Found 10488 publications. Showing page 411 of 420:
Siri (14) gjør en viktig jobb for forskningen i Norge
Hver uke sender Siri Leifsen vannprøver til forskningsinstituttet NILU for analyse av ulike stoffer i nedbør. Tenåringen bidrar til forskning på miljøovervåkning.
2026
This study provides a short-term, dry-weather multi-compartment assessment of microplastic (MP) contamination in the Choghakhor Wetland, a vital freshwater ecosystem in western Iran. We quantified MPs in air, subsurface water, the surface water microlayer (SML), and sediments and developed a first-order mass-balance framework to clarify transport and fate. The SML showed much higher MP concentrations than the subsurface water when converted to volumetric units, while method-specific SML estimates varied among approaches (4.4–13.8 MP m⁻² using a glass tube; 196–982 MP m⁻² using a sieve; and 130–1754 MP m⁻² using filter paper). Subsurface water contained 0.083–1.5 MP L⁻¹, and the two sediment samples contained 60–400 MP kg⁻¹. Atmospheric deposition during the monitored intervals reached 2363 MP m⁻² h⁻¹. Flux analysis indicated that dry-weather influx exceeded observed outflux by more than three orders of magnitude. Using the conservative combined-outlet scenario, the wetland residence time was at least 168 days, whereas a water-only outlet scenario yielded ∼344 days. FLEXPART suggested that road dust dominated modeled source contributions, with smaller agricultural and soil-related contributions, although site-specific attribution remains model-based. These findings identify wetlands as important sinks and reservoirs of MPs, while emphasizing that the present results represent a dry-weather baseline rather than seasonal or annual conditions.
2026
2026
Long-term trend of elemental carbon in the high Arctic and its potential drivers
The Arctic is warming at more than twice the global average rate, a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification (Rantanen et al., 2022). In addition to greenhouse gases, short-lived climate forcers play a critical role in modulating Arctic climate through their impacts on radiation, cloud properties, and the surface energy balance (e.g. AMAP, 2015, 2021). Among these forcers, elemental carbon (EC) is of particular importance due to its strong light-absorbing properties and its ability to reduce surface albedo when deposited on snow and ice. Furthermore, aged EC particles transported to the Arctic can act as cloud condensation nuclei, influencing cloud microphysical processes and thereby modifying Arctic radiative forcing and climate feedbacks.In this study, we investigate long-term trends in EC concentrations and their potential drivers in the high Arctic using 16 years of continuous EC measurements from the Villum Research Station in northeast Greenland. We combine in situ observations with Lagrangian transport modelling and back-trajectory analyses to assess the relative contributions of changes in source-region emissions, transport pathway variability, and wet scavenging processes to the observed EC trends. Robust non-parametric statistical methods are applied to assess monotonic trends over the full observational period and before 2020, enabling a systematic comparison between the declining and stagnating phases. This integrated observational–modelling framework provides new constraints on the processes controlling EC variability in the Arctic and advances our understanding of how anthropogenic emission reductions are reflected in Arctic atmospheric composition under a rapidly evolving climate.
2026
Plastic pollution is an ever-growing concern around the globe, with current research portraying the presence of contaminants even in previously pristine regions. Especially small particles, micro- and nanoplastics, can be dispersed over long stretches by atmospheric transport, reaching even the most remote areas of the planet. This study aims to portray current levels of nanoplastic contamination (< 1 μm) by analyzing snow samples from high-altitude glaciers in the European Alps (2300–3800 m) via TD-PTR-MS. We were able to detect six common plastic pollutants, with PE and PP contributing over 60% of the total mass concentration measured across all sites. On average, nanoplastic concentrations of 85 ng mL − 1 (range: 3.6 ± 12 ng mL − 1 – 470 ± 76 ng mL − 1 ) were detected at sampled glacier surfaces. Access to these remote regions was enabled through a citizen-science initiative, involving trained mountaineers for sample collection. The results were applied to atmospheric modelling, highlighting possible point sources of contamination. While agriculture and local plastic factories were revealed as potential sources of nanoplastics, spatial and temporal limitations complicated comparison inside the sample cluster.
2026
Gastrointestinal image classification with GIDNet CNN model and non-linear Tansh activation function
2026
During summer 2023, Greece experienced one of its most severe wildfire seasons in recent decades, with widespread fires across Evros, Rodopi, Attica, the Peloponnese, and several islands. This study investigates the aerosol optical and microphysical properties, as well as the impact on ground-level ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation over Athens, focusing on two major wildfire episodes (18–21 July and 22–25 August). A synergistic approach was deployed, combining satellite imagery (MODIS), FLEXPART simulations, ground-based remoter sensing, in situ aerosol and radiation measurements. Elevated aerosol optical depths (AOD) up to 1.2, high fine-mode fractions (FMF) (> 0.85), and Ångström exponents (AE) above 1.5 indicated a strong dominance of fine biomass burning aerosols. The Single scattering albedo (SSA) ranged from 0.85 to 0.98, showing enhanced absorption during biomass burning periods and weaker absorption when smoke was mixed with dust. At 320 nm, dust presence resulted in stronger absorption, with SSA below 0.8 for pure dust cases compared to smoke mixtures. Particle linear depolarization ratios (PLDR), varied between 0.03 and 0.20, with higher values (∼ 0.10–0.20) reflecting the presence of non-spherical dust particles, and lower values (∼ 0.03–0.08) indicating spherical smoke particles. Ground-level UVB irradiance decreased by up to 50 % during peak smoke episodes, highlighting strong aerosol radiative impacts. Concurrently, PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations increased to 94 and 49 µg m−3, respectively, while organic aerosols peaked at 22.77 µg m−3, consistent with intense fire activity. FLEXPART simulations confirmed long-range transport of smoke from active fire regions, with additional contributions from regional pollution and Saharan dust.
2026
Urban nature-based solutions (NBS) are increasingly deployed to restore ecosystems, regulate microclimates, support biodiversity, and enhance wellbeing. Yet many remain short-lived: once installation and early monitoring end, maintenance budgets shrink, responsibilities become unclear, and socio–ecological performance declines. The EU BiodivNBS NatureScape project addresses this overlooked post-implementation phase by examining how NBS are cared for, governed, and experienced over time in seven European cities – Oslo, Dublin, Riga, Milan, Lisbon, Lublin, and St. Gallen.To strengthen long-term sustainability, NatureScape establishes Transformation Labs (T-Labs) at demonstration sites, including rain gardens in Lublin; community gardens in Oslo, Riga, Milan, and St. Gallen; school gardens in Lisbon; and goat-grazing vegetation management in Dublin. These T-Labs function as practice-based innovation spaces where municipal authorities, researchers, and community groups jointly observe socio–ecological dynamics, identify stewardship challenges, and co-develop adaptive responses. The approach extends conventional living labs by focusing on long-term socio–ecological change and governance arrangements that support NBS persistence.NatureScape integrates baseline assessments across five forms of capital (natural, social, human, manufactured, financial) with participatory workshops, PPGIS, citizen science, and systems tools such as causal loop diagrams and multi-criteria assessments. This mixed-methods design enables analysis of NBS as dynamic systems shaped by interactions between ecological conditions, institutions, and community practices.Early findings from Oslo, Riga, Lublin and St. Gallen reveal recurrent barriers: unclear responsibilities after project funding ends, limited resources for routine care and climate adaptation, insecure land tenure, weak alignment with municipal strategies, and uneven community participation. In St. Gallen, expectations to expand activities, actors, or spatial scope further increase complexity and demand stronger management capacities.This study presents the NatureScape framework for post-implementation NBS governance and demonstrates how T-Labs can: (i) shift perceptions of NBS from temporary projects to living infrastructures requiring continuous care; (ii) clarify and redistribute responsibilities and resources for long-term stewardship; and (iii) provide structured settings where new forms of cooperation and valuation can be tested and embedded in policy. Embedding co-maintenance and co-stewardship as core practices can help cities move beyond pilot projects toward durable, multifunctional NBS aligned with EU and global biodiversity frameworks and targets.
2026
Måling av svevestøv i Fiskåveien (Kristiansand). Kalenderår 2025
Kristiansand kommune, Agder Fylkeskommune og Elkem Carbon Fiskå etablerte et måleprogram for PM10 og PM2.5 på Fiskå. Formålet er å kartlegge svevestøvnivået sørvest for Fiskå Teknologipark. Mulige svevestøvkilder er industri, veitrafikk og vedfyring. I 2025 ble alle grenseverdiene og vurderingstersklene for svevestøv overholdt. Lokale meteorologiske målinger og kombinasjon med andre svevestøvmålinger i Kristiansand peker på regionale forurensningsepisoder, bidrag fra nær industri og ukjente kilder som forklaringer for de høyeste målte PM konsentrasjonene.
NILU
2026
2026
2026
A multi-year analysis of aerosol optical depth (AOD, τ) and Ångström exponent (α) was conducted using ground-based photometer data from 15 Arctic and 11 Antarctic sites. Extending the dataset of (Tomasi et al., 2015) through December 2024, the study incorporates stellar and lunar photometric observations to fill data gaps during the polar night. Daily mean values of τ at 0.500 µm and α (0.440–0.870 µm) were used to derive monthly means and seasonal histograms. In the Arctic, persistent haze events in winter and early spring lead to peak τ values. A decreasing trend in Arctic τ suggests the impact of European emission regulations, while biomass-burning aerosols are becoming more significant. In Antarctica, τ increases from the plateau to the coast. Fine-mode aerosols dominate in summer-autumn, while coarse-mode particles are more prevalent in winter-spring. Shipborne photometer data align well with ground-based measurements, confirming the reliability of mobile observations. Trend analyses using the Mann-Kendall test and Theil-Sen regression indicate a significant negative trend in τ at Andenes (−2.43 % per year), likely driven by reduced anthropogenic emissions. Antarctic stations such as Syowa and South Pole show positive trends (+3.84 % and +3.54 % per year), though these are subject to uncertainties from data limitations and instrument changes. This work contributes to the Polar-AOD network (https://polaraod.net/, last access: 15 May 2025), enhancing the understanding of aerosol variability and long-term trends in polar regions while promoting open data access for the scientific community.
2026
Start-up asked for regulation changes to allow controversial marine carbon storage
Gigablue applied for permission to put a thousand tonnes of its particles in New Zealand waters - but was told its plans amounted to marine dumping.
2026
2026
Bisphenol A (BPA) alternatives are increasingly used in the manufacture of industrial and consumer products, following regulatory restrictions on BPA. However, insufficient safety data on these substitutes raise concern as regards potential regrettable substitutions. Under the EU Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC), Work Package 5 (WP5) addresses this challenge by applying a human-relevant tiered hazard assessment strategy grounded on OECD test guidelines as first tier and expanding the battery to include NAMs (New Approach Methodologies). Eight BPA alternatives were prioritized for studies addressing key toxicological endpoints, namely, endocrine disruption (ED), developmental neurotoxicity (DNT), immunotoxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity and metabolic fate examination (detoxification vs. potential bioactivation), to enable early identification of biological activity and support cross-endpoint prioritization. This manuscript describes the structure and implementation of the testing framework. This integrated testing strategy proposes a structured approach to identify substances of potential concern, guide targeted higher-tier studies, and support regulatory prioritization. PARC WP5 framework is testing whether coordinated NAM-based methods may contribute to next-generation risk assessment and help prevent regrettable substitutions among BPA alternatives for rapid regulatory adoption. Detailed experimental results will be reported separately upon completion of the project.
2026
Start-up asked for regulation changes to allow controversial marine carbon storage | RNZ
An international start-up has been pushing for regulation changes to allow it to carry out controversial marine carbon storage in New Zealand waters.
2026