Perspective
Optimising air quality co-benefits in a hydrogen economy: a case for hydrogen-specific standards for NOx emissions
Hydrogen may play a major role as an energy source to support net zero but combustion leads to emissions of NOx, a key air pollutant. Delivering optimal air quality co-benefits may need more ambitious hydrogen-specific emission standards developing.
Communication
Aerosol presence reduces the diurnal temperature range: an interval when the COVID-19 pandemic reduced aerosols revealing the effect on climate
DTRs from February to June during the COVID-19 pandemic are greater than 3 standard deviations above the climatological mean DTR.
Paper
Human health risk assessment of atmospheric mercury inhalation around three artisanal small-scale gold mining areas in Indonesia
To clarify the human health risk of inhalation of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), we measured GEM concentrations in three artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) areas of Palu (Central Sulawesi), Muara Aman (Benkulu in Sumatra), and Palangka Raya (Central Kalimantan).
Paper
Insights into HONO sources from observations during a solar eclipse
Nitrous acid (HONO) is a key precursor to the principal atmospheric oxidant OH. HONO measurements during a solar eclipse show little variation, implying the main HONO sources are photolytic, approximately balancing removal through photolysis.
Paper
A computationally efficient model to represent the chemistry, thermodynamics, and microphysics of secondary organic aerosols (simpleSOM): model development and application to α-pinene SOA
Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) constitute an important fraction of fine-mode atmospheric aerosol mass.
Paper
Insights into the molecular composition of semi-volatile aerosols in the summertime central Arctic Ocean using FIGAERO-CIMS
Molecular-level analysis of High Arctic aerosols sampled on a cruise to the North Pole shows: (1) a wide range of semi-volatile organic compounds, (2) no clear relationship between DMS oxidation products in the gas- and particle-phase
Paper
On-road emissions of Euro 6d-TEMP passenger cars on Alpine routes during the winter period
Vehicles show higher emissions at cold temperature. Nevertheless, emissions during real world tests can be below Euro 6d-TEMP requirements. The relatively high PN emissions from gasoline and PHEV vehicles indicate there is still room for improvement.
Paper
Peroxy radical kinetics and new particle formation
Chamber experiments may over emphasize peroxy radical cross reactions due to lower concentrations of reactants that directly convert OH into HO2.
Paper
Effect of aromatic ring substituents on the ability of catechol to produce brown carbon in iron(III)-catalyzed reactions
Our previous work demonstrated formation of highly insoluble and strongly light-absorbing organic particles in reactions between catechol or guaiacol with Fe(III) under pH = 3 conditions characteristic of aerosol liquid water.
Paper
Quenching of ketone triplet excited states by atmospheric halides
The photosensitized chemistry of three aromatic ketones (xanthone, flavone, and acetophenone) and also of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) arising from the photo-oxidation of naphthalene was investigated by means of transient absorption spectroscopy.
Paper
Near-canopy horizontal concentration heterogeneity of semivolatile oxygenated organic compounds and implications for 2-methyltetrols primary emissions
This study calls attention to the primary emissions of semivolatile oxygenated organic compounds (SV-OVOCs) and demonstrates how mapping out the near-canopy concentration can effectively isolate atmospheric SV-OVOC production from direct emissions.
About this collection
The Environmental Science Best Papers Initiative identifies a variety of excellent papers published in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Environmental Science journal family, showcasing great research from across the globe. To celebrate more of the great papers published in Environmental Science: Atmospheres during 2021 which really deserve recognition, we’ve gathered all nominated papers in this special collection.