Category: Research

The Cleanest Air: Understanding the Pristine Air of the Southern Ocean

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Fluffy clouds and blue sky background. Credit: Photo by Engin Akyurt on Unsplash.

New Study Unveils Link Between Cloud Type, Precipitation and Air Quality Over Southern Ocean

The atmosphere over the Southern Ocean (SO) is noted for being exceptionally clean, largely untouched by anthropogenic or terrestrial emissions. This quality makes the SO an ideal natural laboratory for studying pre-industrial climate conditions and the interactions between aerosols, clouds, and precipitation.

A recent study published in Nature delves into the intricacies of aerosol removal by precipitation. Researchers from Monash University, the Australian Research Council, and other institutions analyzed several years of observational data from the Kennaook/Cape Grim Observatory in Tasmania. They focused on two distinct cloud patterns: open puffy mesoscale cellular convection (MCC) and closed flat MCC. Here are the key takeaways from the study:

Key Findings

  • Cloud Type and Rainfall: The study found that open, puffy clouds produced heavier and more frequent rainfall (1.72 mm per day, occurring around 17% of the time) compared to closed, flat clouds (0.29 mm per day, occurring only 4.5% of the time).

  • Connection to Air Quality: Surprisingly, the researchers observed lower levels of tiny particles (called cloud condensation nuclei or CCN) in the air during periods when open, puffy clouds dominated (69 particles per cubic centimeter) compared to when closed, flat clouds dominated (89 particles per cubic centimeter). This suggests that the heavier rainfall from open clouds may be “cleaning out” the atmosphere through a process called wet deposition.

  • Seasonal Variations: The inverse relationship between rainfall and CCN levels held true across different seasons, with the most pristine air observed during the winter months when open clouds dominated. The study also noted that open clouds were most frequent during the winter. These cycles suggest a robust interplay between the oceanic emissions and the atmospheric conditions over the year.

  • Weather Influences: The study highlighted the crucial role played by weather factors, such as atmospheric stability and surface air pressure patterns, in influencing the cloud shape, rainfall rates, and ultimately, the observed CCN levels.

  • Daily Cycle: Interestingly, while rainfall peaked in the early morning hours, the CCN cycle was out of phase, suggesting that weather factors, rather than CCN levels, were the primary drivers of the daily rainfall cycle.

These findings underscore the complex interplay between clouds, precipitation, and aerosols in the remote Southern Ocean region. The study suggests that the heavier precipitation from open cellular cloud patterns may be removing or washing out more particles from the atmosphere.

Implications for Climate Models

The detailed observation of wet deposition mechanisms and their interaction with CCN offers valuable insights into cloud formation and precipitation processes. These insights help refine climate models, particularly in predicting the radiative balance and hydrological responses of the earth’s system under varying climatic conditions.

Final Thoughts

Understanding how aerosols, clouds, and precipitation interact over the Southern Ocean is important because it helps improve climate models, making them better at predicting weather and climate changes. This is important for humanity to enhance our ability to prepare for and adapt to future environmental changes and extreme weather events, which can have significant impacts on agriculture, water resources, and overall human well-being.

Source: Alinejadtabrizi, T., Lang, F., Huang, Y., Ackermann, L., Keywood, M., Ayers, G., Krummel, P., Humphries, R., Williams, A. G., Siems, S. T., & Manton, M. (2024). Wet deposition in shallow convection over the Southern Ocean. npj Climate and Atmospheric Science.

Exposing the Climate Giants: The Impact of Carbon Majors on Global Emissions

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Pollution emitter. Photo by Marcin Jozwiak on Unsplash

Carbon Majors: 57 fossil fuel and cement producers linked to 80% of global fossil CO2 emissions since the Paris Agreement

The Carbon Majors Database: Launch Report, a new comprehensive analysis conducted by InfluenceMap sheds light on the substantial impact that a small group of carbon-producing entities has on global CO2 emissions. This enlightening study traces back to 1854, identifying 117 producers responsible for a staggering 88% of global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and cement between 2016 and 2022. This revelation comes post-Paris Agreement, underscoring the paradox of increased fossil fuel production amidst global pledges for emission reduction.

The Carbon Majors Database

The Carbon Majors Database, initially developed by Richard Heede of the Climate Accountability Institute and now hosted by InfluenceMap, offers an astonishing look into the historical emissions of the world’s largest oil, gas, coal, and cement producers. By categorizing these entities into investor-owned, state-owned, and nation-states, the database highlights the disproportionate role these entities play in driving global CO2 emissions.



Top 10 entities global fossil CO2 emitters historically (1854–2022) and since Paris Agreement (2016–2022). Source: The Carbon Majors Database Launch Report, April 2024 by InfluenceMap.

The database reveals that 57 corporate and state entities linked to fossil fuel and cement production are responsible for 80% of the global emissions from 2016 through 2022. This period, notably after the Paris Agreement, has seen most fossil fuel companies ramp up their production, indicating a glaring misalignment with global climate goals.

The analysis underscores a troubling trend: the majority of fossil fuel companies have increased their production post-Paris Agreement, with a notable rise in emissions from Asian and Middle Eastern producers. This contradicts the global consensus on reducing fossil fuel dependence to mitigate climate change impacts.

Accountability and Climate Change

The report’s findings have implications in legal, regulatory, and academic contexts, offering a basis for holding fossil fuel producers accountable for their climate-related impacts. It emphasizes the need for corporate entities to align their operations with climate science and contribute to global emission reduction efforts.

A key insight from the report is the shift in coal production from investor-owned to state-owned entities, contributing to an increase in global coal consumption. This shift poses challenges to global emission reduction efforts, highlighting the need for comprehensive policies to address state-owned entities’ roles in coal production.

The report provides a granular look at emissions trends across different regions, with Asia and the Middle East experiencing significant increases in fossil fuel production and emissions. Conversely, North America and Europe show a more moderate trend, reflecting diverse global approaches to energy production and climate policy.

Final Thoughts

The Carbon Majors Report is a clarion call for immediate action against the entities most responsible for the climate crisis. There is an urgent need for global cooperation to halt the expansion of fossil fuel production and ensure a just transition to renewable energy sources. It underscores the imperative of global cooperation and corporate accountability in the pursuit of a sustainable future, emphasizing the role of data-driven analysis in informing policy and advocacy efforts.

Source: The Carbon Majors Database Launch Report, April 2024 by InfluenceMap.

Insights into the Thirst of the Southwest

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Colorado River as it meanders south towards the Grand Canyon, taken near to Horse Shoe Bend AZ. Source: herdiephoto, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Insights from a New Comprehensive Water Accounting Study

The Colorado River, a lifeline for over 40 million people and over two million hectares of cropland, barely trickles into the Gulf of California’s shores. The river has reached a critical juncture due to decades of overuse and climate challenges.

A new study published in Nature provides a comprehensive water budget, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of water consumption and offering a roadmap toward sustainable management. The river’s dwindling flows underscore a pressing need for strategic interventions to ensure its survival and continued support for millions of people and vast agricultural lands.

The Heart of the Matter

The multi-year study conducted between 2000 and 2019, provides a granular analysis of water usage patterns, pinpointing agriculture as the dominant consumer. The findings indicate that irrigated agriculture accounts for a staggering 74% of direct human water use, with cattle feed crops such as alfalfa and grass as significant water guzzlers, accounting for 46% of direct water consumption.

Consumptive

Water consumed by each sector in the Colorado River Basin and sub-basins (including exports), based on 2000–2019 averages from the study New water accounting reveals why the Colorado River no longer reaches the sea (Fig. 4).

The Colorado River’s Dilemma

The Colorado River’s plight tells a tale of natural variability alongside a stark reflection of human choices and their impacts on natural resources. The study’s revelations about the scale of agricultural water use, especially for cattle feed, invite a critical reassessment of water allocation priorities and the sustainability of current agricultural practices.

Navigating the Waters Ahead

Addressing the Colorado River’s challenges requires a multifaceted approach, combining policy reforms, technological innovations, and shifts in agricultural practices. The study advocates for a balanced water budget and the adoption of water-efficient technologies and crops.

With cattle feed crops utilizing a considerable portion of the river’s water, the study suggests reevaluating crop choices and water use efficiency. Implementing more sustainable practices, including alternative cropping patterns and enhanced irrigation techniques, could substantially reduce water stress. Moreover, it underscores the importance of collaborative water management strategies involving all stakeholders to ensure equitable and sustainable use.

Final Thoughts

The Colorado River’s diminishing flows serve as a wake-up call to address the unsustainable patterns of water consumption that threaten this critical water source. The comprehensive study lays the groundwork for informed decision-making, urging immediate action to safeguard the river’s future. Through collective efforts and sustainable practices, there is hope for restoring the balance and ensuring the Colorado River continues to sustain the Southwest for future generations.

Source: Richter, B.D., Lamsal, G., Marston, L. et al. New water accounting reveals why the Colorado River no longer reaches the sea. Commun Earth Environ 5, 134 (2024).