Slashdot Mirror
NASA Satellite Finds 39 Unreported Sources of Toxic Air Pollution (phys.org)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Phys.Org: Using a new satellite-based method, scientists at NASA, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and two universities have located 39 unreported and major human-made sources of toxic sulfur dioxide emissions. A known health hazard and contributor to acid rain, sulfur dioxide (SO2) is one of six air pollutants regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The 39 unreported emission sources, found in the analysis of satellite data from 2005 to 2014, are clusters of coal-burning power plants, smelters, oil and gas operations found notably in the Middle East, but also in Mexico and parts of Russia. In addition, reported emissions from known sources in these regions were -- in some cases -- two to three times lower than satellite-based estimates. Altogether, the unreported and underreported sources account for about 12 percent of all human-made emissions of sulfur dioxide -- a discrepancy that can have a large impact on regional air quality, said Chris McLinden, an atmospheric scientist and lead author of the study. The co-author of the study, Nickolay Krotkov, says quantifying the sulfur dioxide bull's-eyes is a two-step process that would not have been possible without an improvement in the computer processing that transforms raw satellite observations from the Dutch-Finnish Ozone Monitoring Instrument aboard NASA's Aura spacecraft into precise estimates of sulfur dioxide concentrations, and the ability to detect smaller concentrations using a new computer program that precisely detects sulfur dioxide that had been dispersed and diluted by winds.
...they're all large pick-up trucks in Florida, modified to "roll coal".
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
The global warming cash is running out.
Next up, Acid Rain.
Who cares. As the republicans say: Fuck the planet, let God sort it out.
During soviet times, Russia was a far heavier polluter of the environment than the US, especially in the latter years of the cold war. China is still a massive polluter as well. I don't think the problem has to do with ideology.
The only solution to global warming is governments across the world agreeing. And so far in the history of the world, we haven't agreed to not kill each other yet.
If you kill everyone who disagrees...
These dudes in Mexico, Russia, and the Middle East are pumping out "one of six air pollutants regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency."
I'll bet those dudes are now worried about what happens next . . . next thing you know it, the U.S. President will give a speech subjecting them to a good scolding.
Eat a bag of dicks. Be more funny!
So far it's mostly the deniers whose pants are on fire.
Seriously, Middle East and Russia were 2 of the 3 main sources. Neither are going to change. Mexico MIGHT.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
You get to stand around, covered in blood, saying to yourself "At least I agree with me."
Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
One of the points of the satellite data is that even if countries agree, then it is is meaningless without enforcement. Sulfur dioxide causes bad things to happen downwind, across borders. Countries that have agreed to monitor and control their emissions are saying one thing ("Yes, we're following our agreement") and letting the companies (sometimes country owned) do something else. So, what is the agreement worth?
The more people I meet, the better I like my dog.
Because, you know, we can't allow America to be a super power anymore.
The article says: "In addition, reported emissions from known sources in these regions were -- in some cases -- two to three times lower than satellite-based estimates."
Does this mean "2 to 3 times greater", "1/2 to 1/3 lower", or "1/2 to 2/3 lower"?
This is exactly the sort of earth sciences and monitoring that the GOP in congress is trying to strip from NASA's (already woefully inadequate) budget when they say NASA should stick to space science and stop turning the cameras/instruments around to look back at the Earth.
The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.