Integrable utilization of intermittent sunlight and residual heat for on-demand CO conversion with water.

Abundant residual heat from industrial emissions may provide energy resource for CO conversion, which relies on H gas and cannot be accomplished at low temperatures. Here, we report an approach to store electrons and hydrogen atoms in catalysts using sunlight and water, which can be released for CO reduction in dark at relatively low temperatures (150-300 °C), enabling on-demand CO conversion. As a proof of concept, a model catalyst is developed by loading single Cu sites on hexagonal tungsten trioxide (Cu/WO).

An interpretable (explainable) model based on machine learning and SHAP interpretation technique for mapping wind erosion hazard.

Soil erosion by wind poses a significant threat to various regions across the globe, such as drylands in the Middle East and Iran. Wind erosion hazard maps can assist in identifying the regions of highest wind erosion risk and are a valuable tool for the mitigation of its destructive consequences. This study aims to map wind erosion hazards by developing an interpretable (explainable) model based on machine learning (ML) and Shapley additive exPlanation (SHAP) interpretation techniques.

Exogenous silicon facilitates safe crop production in cadmium-contaminated soils: A comprehensive meta-analysis.

Soil contamination by cadmium (Cd) is an increasing environmental concern that potentially jeopardizes both crop productivity and human health. Silicon (Si), the Earth's second most abundant element, has shown a significant potential in reducing Cd uptake by crops. However, there is still a lack of quantitative data on the beneficial effects of Si in reducing Cd toxicity, thereby making it more difficult to ensure safe crop production.

Effects of relative humidity on atmospheric organosulfur species derived from photooxidation and nocturnal chemistry in a forest environment.

The molecular composition of organic aerosols in ambient PM was investigated at the northern foothills of Qinling Mountain region in central China during the summer of 2022. The molecular characteristics of organic matter were analyzed using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry. The number of molecular formula assignments was dominated by organosulfur species (OrgS, on average 28-47% in total).

Historical record of heavy metals in the mollusk shells of the Nile Delta.

Identifying the baseline status and the timing of ecosystem disturbances are essential for restoration programs. The historical bioaccumulation of heavy metals was assessed from an 80-cm-long core from the Manzala Lagoon (Nile Delta). The heavy metal concentrations increased slightly upward and peaked around 1964, after the completion of Aswan High Dam.

Impacts of emission reduction and meteorological conditions on air quality improvement from 2016 to 2020 in the Northeast Plain, China.

The Northeast Plain in China ranks among the top five regions that have been significantly impacted by haze pollution. To effectively control pollution, it is crucial to accurately assess the effects of emission reduction measures. In this study, we analyzed surveillance data and found substantial decreases (ranging from 19.

Molecular-level insights into the leachates released from ultraviolet-aged biodegradable and conventional commercial microplastics and their mechanism of toxicity toward Chlorella pyrenoidosa.

Understanding the harmful effects of microplastics (MPs) and their derivatives is a priority in environmental study. However, the characteristics and toxic effects of leachates from MPs at the molecular-level remain unclear. Herein, two conventional commercial MPs [polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE)] and two biodegradable commercial MPs [polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate/PLA (PBAT/PLA)] were subjected to leaching under ultraviolet-irradiation, and their leachates were investigated.

Characteristics of Nocturnal Boundary Layer over a Subtropical Forest: Implications for the Dispersion and Fate of Atmospheric Species.

The nocturnal boundary layer (NBL) significantly influences the dispersion and fate of atmospheric species at night. Subtropical forests are crucial in carbon and water exchange between the biosphere and the atmosphere. However, the NBL characteristics and their impact on atmospheric species over these forests remain unknown.

Investigation of the Mechanism of Oxidative Potential Increase in Atmospheric Particulate Matter during Photoaging: Important Role of Aromatic Nitrogenous Compounds.

Particulate matter (PM) undergoing various aging processes in the atmosphere changes its toxicity. However, the mechanism of toxicity evolution is not fully clarified currently. This study demonstrates that photoaging promotes an increase in the oxidative potential (OP) of atmospheric PM by about 30%, and the increased OP is mainly attributed to the production of secondary organic compounds, while water-soluble metal ions contribute only 11%.

Persistently active El Niño-Southern Oscillation since the Mesozoic.

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), originating in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, is a defining mode of interannual climate variability with profound impact on global climate and ecosystems. However, an understanding of how the ENSO might have evolved over geological timescales is still lacking, despite a well-accepted recognition that such an understanding has direct implications for constraining human-induced future ENSO changes. Here, using climate simulations, we show that ENSO has been a leading mode of tropical sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the past 250 My but with substantial variations in amplitude across geological periods.

Rare earth elements in the upstream of Yangtze River Delta: Spatio-temporal distributions, sources and speciations.

With the development of high technology, the environmental pollution caused by rare earth elements (REEs) has gradually aroused social concern, especially the water environment. As a upstream tributary in Xin'an river basin, Fengle river has a decisive impact on the downstream Yangtze River Delta. In this study, the spatial and temporal distributions, sources and the speciations of REEs in surface water of wood, agriculture and industry regions of Fengle River in the two seasons were studied.

Comparison of aerosol number size distribution and new particle formation in summer at alpine and urban regions in the Guanzhong Plain, Northwest China.

Ultrafine particles play a crucial role in understanding climate change, mitigating adverse health effects, and developing strategies for air pollution control. However, the factors influencing the occurrence and development of new particle formation (NPF) events, as well as the underlying chemical mechanisms, remain inadequately explained. This study compared number concentrations and size distributions of atmospheric ultrafine particles at Xi'an (urban area) and the summit of Mt.

Diverse effects of climate changes and anthropogenic activities on sedimentary nitrogen isotope (δN) in lakes across different regions of China since the late Holocene.

Nitrogen plays a vital role in the Earth's systems. Nitrogen isotopes have been widely used in environmental and climatic research. Various biogeochemical processes and nitrogen sources contribute to the sedimentary organic matter.

Soil microbial community construction under revegetation in newly created land.

Revegetation represents the primary method for restoring the ecological balance of the Loess Plateau. The assessment of revegetation efficacy on degraded lands can be facilitated through the utilization of soil microorganisms as indicators. We chose Medicago sativa L.

The Pivotal Role of Heavy Terpenes and Anthropogenic Interactions in New Particle Formation on the Southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Aerosol particles originating from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) readily reach the free troposphere, potentially affecting global radiation and climate. Although new particle formation (NPF) is frequently observed at such high altitudes, its precursors and their underlying chemistry remain poorly understood. This study presents direct observational evidence of anthropogenic influences on biogenic NPF on the southeastern QTP, near the Himalayas.

Predominance of aminated water interfaces on transition-metal nanoparticulate to enhance synergetic removal of carbonyls and inhibition of CO production.

In the context of the air quality co-benefits of carbon neutrality, conventional strategies for the end-of-pipe control aimed at reducing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to carbon dioxide (CO) require a more realistic revision. This study explored the synergetic removal of carbonyls with low carbon emission by amine-functionalized manganese dioxide (MnO), obtained through a method involving freezing-thawing cycles. Molecular-level characterization revealed that an ordered array of interfacial water dimers (HO, a class of water-proton clusters) on the MnO surface enhanced the robust bonding of metal sites with amino groups.

Aromatic Nitration Enhances Absorption of Biomass Burning Brown Carbon in an Oxidizing Urban Environment.

Brown carbon (BrC) from biomass burning constitutes a significant portion of light-absorbing components in the atmosphere. Although the aging of BrC surrogates from biomass burning has been studied in many laboratory settings, BrC aging behavior in real-world urban environments is not well understood. In this study, through a combination of online dynamic monitoring and offline molecular characterization, the ambient optical aging of BrC was linked to its dynamic changes in molecular composition.