"What is the Best way to turn plants into fuel?"
Similar graphs and posts..
Oil price at which fuel sources become economically viable
Financial Times, December 21, 2008
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Miles per Acre of Biomass (Scientific American)
In Scientific American, May 7th, 2009
"What is the Best way to turn plants into fuel?"
Similar graphs and posts..
Oil price at which fuel sources become economically viable
Financial Times, December 21, 2008
"What is the Best way to turn plants into fuel?"
Similar graphs and posts..
Oil price at which fuel sources become economically viable
Financial Times, December 21, 2008
Friday, May 08, 2009
Beijing Announces Cleanest Month in 9 Years?
May 14th, 2009. Note:
Thanks to Vance for flagging the editorial mistake by China Daily. This is the "cleanest April" in 9 years.
**********
Blue Skies are Shining on Beijingers ! says China Daily
The city experienced 23 blue sky days in April, 2009 (a blue sky day = day with API less than 100).
Question: Why is this the cleanest month in 9 years,
August 2008, 30 days with average API of 56;
September, 2008, 29 days with average API of 56;
August 2006, 30 days with average API of 74;
and April 2009, 23 days with average API of 84?
See statistical Beijing Air Pollution Index (API) analysis @ Room with a View
Also see
Thanks to Vance for flagging the editorial mistake by China Daily. This is the "cleanest April" in 9 years.
**********
Blue Skies are Shining on Beijingers ! says China Daily
The city experienced 23 blue sky days in April, 2009 (a blue sky day = day with API less than 100).
Question: Why is this the cleanest month in 9 years,
August 2008, 30 days with average API of 56;
September, 2008, 29 days with average API of 56;
August 2006, 30 days with average API of 74;
and April 2009, 23 days with average API of 84?
See statistical Beijing Air Pollution Index (API) analysis @ Room with a View
Also see
- Air Quality Monitoring in Asia
- Air Quality Index in Urban Centers
- Environmental assessment of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (UNEP)
- Dust Storms, Fires, and Haze Pollution in Asia
- Particulate Pollution in Asia
- Articles on air pollution and climate on "China Dialogue"
- More new cars are registered in 2009 in Beijing, China
- Transport Emissions Inventory for China
- Photo Diary of Air Pollution in Beijing
- Sensing air quality in Beijing (Interactive Maps)
- Beijing still hazy !!
- Air pollution in Beijing
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
2 Wheels & 2 Legs are Greener !!
That's for motorcycles and the non-motorized transport (NMT). One cannot get more efficient at burning fuel than a motorcycle (fossil or electric) and the NMT is "zero emissions".
US Administration announced a stimulus package of $1.8 billion to make greener biofuels. Why not use those funds to promote NMT or public transport?
Get out of the cars. The air pollution (and other emissions linked to climate change)
is severe along the corridors and worse during the rush hours, mostly due to congestion and idling emissions. A lot of energy is wasted every where, in US, China, Europe, India, and the rest of the World.
Latest article in the Economist, praised the efforts of China in promoting the electric motor cycles, which provide 30-50 kilometers for a fraction of the cost of the fuel spent in the regular motorcycle. The charging takes 5-8 hours, depending on the battery power, but the travel is safer and faster than the regular bicycles, and the environment is clean.
Do we really need to the incentive to buy an electric car? UK Govt. announced a 5,000 pounds rebate for every electric car. Why not promote the NMT or safer ways to bike with that money? MP Challen wants the car manufacturers to carry an advertisement showing "the climate health warnings" of driving cars. Just get off the cars?
The program that is worth a mention is the bike share program in Europe - Paris, Lyon, Milan, etc., all with excellent service and people are one click away from becoming users.
In 2008, 21 million electric bicycles were sold in China. Were there any subsides involved? Chinese makers are also in the business plug-in hybrids, expecting to sell at least 400,000 in 2009.
Henry Li, the head of BYD Auto's export and trade division (China) says, "We are not trying to save the world, we are making money. Our strategy aims to give value to shareholders. If we can help the planet at the same time, all the better" and well positioned to be the World's Leader in electric cars (NY Times).
Watch Shai Agassi's bold plan to mass produce electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles, given enough supply to power them are not bad. They could reduce the noise levels in the neighborhood and increase property value. Clean environment, anyone?
Yes, we need to find ways to power these vehicles. Power plants are an option (in spite of Dr. Hansen saying no to them). As far as the air pollution is concerned, emissions of PM, SO2, NOx, and the likes are easy to control at a power plant than emitted at the ground level and into our noses, and causing more health damage. The pollution out of a power plant stack disperses farther than the emissions out of a car or a bus.
Mr. Penolosa (of Bogota) says, choose people over cars, NMT is the best and the city authorities need to promote these more.
US Administration announced a stimulus package of $1.8 billion to make greener biofuels. Why not use those funds to promote NMT or public transport?
Get out of the cars. The air pollution (and other emissions linked to climate change)
is severe along the corridors and worse during the rush hours, mostly due to congestion and idling emissions. A lot of energy is wasted every where, in US, China, Europe, India, and the rest of the World.Latest article in the Economist, praised the efforts of China in promoting the electric motor cycles, which provide 30-50 kilometers for a fraction of the cost of the fuel spent in the regular motorcycle. The charging takes 5-8 hours, depending on the battery power, but the travel is safer and faster than the regular bicycles, and the environment is clean.
Do we really need to the incentive to buy an electric car? UK Govt. announced a 5,000 pounds rebate for every electric car. Why not promote the NMT or safer ways to bike with that money? MP Challen wants the car manufacturers to carry an advertisement showing "the climate health warnings" of driving cars. Just get off the cars?
The program that is worth a mention is the bike share program in Europe - Paris, Lyon, Milan, etc., all with excellent service and people are one click away from becoming users.
In 2008, 21 million electric bicycles were sold in China. Were there any subsides involved? Chinese makers are also in the business plug-in hybrids, expecting to sell at least 400,000 in 2009.
Henry Li, the head of BYD Auto's export and trade division (China) says, "We are not trying to save the world, we are making money. Our strategy aims to give value to shareholders. If we can help the planet at the same time, all the better" and well positioned to be the World's Leader in electric cars (NY Times).
Watch Shai Agassi's bold plan to mass produce electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles, given enough supply to power them are not bad. They could reduce the noise levels in the neighborhood and increase property value. Clean environment, anyone?
Yes, we need to find ways to power these vehicles. Power plants are an option (in spite of Dr. Hansen saying no to them). As far as the air pollution is concerned, emissions of PM, SO2, NOx, and the likes are easy to control at a power plant than emitted at the ground level and into our noses, and causing more health damage. The pollution out of a power plant stack disperses farther than the emissions out of a car or a bus.
Mr. Penolosa (of Bogota) says, choose people over cars, NMT is the best and the city authorities need to promote these more.
Black Carbon to the Climate Change Rescue?
May 6th, 2009
In Guardian, "US climate change denier James Inhofe joins Al Gore in fight against soot", and his interest stems from the horrors of the impact of the black carbon on the poor families in Africa, while he still doesn't buy the idea of GHGs causing climate change.
This U-turn has anything to due to the fact that the new found science shifts the "climate change targets" and primary focus of the discussions to the poor stove users of Asia and Africa?
*****
April 16th, 2009
An interesting article in the New York Times by Elisabeth Rosenthal, "Third World Stove Soot is Target in Climate Fight", discusses the possibility of reducing a bulk of the current global warming potential by going after the soot (aka. black carbon) from the stoves in Asia and Africa.
The science behind the potential of black carbon in reducing the global warming and its immediate effects on the local health (primarily the Women and Children, via indoor air pollution in Asia and Africa, and partly to the outdoor air pollution) are unquestionable.
But, two points in the article,
1. In Asia and Africa, cookstoves produce the bulk of black carbon, although it also emanates from diesel engines and coal plants there. In the United States and Europe, black carbon emissions have already been reduced significantly by filters and scrubbers.
2. While carbon dioxide may be the No. 1 contributor to rising global temperatures, scientists say, black carbon has emerged as an important No. 2, with recent studies estimating that it is responsible for 18 percent of the planet’s warming, compared with 40 percent for carbon dioxide.
are questionable.
By claiming, 18% of the impact is from black carbon, and the majority is coming from Asia and Africa (see image posted on NYT above), sounds like the "blame game" in play, and downplaying all the diesel and coal use of the developed nations. How about the underestimation of the ship emissions (revised regulations by IMO)?
The figure below from Bond et al., (2004) depicts 1996 global black carbon emissions inventory from contained burning. When overlapped with population, the map makes sense, which is not the case for a similar CO2 emissions inventory map.
Yes for the climate change and making a case for it is important and is scientific, but at the end of the day, reducing black carbon in the rural sector will benefit the public health and it SHOULD remain the PRIMARY indicator, as rightly concluded by Dr. Ramanathan at the end of the article.
While the solar programs are innovative and clean (from black carbon), why isn't there a similar focus on the proven technologies, like scaling up of the LPG supply for the rural sector? The article talks about the pilots and testing of stove designs in the rural India, but isn't it about time that we have learnt enough to know what has worked in the past (see the web archive of information on the stoves using biomass fuels for the developing regions) and what will benefit the most and fast?
Some additional links to the data and articles on Black Carbon:
In Guardian, "US climate change denier James Inhofe joins Al Gore in fight against soot", and his interest stems from the horrors of the impact of the black carbon on the poor families in Africa, while he still doesn't buy the idea of GHGs causing climate change.
This U-turn has anything to due to the fact that the new found science shifts the "climate change targets" and primary focus of the discussions to the poor stove users of Asia and Africa?
*****
April 16th, 2009
An interesting article in the New York Times by Elisabeth Rosenthal, "Third World Stove Soot is Target in Climate Fight", discusses the possibility of reducing a bulk of the current global warming potential by going after the soot (aka. black carbon) from the stoves in Asia and Africa.
The science behind the potential of black carbon in reducing the global warming and its immediate effects on the local health (primarily the Women and Children, via indoor air pollution in Asia and Africa, and partly to the outdoor air pollution) are unquestionable.
But, two points in the article,
1. In Asia and Africa, cookstoves produce the bulk of black carbon, although it also emanates from diesel engines and coal plants there. In the United States and Europe, black carbon emissions have already been reduced significantly by filters and scrubbers.
2. While carbon dioxide may be the No. 1 contributor to rising global temperatures, scientists say, black carbon has emerged as an important No. 2, with recent studies estimating that it is responsible for 18 percent of the planet’s warming, compared with 40 percent for carbon dioxide.
are questionable.
By claiming, 18% of the impact is from black carbon, and the majority is coming from Asia and Africa (see image posted on NYT above), sounds like the "blame game" in play, and downplaying all the diesel and coal use of the developed nations. How about the underestimation of the ship emissions (revised regulations by IMO)?
The figure below from Bond et al., (2004) depicts 1996 global black carbon emissions inventory from contained burning. When overlapped with population, the map makes sense, which is not the case for a similar CO2 emissions inventory map.
Yes for the climate change and making a case for it is important and is scientific, but at the end of the day, reducing black carbon in the rural sector will benefit the public health and it SHOULD remain the PRIMARY indicator, as rightly concluded by Dr. Ramanathan at the end of the article.
While the solar programs are innovative and clean (from black carbon), why isn't there a similar focus on the proven technologies, like scaling up of the LPG supply for the rural sector? The article talks about the pilots and testing of stove designs in the rural India, but isn't it about time that we have learnt enough to know what has worked in the past (see the web archive of information on the stoves using biomass fuels for the developing regions) and what will benefit the most and fast?
Some additional links to the data and articles on Black Carbon:
- Air quality and health (WHO, 2008)
- Black Carbon pollution emerges as major player in global warming (Science Daily, March, 2008)
- Improving Carbon measurements in global climate studies (Science Daily, November, 2008)
- Evaluation of the costs and benefits of household energy and health interventions at global and regional levels (WHO, 2005)
- Scientists warn of soot effect on climate (Guardian, March, 2008)
- Black Carbon emissions reduction act (US Congress, 2009)
- Global Emissions Inventory of Black Carbon (Dr. Tami Bond, UIUC)
- A technology-based global inventory of black and organic carbon emissions from combustion (JGR, July, 2004)
- Carbonaceous aerosols in the industrial era (JGR, July, 2004)
- Climate Change: Information on Three Air Pollutants' Climate Effects and Emissions Trends (US GAO, April, 2003)
- Researcher's tracking China's Black Carbon (NOAA, February 2009)
- Inventory of Black Carbon emissions from China (2007)
- Black Carbon reductions could reverse arctic warming within weeks (Eco Worldly, April, 2009)
- New Fuels Technology Impacts: Black Carbon Emissions and Climate Change (October, 2004)
- Black Carbon emerges as major contributor to global warming (WRI, 2009)
- Solid fuel use and indoor air pollution (WRI, October, 2007)
- New air quality directive for EU nations (EU, 2008)
- Use of Black Carbon and Organic Carbon Inventories for Projections and Mitigation Analysis (US EPA, 2007)
- Effects of Anthropogenic Aerosol Particles and Their Precursor Gases on California and South Coast Climate (Dr. Jacobson, 2004)
- Jump starting climate protection: Laws for controlling Black Carbon (INECE, June, 2008)
- CO2 and black carbon offset trading store (Dr. Bond, 2004)
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Particulate Pollution in Asia: Part 1 (SIM-air Series)
A new working paper in the SIM Series, SIM 20-2009, "Particulate Pollution in Asia - Part 1: Multi-pollutant Modeling of Sources, Contributions, & Health Impacts"
This paper is intended to develop a broader perspective of understanding the air pollution mixture of fine and coarse particulates in Asia (with 2000 baseline) and aims to identify the information needed for a sound assessment of the impact of PM pollution on public health.
The modeling exercise was conducted for all of Asia using established multi-pollutant emissions inventory's, STEM eulerian dispersion model coupled with RAMS meteorological processor, and health impacts methodology in SIM-06-2008.
This paper is intended to develop a broader perspective of understanding the air pollution mixture of fine and coarse particulates in Asia (with 2000 baseline) and aims to identify the information needed for a sound assessment of the impact of PM pollution on public health.
The modeling exercise was conducted for all of Asia using established multi-pollutant emissions inventory's, STEM eulerian dispersion model coupled with RAMS meteorological processor, and health impacts methodology in SIM-06-2008.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Dust Storms, Fires, & Haze Pollution in Asia
Click on the images for the source link (NASA Earth Observatory).
Dust storm in Eastern China, April 24th, 2009
Dust storm in China/Mongolia, April 23rd, 2009
Haze over Sea of Japan, April 10th, 2009
Haze over Chengdu basin, China, March 21st, 2009
Forest Fires in Nepal, March 12th, 2009
Fires in Eastern India & Burma (Myanmar), March 09th, 2009
Fires in Burma, Thailand, and Laos, March 09th, 2009
Haze over Chengdu basin, China, February 24th, 2009
Haze collects over Bangladesh, January 20th, 2009
Haze over Eastern China, January 15th, 2009
Haze over Northern India, December 29th, 2008
Haze over Yellow Sea, China, December 02nd, 2008
Haze along Himalayas, November 16th, 2008
Haze along Himalayas, November 11th, 2008
Fires in Northern India, November 03rd, 2008
Haze along Himalayas, October 31st, 2008
Haze along Himalayas, October 04th, 2008
Dust storm in Afghanistan, September 7th, 2008
Haze over Eastern China, June 12th, 2008
Dust over Yellow Sea, China, May 21st, 2008
Haze over Northern Pacific, April 21st, 2008
Haze over India & Bangladesh, January 10th, 2008
Haze over Eastern China, November 06th, 2006
Dust storm in Eastern China, April 24th, 2009
Dust storm in China/Mongolia, April 23rd, 2009
Haze over Sea of Japan, April 10th, 2009
Haze over Chengdu basin, China, March 21st, 2009
Forest Fires in Nepal, March 12th, 2009
Fires in Eastern India & Burma (Myanmar), March 09th, 2009
Fires in Burma, Thailand, and Laos, March 09th, 2009
Haze over Chengdu basin, China, February 24th, 2009
Haze collects over Bangladesh, January 20th, 2009
Haze over Eastern China, January 15th, 2009
Haze over Northern India, December 29th, 2008
Haze over Yellow Sea, China, December 02nd, 2008
Haze along Himalayas, November 16th, 2008
Haze along Himalayas, November 11th, 2008
Fires in Northern India, November 03rd, 2008
Haze along Himalayas, October 31st, 2008
Haze along Himalayas, October 04th, 2008
Dust storm in Afghanistan, September 7th, 2008
Haze over Eastern China, June 12th, 2008
Dust over Yellow Sea, China, May 21st, 2008
Haze over Northern Pacific, April 21st, 2008
Haze over India & Bangladesh, January 10th, 2008
Haze over Eastern China, November 06th, 2006
Air Pollution Alerts - May 3rd, 2009
News & Information; Every Sunday
See the last issue on April 26, 2009
Planet Ark, April 23rd, 2009
Bangkok Beats London In Carbon Pollution.
Environmental Expert, April 27th, 2009
Air pollution monitoring market to rise 20% in 2010 due to greenhouse gas measurement needs.
NPR, April 27th, 2009
'Major Emitters' Meet in Washington DC To Tackle Climate Change.
Hindustan Times, April 25th, 2009
Have asthma? Spend some time in the sun.
Times of India, April 27th, 2009
Kolkata City Sinking into Solid Waste Morass.
Reuters, April 27th, 2009
U.S. pledges to make up for lost time in climate fight.
Reuters, April 27th, 2009
Global warming threatens economic chaos in SE Asia.
NewYorker, April 27th, 2009
In the Air by Elizabeth Kolbert.
CBS, April 28th, 2009
Air Pollution: What’s the Culprit?
Christian Science Monitor, April 27th, 2009
Is a bad economy good for the environment?
Guardian, April 27th, 2009
US admits responsibility for emissions to bring big polluters together.
NPR, April 26th, 2009
Reinventing the US Electric Power Grid.
Guardian, April 28th, 2009
Al Gore calls on world to burn less wood and fuel to curb 'black carbon'.
Citizen Times, April 29th, 2009
Air pollution, invasive species threaten Smokies environment.
Scientific American, April 29th, 2009
Turning Natural Gas Pollution into Gasoline.
Reuters, April 29th, 2009
China low-carbon path hard but doable.
Reuters, April 29th, 2009
World can burn 25 percent of oil, coal "safely".
Guardian, April 25th, 2009
The media laps up fake controversy over climate change.
Straits Times, April 24th, 2009
Sand Storms in Northern China.
KGET, April 29th, 2009
Kern has the most dangerous pollution in U.S.
Malaysia National News Agency, April 30th, 2009
Climate Change Hits Vietnam's Poorest Areas.
NPR, April 28th, 2009
EPA Administrator Optimistic About New Laws.
The Dispatch, April 30th, 2009
Polluters in poorer areas targeted.
Science Daily, April 30th, 2009
60 Percent Of Americans Live In Areas Where Air Is Dirty Enough To Endanger Lives.
Science Daily, April 30th, 2009
Climate Adds Fuel To Asian Wildfire Emissions.
Guardian, April 30th, 2009
A potential breakthrough in harnessing the sun's energy.
BBC, April 30th, 2009
In search of rainforests' El Dorado.
All Africa, April 29th, 2009
Nigeria: Danger of Fumes, Noise Pollution in Lagos.
This Day, April 29th, 2009
Any Alternatives to Gas-Generated Power.
NewYork Times, April 29th, 2009
Bringing Efficiency to the Infrastructure - Intelligent Traffic Management.
Thanhnien News, Vietnam, April 15th, 2009
Dust hazard threatens southern metro.
Atlanta, May 1st, 2009
Weather and traffic combine for bad air this time of year in Atlanta (Smog Season).
BBC, May 1st, 2009
Pollution kills '3,000 in a year' in London.
All Africa, May 1st, 2009
Nigeria: Odey Inaugurates Mobile Air Quality Monitoring Station.
April 30th, 2009
Is indoor air pollution really a problem?
CNN, April 28th, 2009
'Climate change' forces Eskimos to abandon village.
CNN, April 27th, 2009
U.S. no longer AWOL on climate change.
Detroit News, April 30th, 2009
Detroit's air among worst in U.S.
Press Telegram, April 30th, 2009
It's getting less smoggy in Los Angeles.
New York Times, April 30th, 2009
From Smokestacks to Your Tank.
Science Daily, May 1st, 2009
Landfill Cover Soil Methane Oxidation Underestimated.
Reuters, May 1st, 2009
China studying carbon tax ideas.
Guardian, May 1st, 2009
Q&A: Copenhagen climate change summit 2009.
Scientific American, April 29th, 2009
How Much Is Too Much?: Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Scientific American, May 1st, 2009
Study Links Air Pollution & Poisoned Seafood.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Q&A: Copenhagen Climate Change Summit 2009 (Guardian)
What does COP15 stand for?COP15 is the official name of the Copenhagen climate change summit — the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The COP is the highest body of the UNFCCC and consists of environment ministers who meet once a year to discuss developments in the convention.
Read the article in the Guardian, on May 1st, 2009.
Other questions discussed are..
- What is the Copenhagen climate change summit?
- Which countries are taking part in the climate change summit, and how many people will be there?
- Who are the main players?
- What does the summit hope to achieve?
- What are the sticking points?
In News, "Air Pollution Kills.."
Click HERE for an updated list.
See SIM-06-2008, for a methodology and resources (dose response functions) for "Estimating the Mortality and Morbidity due to Air Pollution".
The Nation, April 24th, 2009
Pollution Kills 55,000 in Pakistan every year.
NPR, April 22nd, 2009
Smog Deaths In 1948 Led To Clean Air Laws.
Guardian, April 20th, 2009
2,905 premature deaths in Greater London in 2005 were attributable to PM10.
Guardian, April 14th, 2009
Poor air quality contributes to between 12,000 and 24,000 premature deaths each year in UK.
BBC, April 12th, 2009
City Air Pollution Shorten's Life.
Gulf News, April 12th, 2009
Air pollution a major public health issue in UAE.
Guardian, April 9th, 2009
Up to 60,000 premature deaths a year worldwide are due to PM emissions from ocean-going ship engines.
Naples News, April 7th, 2009
Asthma has become explosive health problem in US.
IRIN, April 3rd, 2009
Air pollution choking Dhaka to 15,000 premature deaths a year.
AFP, March 22nd, 2009
Lethal air pollution booms in emerging nation.
The New Vision (Uganda), February 10th, 2009
Do we have to live with pollution?
IRIN, January 29th, 2009
Air pollution in Kabul may be hastening the death of over 3,000 people every year.
AFP, January 22nd, 2009
Hong Kong air pollution caused more than 6,600 premature deaths.
Salt Lake Tribune, January 16th, 2009
It's a scientific certainty: Dirty air kills people.
Manila Times, November 7th, 2008
Metro’s air pollution kills 5,000 annually.
Med Guru, October 06th, 2008
Ozone pollution is attributed to killing more than 1,500 Britons a year.
Telegraph, August 8th, 2007
Beijing's pollution sparks health worries.
World Bank, July 11th, 2007
The combined health and non-health cost of outdoor air and water pollution for China's economy comes to around $US100 billion a year.
ENS, October 6th, 2006
WHO says, air pollution in the world cities is causing some two million premature deaths every year.
BBC, February 21st, 2005
Air pollution is responsible for 310,000 premature deaths in Europe.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Climate Adds Fuel To Asian Wildfire Emissions (Science Daily)
A good review of the wild fires, their impact of local and global emissions in Asia, and the possible impact of Climate on these fires. This article is published on April 30th, 2009, in Science Daily.A team of NASA-sponsored researchers have used satellites to make the first series of estimates of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from these fires -- both wildfires and fires started by people -- in Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, and Papua New Guinea. They are now working to understand how climate influences the spread and intensity of the fires.
They used the carbon monoxide detecting Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument on NASA's Terra satellite -- as well as 1997-2006 fire data and research computer models -- to screen for and differentiate between carbon emissions from deforestation versus general emissions. Carbon monoxide is a good indicator of the occurrence of fire, and the amounts of carbon monoxide in fire emissions are related to the amount of carbon dioxide.
Also see
- Global Palm Oil Demand Fueling Deforestation
- Can "Sustainable" Palm Slow Deforestation?
- Amazon Forest Clearing for Sugarcane Production
- Indonesia's Fire & Haze - Cost of Catastrophes
- Biofuels could fuel rainforest destruction
- The cost of Biofuel boom is destroying the Indonesian forests
- In Search of Rainforests' El Dorado
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Hog Waste = Toxic Pollution (Local and Global)
This article was published in rolling stone in December 2006.
A very interesting read on the nature of pollution from pig farms in the United States, the level of contamination, and possible damages to the environment.
A lot of pig shit is one thing; a lot of highly toxic pig shit is another. The excrement of Smithfield hogs is hardly even pig shit: On a continuum of pollutants, it is probably closer to radioactive waste than to organic manure. The reason it is so toxic is Smithfield's efficiency. The company produces 6 billion pounds of packaged pork each year. That's a remarkable achievement, a prolificacy unimagined only two decades ago, and the only way to do it is to raise pigs in astonishing, unprecedented concentrations.
Industrial pig waste also contains a host of other toxic substances: ammonia, methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, cyanide, phosphorous, nitrates and heavy metals. In addition, the waste nurses more than 100 microbial pathogens that can cause illness in humans, including salmonella, cryptosporidium, streptocolli and girardia.
A very interesting read on the nature of pollution from pig farms in the United States, the level of contamination, and possible damages to the environment.
A lot of pig shit is one thing; a lot of highly toxic pig shit is another. The excrement of Smithfield hogs is hardly even pig shit: On a continuum of pollutants, it is probably closer to radioactive waste than to organic manure. The reason it is so toxic is Smithfield's efficiency. The company produces 6 billion pounds of packaged pork each year. That's a remarkable achievement, a prolificacy unimagined only two decades ago, and the only way to do it is to raise pigs in astonishing, unprecedented concentrations.
Industrial pig waste also contains a host of other toxic substances: ammonia, methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, cyanide, phosphorous, nitrates and heavy metals. In addition, the waste nurses more than 100 microbial pathogens that can cause illness in humans, including salmonella, cryptosporidium, streptocolli and girardia.
Average Vehicular Emission Factors for Air Pollution
Developing an emission inventory is a challenging exercise and the emission factors play the vital role in doing so. “Emission Factors”, by definition, represent the release of a pollutant due to combustion of fuel, with common units of gm/veh-km, under a variety of conditions, e.g., loaded and unloaded; idling; cold starts; and cruising.Introduction to VAPIS
An emission factor is typically established based on testing a number of vehicles (with varying age and mix) under conditions listed above, to arrive at an average number. Table below presents an average set of emission factors for major vehicular categories for three fuel types (2Ws = two wheelers, 3Ws = three wheelers, LDV = light duty commercial vehicles, HDT = heavy duty trucks).
This are average emission factors based on authors assumptions; using material from variety of sources.USE WITH DISCRETION.
(click on the image to enlarge numbers)
(for a calculator to develop a vehicular emissions inventory see VAPIS @ SIM-air)
(VAPIS = Vehicular Air Pollution Information System)
Access to local fleet specific emissions factors for inventory development is ideal.
Not all the cities in the developing world are equipped with testing facilities, which cost millions of dollars for establishment, operation, and maintenance. To view existing emission factor databases visit the VAPIS page.
A frequently asked question is the applicability of the borrowed or average emission factors. Emissions factors not only depend on the engine type, which could be common for many countries, but also local fuel quality, maintenance programs, road conditions, driving cycles, and driver’s behavior. This only increases the uncertainty of these factors established in a laboratory setting, where reality is assumed and simulated.
Where data is not available, use the average numbers comparing results from tests done vs. the vehicular technology in use, make appropriate corrections using the examples listed above (add deterioration factors, if necessary).
Where available, a considerable number of tests are being performed to establish these emission factors and where not available, cities are expected to make a close fit based on the mix of the vehicles and technology in use and and when the local factors are established, re-check the analysis.
Monday, April 27, 2009
New BRT Guide for Decision Makers & India
The US Federal Transit Authority issued a new handbook on the Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) for the Decision Making. This issue comes with examples and analysis on BRT applications from around the world and detailed guidelines for designing a BRT.BRT is a growing trend.
Personally, not a fan of BRT, but I am a fan of buses, but not opposed to the idea of a functional BRT, when designed and implemented right.
The cities of Bogota and Curitiba are revered examples and while the Latin American cities have been the pioneers at it, the remaining list of cities around the world are catching up fast.
In India, for a number of cities, the push for integrated urban transport management under the JNNURM funds, and there is a growing interest in BRT, due to its appeal to the local politicians, but it is important to better understand the system for effective and speedy implementation, especially to avoid the failures of Delhi, India (one report claims, it is as good as scrapped).
In Delhi, after two years of planning and construction, only a section of 5 km road was opened for piloting and immediately dubbed as the “corridor of chaos” (stirring a public furor).
In Pune, the pilot BRT program failed in 2007 and for all practical purposes has been discontinued.
In Delhi, despite the teething problems in the initial two months, negative press releases primarily focusing on the operational and design issues, the BRT system received good approval rating from the commuters in the past few months, primarily due to the improvement in the buses, convenience for the bus commuters, and the bus information sy
stems.However, the 5 km pilot is only a fraction of the proposed 120 km (picture to the right), which the local government body is expected to implement before the Commonwealth Games in 2010.
Still, a two year effort for 5 km of pilot, does NOT support the maths - money nor time.
In some cases, the BRT concept is considered a "euphemism" for road widening projects. For example, we can already see this happening at one junction in Delhi, "Chirag Delhi". The lane originally dedicated for cycling and walking, is now converted to a left only lane for cars. For the rest of the cycle lanes on the BRT project, motor cycles are dominating s
pace originally intended for non-motorized transport. The photo is taken from a 3 wheeler on the pedestrian lane.While the BRT is effective in improving the traffic conditions and creating opportunities to shift people from personal to public transport, one should consider if by just increasing the bus fleet and improving the inspection and maintenance program might create the same opportunities. This distinction and understanding of the local needs is necessary and might be cost effective, if an informed decision is made by the stakeholders.
When it comes to buses, the story is summarized in Times of India, February 8th, 2009, titled, "BRTS dream may go bust".
Tata and Ashok Leyland, together produce nearly 90 per cent of standard buses in the country but can barely deliver about 100 buses a month till they ramp up production.
Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has questioned if industry can meet this demand. Under normal market conditions, bus industry is geared to sell about 30,000 buses every year for entire country. And only a few hundred low-floor urban buses.
If each of the 3-5 million plus cities gear up to make most of the urban transport revival package offered by JNNURM and hope to add at least 2,000 buses each every year then it would mean a current requirement of 70,000 buses.
Also now, as per new JNNURM norms, bus industry will have to be prepared to produce not only standard buses but also low-floor buses which at 20 per cent come to a unprecedented 14,000 buses.
Bus industry should make the most of these funds and opportunity.. not to mention 70,000 reasons.. but too SLOW in ramping up?
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