Discourse for all interested in all things air-quality related
If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us one thing, it is we have it within us to change behavior to effect a positive outcome. Probably the most emblematic example is cleaner air as a byproduct of reduced travel that is directly connected and attributed to shelter-in-place/self-isolation procedures. We are regularly made aware through the media … Read more
The below Jul. 16, 2020 press release is from the Center for Biological Diversity. A federal judge late yesterday reinstated the Bureau of Land Management’s 2016 methane waste rule, aimed at protecting people and the climate from methane waste and pollution from oil and gas extraction on public lands. The ruling is the third defeat … Read more
Between roughly 1850 and the present day, the trend in global mean surface temperature (GMST) has, generally speaking, been positive, meaning the GMST has been rising. Interestingly, though, from 1940 to 1980 GMST stabilized. (See temperature plot at bottom). Incidentally, as reported by NASA’s Earth Observatory the GMST has increased a total of 0.7 degrees … Read more
The below Jul. 22, 2020 press release is from OptiFuel Systems OptiFuel Systems (“OptiFuel”), a system integrator of Cummins and BAE Systems hybrid power products for decarbonizing the rail, marine, and microgrid power market, is in the process of finalizing a $2.6 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant to demonstrate a pre-production Renewable Natural … Read more
The Fresno Bee on Dec. 16, 2007 introduced its groundbreaking Special Report Fighting For Air. This source was referenced here before. Its mention is important from the standpoint that at that time air quality in California’s Central Valley was a big deal. And just how big a deal was it? Between 2004 and 2007, according … Read more
There are those who rail against California’s bullet-train project asserting that the system will require subsidization. They argue that there isn’t enough available capital even to fund construction of 119 miles of line between Shafter and Madera, much less build 520 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles and Anaheim (the complete Phase 1 portion). … Read more
The below Jul. 8, 2020 press release is from the World Meteorological Organization. The annual mean global temperature is likely to be at least 1° Celsius above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900) in each of the coming five years (2020-2024) and there is a 20% chance that it will exceed 1.5°C in at least one year, according … Read more
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a view is worth a thousand pictures, handily! And, what does this all have to do with, exactly?! Quality is what we’re talking about and what the implications of view and view quality are on quality of air. And, that’s it? That’s it. So, what are … Read more
So a check of the fine particulate matter in Central Fresno on the evening of Jul. 4, 2020 indicates microscopic specks of soot, chemicals and liquid droplets in air measured 150 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) at 10 p.m. corresponding to a ROAR (Real-time Outdoor Activity Risk) Level 5 reading – meaning Very Unhealthy air. … Read more
In 2014 on American roadways, a total 3.0257 trillion vehicle miles of travel were recorded. Of that amount, 169.83 billion miles that year were tallied in heavy-duty trucks.1 Assuming the calculation is correct, that’s 5.612 percent. In California in 2014, meanwhile, driving miles totaled 332.8572 billion or 11 percent of the 3.0257 trillion total miles … Read more