Search Results (3)

Accurate accounting of the partition between anthropogenic and biogenic carbon dioxide mixing ratios (CO_2Anth and CO_2Bio) in urban-based CO₂ measurements is key to developing effective emission reduction strategies since such measurements can provide an independent catalogue of local and regional CO₂ emission inventories. In an attempt to delineate the contribution of CO_2Bio to the overall urban CO₂ mixing ratio enhancements, carbon monoxide (CO) was utilized as a tracer, following CO₂ and CO mixing ratio measurements using a wavelength-scanned cavity ring-down spectrometer (CRDS). These measurements were performed in Cookeville, TN, (36.1628° N, 85.5016° W), a medium-sized city within the Eastern Highland Rim region of the United States. Between the years 2017 and 2019, the average seasonal wintertime CO_2Bio mixing ratios varied between −0.65 ± 3.44 ppm and 0.96 ± 2.66 ppm. During the springtime, the observed CO_2Bio signals were largely negative while the CO_2Anth values were generally lower than the wintertime values. The contribution of CO from the isoprene oxidation reaction with the hydroxyl radical (OH) (CO_isoprene) to the overall CO enhancement during the growing season was estimated to be ~17–27 ppb, underscoring the importance of considering the contribution of CO_isoprene to untangling different CO_2Anth and CO_2Bio sources and sinks in high isoprene-emitting urban environments. Full article

Mare Frigoris is the fifth largest and almost northernmost mare located on the near side of the Moon. Mare Frigoris has an elongated shape, with a length of approximately 1500 km and a width of approximately 200 km, which makes it susceptible to becoming contaminated by the impact ejecta from the nearby highlands. Comparatively speaking, microwave radiometer (MRM) data have good penetration capabilities. Therefore, the MRM data from Chang’e-2 satellite were employed to study the volumetric thermal emission features of basaltic deposits in Mare Frigoris. Combining the MRM data with the basaltic units with FeO and TiO₂ abundances identified using the small crater rim and ejecta probing (SCREP) methodology and with the gravity from Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL), the four potential conclusions that were obtained are as follows: (1) The MRM data are strongly related to the (FeO + TiO₂) abundance of pristine basalts and are less influenced by ejecta contamination; (2) in every quadrant of Mare Frigoris, the (FeO + TiO₂) abundance of the basalt decreases with an increase in age; (3) at least in Mare Frigoris, the main influencing factor regarding the brightness temperature remains the (FeO + TiO₂) abundance of surface deposits; (4) a warm microwave anomaly was revealed in the western-central and eastern-central areas of Mare Frigoris which has a strong relationship with the positive Bouguer gravity anomaly derived from GRAIL data in terms of spatial distribution. The results are significant in the context of improving our understanding the basaltic igneous rock and thermal evolution of the Moon using MRM data. Full article

A vision for the establishment of a Geopark in Jordan is given in this work, with a subsequent application to the UNESCO Global Geopark programme. The Dead Sea area and its surroundings have suffered strong changes in the last decades, accompanied by a variety of natural hazards related to enhanced erosional processes. The aspiring Geopark will thematically encompass the influence that these changes and related natural hazards, including flash floods and subsidence, have had on the local population, from geological, over historical up to recent times. The hydrogeology and geomorphology, i.e., the connection between erosion by water, dissolution of minerals, and landscape evolution, will be the main guiding theme that connects the Eastern Rim Highlands with the Dead Sea rift valley through ephemeral wadis, vegetated springs areas, and traditionally communities. The creation of the Geopark is aimed at holistic, sustainable development and management of the area by eco-tourism, and includes education on water resource management, hazard awareness and resilience, as well as international research. We here present the conceptual approach to the initial development of a Geopark network in Jordan. In a narrative discourse, we highlight realised and further implementation steps, with an evaluation of the expected timeline, potential partner institutions, regional involvement and the chances for realisation. Full article