Found 9895 publications. Showing page 380 of 396:
2025
This paper examines the potential impact of citizen science on achieving SDGs in cities. The analysis focuses on projects funded through the European Research Framework Programmes that utilize citizen science practices to involve cities and citizens in addressing sustainability issues. We analyzed a total of 44 projects active between 2016 and 2027, encompassing both ongoing and completed projects. Instead of relying solely on existing literature, we utilized a project database called CORDIS to gather project information. This approach allowed us to develop a comprehensive framework by utilizing uniformly classified data from the database, which is not typically available in literature. Using a four-stage framework analysis method, we assessed the projects' thematic areas, goals, types of solution promoted or tested to address sustainability challenges, methodologies employed, and the impacts achieved or expected. Through this analysis, we identified successful collaborations between citizen science and cities, showcasing examples of effective practice where citizens and cities co-created and tested solutions that contribute to SDGs. This highlights the active role that citizens, as participants or citizen scientists, play in the transition toward SDGs. This study focuses on more than 100 European cities that have been involved in EU-funded research projects implementing and planning to conduct citizen science activities, which directly and indirectly link to various SDGs. Our findings reveal that citizen science practices in cities predominantly address SDG3 (Good health and wellbeing), 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), and 13 (Climate action). Cities that engage citizens in co-creating solutions can enhance their capacity to improve quality of life and reduce climate and environmental impacts. Citizen engagement at the city and community levels can bolster efforts toward achieving SDGs and monitoring progress on a city-wide scale. However, to fully integrate citizen science and its contribution to cities in achieving SDGs, further research is needed to align the SDGs formulated at the national level with those at the city level. This entails exploring how citizen science can align with SDGs indicators and the quantification of SDG targets. Such efforts will facilitate the mainstreaming of citizen science and its potential to drive progress toward SDGs in cities.
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023
Understanding thermal comfort expectations in older adults: The role of long-term thermal history
Understanding how long-term thermal history affects thermal comfort expectations in older adults (65+) has implications for designing energy-efficient spaces in a changing climate. A growing number of studies focus on thermal sensation/preference votes to represent the current thermal comfort expectations, often overlooking their limitations. This study, however, investigates how factors shaping long-term thermal history link to the current 65+ adults indoor thermal comfort expectations during exposure to heat, by focusing on the upper limit of thermally acceptable temperature range, represented by a self-reported temperature threshold at which 65+ adults believe to feel uncomfortable by indoor heat (Tit). To find Tit, we use answers to “Above what temperature do you start feeling too hot indoors?” by survey respondents in Warsaw (n = 678) and Madrid (n = 527), who lived in their apartment ≥5 years. Statistically, we find indoor factors affecting long-term thermal experiences more significant in explaining 65+ Tit, when compared to outdoor factors such as distance to water, vegetation, or surface thermal radiance. Better-insulated buildings were associated with a lower Tit [...]
Elsevier
2024
2018
2024
Unexpected nascent atmospheric emissions of three ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons
Global and regional atmospheric measurements and modeling can play key roles in discovering and quantifying unexpected nascent emissions of environmentally important substances. We focus here on three hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) that are restricted by the Montreal Protocol because of their roles in stratospheric ozone depletion. Based on measurements of archived air samples and on in situ measurements at stations of the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) network, we report global abundances, trends, and regional enhancements for HCFC-132b (CH2ClCClF2), which is newly discovered in the atmosphere, and updated results for HCFC-133a (CH2ClCF3) and HCFC-31 (CH2ClF). No purposeful end-use is known for any of these compounds. We find that HCFC-132b appeared in the atmosphere 20 y ago and that its global emissions increased to 1.1 Gg⋅y−1 by 2019. Regional top-down emission estimates for East Asia, based on high-frequency measurements for 2016–2019, account for ∼95% of the global HCFC-132b emissions and for ∼80% of the global HCFC-133a emissions of 2.3 Gg⋅y−1 during this period. Global emissions of HCFC-31 for the same period are 0.71 Gg⋅y−1. Small European emissions of HCFC-132b and HCFC-133a, found in southeastern France, ceased in early 2017 when a fluorocarbon production facility in that area closed. Although unreported emissive end-uses cannot be ruled out, all three compounds are most likely emitted as intermediate by-products in chemical production pathways. Identification of harmful emissions to the atmosphere at an early stage can guide the effective development of global and regional environmental policy.
2021
Unleaded gasoline as a significant source of Pb emissions in the Subarctic
After the phasing out of leaded gasoline, Pb emissions to the atmosphere dramatically decreased, and other sources became more significant. The contribution of unleaded gasoline has not been sufficiently recognized; therefore, we evaluated the impact of Pb from unleaded gasoline in a relatively pristine area in Subarctic NE Norway. The influence of different endmembers (Ni slag and concentrate from the Nikel smelter in Russia, PM10 filters, and traffic) on the overall Pb emissions was determined using various environmental samples (snow, lichens, and topsoils) and Pb isotope tracing. We found a strong relationship between Pb in snow and the Ni smelter. However, lichen samples and most of the topsoils were contaminated by Pb originating from the current use of unleaded gasoline originating from Russia. Historical leaded and recent unleaded gasoline are fully distinguishable using Pb isotopes, as unleaded gasoline is characterized by a low radiogenic composition (206Pb/207Pb = 1.098 and 208Pb/206Pb = 2.060) and remains an unneglectable source of Pb in the region.
Elsevier
2018
2017
Unprecedented shifts in aerosol pollution sources in China under a decade of clean air actions
China is a major hotspot of black carbon (BC) emissions, contributing to climate warming and risk to public health. Here, our dual-isotope-constrained observations indicate stringent air pollution controls have drastically reduced coal-burning in North China over the past decade, marking a transition to a “post-coal” era compared to earlier 2012–2014. However, biomass-burning fraction (fbb) for north/central/east winter hazes has doubled from earlier (north/east) ~20%, with significantly higher fbb during polluted winters. Comparisons between observation and transport modelling show good alignment in BC concentrations but substantial discrepancies in source attribution (i.e., fbb). Leveraging radiocarbon measurements, advanced atmospheric modelling, and a Bayesian approach, our study identifies biases stemming from misallocated residential fuel types in emission inventories. These findings underscore the untapped potential to mitigate BC emissions by targeting rural biomass burning, while providing critical insights into BC source evolution to refine emission inventories and formulate effective air quality policies for China and other nations facing severe air pollution.
Springer Nature
2025
2023
Inert dispersion of a unitary emission has been combined with time dependent air chemistry to provide maximum impact of nitrosamines and nitramines in air and water for emissions from the amine absorber at TCM. The calculations show that likely case impact of nitrosamines and nitramines in air is less than 2 % of the recommended guideline value. The maximum concentrations in fresh water range from0.6 % to 3.2 % of the guideline depending on the use of absorbent and flue gas. The likely case impact show that air concentrations are a factor of 3 to 4 lower than the worst case, while water concentrations are be a factor from 16 to 22 lower than the worst case depending on the type of absorbent.
2011
Inert dispersion of a unitary emission has been combined with time dependent air chemistry to provide maximum impact of nitrosamines and nitramines in air and water for emissions from the amine absorber at TCM. The calculations show that worst case impact of nitrosamines and nitramines in air is 5 % of the recommended guideline value. The maximum concentrations in fresh water range from13 % to 53 % of the guideline depending on the use of absorbent and flue gas. Estimates for a likely case impact show that air concentrations will be a factor of 3 lower than the worst case, while water concentrations will be a factor from 10 to 20 lower than the worst case depending on the type of absorber.
2011
Update of background concentrations over Norway. NILU OR
A methodology for creating a new dataset of estimated background concentrations of NO2, O3, PM10, and PM2.5 that are representative of a typical year over Norway, was developed. The dataset has a spatial resolution of 10 km × 10 km and an hourly temporal resolution. The methodology is based on a spatial mapping component for obtaining information on annual mean background concentrations, and a temporal characterization component, which uses long-term time series of station data to describe the typical development of background concentrations throughout a day and a year. When combined, these two components allow estimates of typical background concentrations at any time of the year at any location in Norway. Whereas the previously used VLUFT method of 1993 only provided spatially constant data at the county level, the new method presented here provides spatially continuous data at a comparatively high spatial resolution. Furthermore, while the previous method only gave a range of constant values that were considered valid throughout the entire year, the new technique provides continuous time series for a typical year at hourly resolution at any location in Norway.
2011
Update on Polar Ozone: Past, Present, and Future. WMO Global Ozone Research and Monitoring Project, Report No. 55
2014
The Report updates the effects of emissions to air of nitrogenoxides and PAH from the offshore industry in the North sea. The report is a part of the updating of the consequence analysis in 1999.
2006
Updated trends for atmospheric mercury in the Arctic: 1995–2018
The Arctic region forms a unique environment with specific physical, chemical, and biological processes affecting mercury (Hg) cycles and limited anthropogenic Hg sources. However, historic global emissions and long range atmospheric transport has led to elevated Hg in Arctic wildlife and waterways. Continuous atmospheric Hg measurements, spanning 20 years, and increased monitoring sites has allowed a more comprehensive understanding of how Arctic atmospheric mercury is changing over time. Time-series trend analysis of TGM (Total Gaseous Mercury) in air was performed from 10 circumpolar air monitoring stations, comprising of high-Arctic, and sub-Arctic sites. GOM (gaseous oxidised mercury) and PHg (particulate bound mercury) measurements were also available at 2 high-Arctic sites. Seasonal mean TGM for sub-Arctic sites were lowest during fall ranging from 1.1 ng m−3 Hyytiälä to 1.3 ng m−3, Little Fox Lake. Mean TGM concentrations at high-Arctic sites showed the greatest variability, with highest daily means in spring ranging between 4.2 ng m−3 at Amderma and 2.4 ng m−3 at Zeppelin, largely driven by local chemistry. Annual TGM trend analysis was negative for 8 of the 10 sites. High-Arctic seasonal TGM trends saw smallest decline during summer. Fall trends ranged from −0.8% to −2.6% yr−1. Across the sub-Arctic sites spring showed the largest significant decreases, ranging between −7.7% to −0.36% yr−1, while fall generally had no significant trends. High-Arctic speciation of GOM and PHg at Alert and Zeppelin showed that the timing and composition of atmospheric mercury deposition events are shifting. Alert GOM trends are increasing throughout the year, while PHg trends decreased or not significant. Zeppelin saw the opposite, moving towards increasing PHg and decreasing GOM. Atmospheric mercury trends over the last 20 years indicate that Hg concentrations are decreasing across the Arctic, though not uniformly. This is potentially driven by environmental change, such as plant productivity and sea ice dynamics.
Elsevier
2022