Does green environmental innovation really matter for carbon-free economy? Nexus among green technological innovation,green international trade,and green power generation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study examines the association among the green energy production (GEP), green technological innovation (GTI), and green international trade (GIT)...     

Review on phase change materials for solar energy storage applications

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The energy storage application plays a vital role in the utilization of the solar energy technologies. There are various types of the energy storage...     

Cultivation modes and deficit irrigation strategies to improve 13C carbon isotope,photosynthesis, and winter wheat productivity in semi-arid regions

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Determining the effect of ridge-furrow cultivation mode on 13C carbon isotope discrimination, photosynthetic capacity, and leaf gas exchange...     

New particle formation observed from a rain shadow region of the Western Ghats,India

Abstract

This study reports on new particle formation (NPF) and characteristic features observed from a rural site falling in the rainshadow of the Western Ghats in peninsular India. A total of 35 NPF events observed during August 2018 - January 2019 are classified and analyzed here. The apparent formation rates ranged from 0.2 to 10.0?cm^–3 s^–1, while the growth rates of nucleation mode particles ranged from 1.2 to 13.8?nm h^–1. The frequency of occurrence was least during August (core monsoon) and highest during post-monsoon. The local winds were calm and southeasterly to easterly (from the urban centre) supplying the essential precursor gases during October and November, leading to a frequent occurrence of nucleation events. Observations suggest that an increased condensation sink could limit the NPF while promoting Aitken mode growth. The newly formed particles accounted for about 10–80% of the total aerosol concentration. These newly formed particles were able to act as cloud condensation nuclei after growing to approximately 50?nm with an average activation fraction of 0.4.     

Is Globalization Detrimental to CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Emissions in Japan? New Threshold Analysis

Using annual data from 1970 to 2014, this paper examines the effects of globalization on CO₂ emissions in Japan while accounting for economic growth and energy consumption as potential determinants of carbon emissions. The structural breaks and asymmetries arising due to policy shifts require attention, and hence, an asymmetric threshold version of the ARDL model is utilized. The results show the presence of threshold asymmetric cointegration between variables. Threshold-based positive and negative shocks arising from globalization increase carbon emissions, while the impact of the latter is more profound. Energy consumption (economic growth) also has a significant positive effect on carbon emissions. Globalization, economic growth, and energy consumption significantly increase carbon emissions in the short run. We suggest that policy makers in Japan consider globalization and energy consumption as policy tools in formulating their policies regarding protecting sustainable environmental quality in the long run. Otherwise, the Japanese economy may continue to face environmental consequences such as undesirable climate change and massive warming at the micro and macro levels as a result of potential shocks arising from globalization and energy consumption.     

Techno-economic feasibility of biogas generation in Attari village,Ferozepur road,Lahore

Attari Saroba is a village located on the Ferozepur road near Attari Darbar. This study assesses techno-economic feasibility for biogas production in Attari Saroba village using different tools for data collection. Since there was no waste management system in the village, the residents threw household waste in the streets and used the animal waste as the fertilizer, while the leftover waste was disposed off in heaps scattered around the village. This waste can be utilized to generate biogas that can be a renewable substitute for natural gas as natural gas is becoming scarce in our country and is suitable for home use in cooking and heating purposes. Thus, the objective of the study is to combat pollution by managing organic waste and to produce biogas by reusing waste in Attari Saroba through waste recycling process. The suggested type of digester for this area is dispersed growth, Chinese-type combined digester and gasholder. Two designs of different measurements were proposed due to varying family size. The residents were receptive to the idea of installing and maintaining digesters in their homes as they faced regular gas shortages in their area.     

Development of a nonlocal convective mixing scheme with varying upward mixing rates for use in air quality and chemical transport models

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: Asymmetrical convective non-local scheme (CON) with varying upward mixing rates is developed for simulation of vertical turbulent mixing in the convective boundary layer in air quality and chemical transport models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The upward mixing rate form the surface layer is parameterized using the sensible heat flux and the friction and convective velocities. Upward mixing rates varying with height are scaled with an amount of turbulent kinetic energy in layer, while the downward mixing rates are derived from mass conservation. RESULTS: This scheme provides a less rapid mass transport out of surface layer into other layers than other asymmetrical convective mixing schemes. DISCUSSION: In this paper, we studied the performance of a nonlocal convective mixing scheme with varying upward mixing in the atmospheric boundary layer and its impact on the concentration of pollutants calculated with chemical and air-quality models. This scheme was additionally compared versus a local eddy-diffusivity scheme (KSC). Simulated concentrations of NO(2) and the nitrate wet deposition by the CON scheme are closer to the observations when compared to those obtained from using the KSC scheme. CONCLUSIONS: Concentrations calculated with the CON scheme are in general higher and closer to the observations than those obtained by the KSC scheme (of the order of 15-20%). Nitrate wet deposition calculated with the CON scheme are in general higher and closer to the observations than those obtained by the KSC scheme. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: To examine the performance of the scheme, simulated and measured concentrations of a pollutant (NO(2)) and nitrate wet deposition was compared for the year 2002. The comparison was made for the whole domain used in simulations performed by the chemical European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme Unified model (version UNI-ACID, rv2.0) where schemes were incorporated.     

Pyrolysis of virgin and waste polypropylene and its mixtures with waste polyethylene and polystyrene

A comparison of waste and virgin polypropylene (PP) plastics under slow pyrolysis conditions is presented. Moreover, mixtures of waste PP with wastes of polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) were pyrolyzed under the same operating conditions. Not only the impact of waste on degradation products but also impacts of the variations in the mixing ratio were investigated. The thermogravimetric weight loss curves and their derivatives of virgin and waste PP showed differences due to the impurities which are dirt and food residues. The liquid yield distribution concerning the aliphatic, mono-aromatic and poly-aromatic compounds varies as the ratio of PP waste increases in the waste plastic mixtures. In addition to this, the alkene/alkane ratio of gas products shows variations depending on the mixing ratio of wastes.     

Pesticides in shallow groundwater of Bahawalnagar, Muzafargarh, D.G. Khan and Rajan Pur districts of Punjab, Pakistan

In Pakistan there is little data on environmental contamination of rural water sources by pesticides. This study evaluated pesticide contamination of groundwater in four intensive cotton growing districts. Water samples were collected from 37 rural open wells in the areas of Bahwalnagar, Muzafargarh, D.G. Khan and Rajan Pur districts of Punjab and analysed for eight pesticides which are mostly used. Information on types of pesticide used and distance to nearest pesticide mixing area and application areas was obtained for each site. From the eight pesticides analysed, six pesticides were detected in the water samples. Only cypermethrin and cabosulfan were not detected. The percentage of detection of bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, carbofuran, endosulfan, methyl parathion and monocrotophos was, respectively 13.5%, 5.4%, 59.4%, 8%, 5.4% and 35.1% in July; 16.2%, 13.55%, 43.2%, 8%, N.D. (not detected) and 24.3% in October. Maximum contamination levels (MCLs) established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water were not exceeded. The study has shown the need for monitoring pesticide contamination in rural water resources, and the development of drinking water quality standards for specific pesticides in Pakistan. The conclusions and recommendations will be disseminated to senior decision makers in central and local governments, extension agents and farmers.