Discourse for all interested in all things air-quality related
Trackless trains by definition have no wheels nor do they rely on rails upon which railroad wheels roll, as is the case with conventional rail systems, the exception being the Tubular Rail passenger application, in this case the understanding being that the plan is to employ rails (and rollers which, according to the plan, are … Read more
Interesting displays at this year’s 25th Conference of the Parties conference on global warming and climate change being held in Madrid, Spain, between Dec. 2nd and the 13th, are the air pollution and climate change pods that people can pass through enabling them to have a first-hand look at what 90 percent of the world’s … Read more
The below Nov. 27, 2019 press release from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Hospitalizations for several common diseases—including septicemia (serious bloodstream infection), fluid and electrolyte disorders, renal failure, urinary tract infections, and skin and tissue infections—have been linked for the first time with short-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5), according to a … Read more
From wood and coal and oil (for steam generation) to electricity, gasoline, diesel, liquefied natural gas, linear induction, magnetic levitation, vacuum tube and hydrogen propulsion (did I miss any?) the world of train-power generation has experienced it all. What we’re talking about here are generations of train-propulsion techniques, some of which were tried but never … Read more
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) way back on Jan. 24, 2019 released its Annual Energy Outlook 2019 with projections to 2050 (AEO2019) report. From a related press release, the EIA announced, “The AEO2019 Reference case projects that in 2020, for the first time in almost 70 years, the United States will export more energy … Read more
It’s incredible! We 221.71 million American motorists in 2016, with our roughly 268.8 million motor vehicles, each drove an average 14,317.7 miles. Meanwhile, in narrowing the focus, recent related Federal Highway Administration data show male drivers between ages 35 and 54 drive the most; in this case, a total annual average 18,858 miles, with the … Read more
A concluding thought in “Road expansion or repair: Can either do anything to lower burden on air?” (Part 1) had to do with whether road-based projects – expansion or repair thereof – could have “an air-remedying effect.” Affirmative is the answer. Though “yes,” it’s conditional. A new overpass used to replace a physical intersection, for … Read more
According to information discussed in the Oct. 13, 2019 edition of the Maddy Report (the Maddy Report is a T.V. program broadcast on the local ABC affiliate in Fresno), about one percent of the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contribution comes from California. Now that may not seem like a lot, but, astonishingly, when considered … Read more
Despite there being a wealth of disappointing news lately having to do with environmental matters, one can take heart in knowing that not all news making the rounds related to the environment in this day and age is bad. Some of it is even downright good. As a case in point, the American Council for … Read more
Each year since 2000 the American Lung Association has released its annual “State of the Air” report. The purpose of such is to bring to the attention of the public and others the condition or “state” of air in America. Part of the report deals with American cities known for having the poorest quality air … Read more