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The State of the Air in 2024? Not Great

Union of Concerned Scientists

The air quality for this report was calculated using data reviewed by EPA from 2020, 2021, and 2022. That means it includes the extreme wildfires exacerbated by the fossil fuel industry that burned more than 4% of California in 2021 and 2022. Ozone, too, poses significant risks to respiratory health.

2024 152
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Materials and nanotechnology: highlights of 2021

Physics World

Here is a selection of some of our favourite materials and nanotechnology research in 2021. What is more, it locks in atmospheric carbon for its lifetime and can be produced in a sustainable way. The post Materials and nanotechnology: highlights of 2021 appeared first on Physics World. Courtesy: Pazzo4562/CC BY-SA 4.0).

2021 127
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The CO2 problem in six easy steps (2022 Update)

Real Climate

The fact that there is a natural greenhouse effect (that the atmosphere restricts the passage of infra-red (IR) radiation from the Earth’s surface to space) is easily deducible from; i) the mean temperature of the surface (around 15ÂșC) and, ii) knowing that the planet is normally close to radiative equilibrium. in IPCC TAR).

Radiation 316
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Deciphering the ‘SPM AR6 WG1’ code

Real Climate

In my opinion the press conference on 9 August 2021 didn’t do justice to the vast effort that went into it. Another clue indicating a shortcoming is if you look at the atmospheric CO 2 -concentrations over time to see how much impact the IPCC reports have had on the real policy-makers in the world (Figure below).

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Viewpoint: Forty-three years of the environmental movement?

A Greener Life

Instead, environmentalists were mainly concerned about the ozone layer, nuclear meltdown and chemical industrial pollution, the erosion of biodiversity and population explosion. In June 1979, atmospheric carbon stood at 339ppm, just below the 350ppm level scientists believe to be safe. In 2021 the world emitted 36.4

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Particulate Matter: What Is It, And What Is It Not? | BreezoMeter

Breezometer

Unlike some of the other major air pollutants that affect our health, such as ground-level ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), and carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter is the only example that isn’t a gas. In 2021, the WHO even tightened its annual and daily limits for PM 2.5

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Sparklers & Fireworks: How Do Festive Traditions Impact Air Quality?

Breezometer

When a firework explodes, it releases a combination of fine particulate matter (which includes heavy metals, as well as poisonous gases) into the atmosphere. Studies have also shown that fireworks can create a ‘burst’ of ozone formation, also harmful to human health. This can cause a rapid impact on the surrounding air quality.

Ozone 98