene emissions equivalent to nearly 60,000 light-duty gasoline vehicles, and that leakage from stoves and ovens can lead to indoor benzene concentrations exceeding health standards.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. J. Kramer, S. Huang, C. D. Mcclure, M. R. Chaveste, F. Lurmann
Summary: The study found that wildfires have a significantly greater impact on air quality in most areas of California compared to prescribed fires, even when prescribed fires are more than doubled. The research highlights the importance of effective forest management to minimize the adverse health effects of wildfire smoke.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qixin Tan, Baozhu Ge, Xiaobin Xu, Lu Gan, Wenyi Yang, Xueshun Chen, Xiaole Pan, Wei Wang, Jie Li, Zifa Wang
Summary: The study indicates that regional transport had a significant impact on SO2 and PM2.5 levels in Beijing during 2013-2017, highlighting the importance of joint prevention and control of air quality on a regional scale. The results suggest that local emissions control is not enough to mitigate air pollution in Beijing, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement in air quality through comprehensive measures.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Siyun Wang, Xu Tang, Jianliang Wang, Baosheng Zhang, Wangmin Sun, Mikael Hook
Summary: The study compared the environmental impact and impact intensity of shale gas, conventional natural gas, and oil development in China, finding that shale gas has a higher environmental impact but overall natural gas is greener than conventional oil. Gas development in the Sichuan Basin has the greatest environmental impact.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manqiu Hao, Cheng Gao, Guofang Li, Boyao Zhang, Jing Zhu, Yong Xu
Summary: The impacts of land use on climate in the Taihu Basin were quantitatively simulated using the WRF model. The results showed that cities with large or increasing areas of construction land had significantly higher temperature increases compared to other regions. Coastal cities in the east of the Taihu Basin had the highest wind speeds, while cities far from the coast in the west experienced reduced wind speeds. Areas near water or with large water areas had lower temperatures, while areas near forests or construction sites had higher temperatures. As urbanization accelerated, temperature differences in some areas gradually decreased, leading to an overall increase in temperatures.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Christian Bauer, Karin Treyer, Cristina Antonini, Joule Bergerson, Matteo Gazzani, Emre Gencer, Jon Gibbins, Marco Mazzotti, Sean T. McCoy, Russell McKenna, Robert Pietzcker, Arvind P. Ravikumar, Matteo C. Romano, Falko Ueckerdt, Jaap Vente, Mijndert van der Spek
Summary: Blue hydrogen, produced from natural gas with carbon capture and storage, has the potential to be a low-carbon energy carrier if significant CO2 emissions are captured and permanently stored. However, recent research raises questions about its actual climate impact from a life cycle perspective. Advanced reforming with high CO2 capture rates combined with low methane emissions in the natural gas supply chain can lead to substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
G. M. Goldrich-Middaugh, L. Ma, M. A. Engle, J. W. Ricketts, P. Soto-Montero, P. L. Sullivan
Summary: Understanding the relationships between stream chemistry and watershed factors is crucial for improving our knowledge of critical zone processes that affect water quality. This study compiled major ion data from over 100 monitoring stations collected over a span of 60 years across the Colorado River Watershed in Texas. Machine learning techniques were applied to gain insights into the controls of stream water chemical behavior. The findings showed strong relationships between major ion chemical composition, climate, and lithology, highlighting the importance of reactive minerals and precipitation in shaping stream chemistry.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Beiyao Xu, Tijian Wang, Danyang Ma, Rong Song, Ming Zhang, Libo Gao, Shu Li, Bingliang Zhuang, Mengmeng Li, Min Xie
Summary: China is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 and reducing emissions to mitigate air pollution. However, this may lead to higher air temperatures in certain regions. Regional emission reduction is the main factor affecting future air quality, while global climate change is the primary driver of future increases in air temperature.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Christine A. Ehlig-Economides, Dimitrios G. Hatzignatiou
Summary: This study compares the energy efficiency of hydrogen generation and transportation, and finds that low carbon hydrogen is an attractive and cost-effective option. While LCH does not offer advantages in power generation, it is more efficient as a substitute for liquid transportation fuel.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Mufreh S. Al-Rashidi, Mohamed F. Yassin, Nawaf S. Alhajeri, Marium J. Malek
ARABIAN JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCES
(2018)
Article
Environmental Sciences
N. S. Alhajeri, F. M. Al-Fadhli, D. S. Alrukaibi
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ramon A. Alvarez, Daniel Zavala-Araiza, David R. Lyon, David T. Allen, Zachary R. Barkley, Adam R. Brandt, Kenneth J. Davis, Scott C. Herndon, Daniel J. Jacob, Anna Karion, Eric A. Kort, Brian K. Lamb, Thomas Lauvaux, Joannes D. Maasakkers, Anthony J. Marchese, Mark Omara, Stephen W. Pacala, Jeff Peischl, Allen L. Robinson, Paul B. Shepson, Colm Sweeney, Amy Townsend-Small, Steven C. Wofsy, Steven P. Hamburg
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nawaf S. Alhajeri, Fahad M. Al-Fadhli, Ahmed Z. Aly, Andrew Reimers, Michael E. Webber
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2018)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fahad M. Al-Fadhli, Nawaf S. Alhajeri, Ahmed Z. Aly, David T. Allen
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2019)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Nawaf S. Alhajeri, Mohannad Dannoun, Abdullah Alrashed, Ahmed Z. Aly
JOURNAL OF NATURAL GAS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2019)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Anna M. Robertson, Rachel Edie, Robert A. Field, David Lyon, Renee McVay, Mark Omara, Daniel Zavala-Araiza, Shane M. Murphy
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel Zavala-Araiza, Mark Omara, Ritesh Gautam, Mackenzie L. Smith, Sudhanshu Pandey, Ilse Aben, Victor Almanza-Veloz, Stephen Conley, Sander Houweling, Eric A. Kort, Joannes D. Maasakkers, Luisa T. Molina, Abhinand Pusuluri, Tia Scarpelli, Stefan Schwietzke, Lu Shen, Miguel Zavala, Steven P. Hamburg
Summary: This study used atmospheric observations, aircraft measurements, and satellite data to quantify methane emissions from Mexico's onshore and offshore oil and gas production regions. The findings revealed significantly higher methane emissions from onshore production areas compared to offshore, with a single gas processing complex emitting more than the largest offshore production region. The research highlights the need for local empirical characterization of emissions for effective mitigation strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Itziar Irakulis-Loitxate, Luis Guanter, Joannes D. Maasakkers, Daniel Zavala-Araiza, Ilse Aben
Summary: Reducing methane emissions from fossil fuel sources is crucial for mitigating climate change. In this study, we used satellite data to identify and analyze methane emission sources in Turkmenistan. We found 29 different sources, mainly associated with crude oil production fields. Our findings suggest that these sources represent a significant opportunity for mitigation efforts, and that new satellite methods can revolutionize the detection and monitoring of methane emissions worldwide.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mark Omara, Daniel Zavala-Araiza, David R. Lyon, Benjamin Hmiel, Katherine A. Roberts, Steven P. Hamburg
Summary: Although low production well sites in the US account for only a small fraction of oil and natural gas output, they are a significant source of CH4 emissions, contributing to a substantial portion of the total emissions. Therefore, mitigating emissions from these low production well sites is crucial for reducing O&G CH4 emissions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Itziar Irakulis-Loitxate, Javier Gorrono, Daniel Zavala-Araiza, Luis Guanter
Summary: Mitigation of methane emissions from fossil fuel extraction is effective for slowing global warming, and the use of satellite observations to detect offshore methane plumes represents a significant breakthrough in monitoring industrial methane emissions from space.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Genevieve Plant, Eric A. Kort, Adam R. Brandt, Yuanlei Chen, Graham Fordice, Alan M. Gorchov Negron, Stefan Schwietzke, Mackenzie Smith, Daniel Zavala-Araiza
Summary: Flares do not efficiently destroy methane as assumed, and both unlit flares and inefficient combustion contribute significantly to its ineffective destruction.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lu Shen, Ritesh Gautam, Mark Omara, Daniel Zavala-Araiza, Joannes D. Maasakkers, Tia R. Scarpelli, Alba Lorente, David Lyon, Jianxiong Sheng, Daniel J. Varon, Hannah Nesser, Zhen Qu, Xiao Lu, Melissa P. Sulprizio, Steven P. Hamburg, Daniel J. Jacob
Summary: Using satellite data from TROPOMI, we have quantified methane emissions from O/G basins in the US and Canada and validated our results with in situ measurements. Our findings reveal significantly higher methane emissions in the US and Canada compared to the national inventories reported to the United Nations. Additionally, our method provides an effective tool for monitoring methane emissions from large O/G basins globally.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hossein Maazallahi, Julianne M. Fernandez, Malika Menoud, Daniel Zavala-Araiza, Zachary D. Weller, Stefan Schwietzke, Joseph C. von Fischer, Hugo Denier van der Gon, Thomas Rockmann
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jian-Xiong Sheng, Daniel J. Jacob, Alexander J. Turner, Joannes D. Maasakkers, Joshua Benmergui, A. Anthony Bloom, Claudia Arndt, Ritesh Gautam, Daniel Zavala-Araiza, Hartmut Boesch, Robert J. Parker
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2018)