At nearly 55%, electricity generation in India is primarily through coal. So like in the case of the U.S and China, net reduction in carbon emission will not be much even when if there is large-scale adoption of electric vehicles in India. Still, cities and towns using electric vehicles in large numbers will see a reduction … Continue reading Cutting down tailpipe emissions with e-vehicles
Air pollution
Pollution reduces day time temperature during Indian summer monsoon
Increased aerosol loading in the atmosphere due to pollution has led to changes in the number, shape and characteristics of the rain-bearing clouds. The increased cloud reflectance has led to 1 degree C drop in day time temperature during Indian summer monsoon. At the same time, night time temperature is increasing thus shrinking the diurnal … Continue reading Pollution reduces day time temperature during Indian summer monsoon
IISER Pune makes novel anode for next-generation batteries in electric vehicles
Research at IISER Pune have synthesised a new type of anode material that offers promise of a battery that can be charged quickly and retain the charge for longer duration of travel, thus making frequent charging unnecessary for electric vehicles. The drop in charge even when the battery is charged rapidly is higher than graphite … Continue reading IISER Pune makes novel anode for next-generation batteries in electric vehicles
Decreased dust aerosol leads to reduced rainfall over north India
Even as aerosol loading is increasing at a rate of 3% annually, the quantum of dust aerosol over north India during the pre-monsoon period has reduced during the period 2000-2015. Reduced dust aerosol loading during pre-monsoon period might be reducing rainfall during early monsoon over north India. Though the aerosol burden over north India is … Continue reading Decreased dust aerosol leads to reduced rainfall over north India
Women in Kerala live 10 years longer than women in Uttar Pradesh
The first comprehensive analysis of the health of India’s 1.34 billion citizens has been published on November 14 in The Lancet. The study estimates the key drivers of ill health, disability, and premature death in all 29 States. It has analysed 333 diseases and injuries and 84 risk factor trends for each State between 1990 … Continue reading Women in Kerala live 10 years longer than women in Uttar Pradesh
At 2.51 million, India ranks number one in pollution deaths
Pollution has been responsible for most non-communicable disease deaths — heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). With 2.51 million premature deaths in 2015, India is ranked number one in pollution-related deaths. India accounted for about 28 per cent of an estimated 9 million pollution-linked deaths worldwide in 2015. China recorded the second highest number of … Continue reading At 2.51 million, India ranks number one in pollution deaths
Antarctic ice reveals that fossil fuel extraction leaks more methane than thought
Hinrich Schaefer, National Institute of Water and AtmosphericThe fossil fuel industry is a larger contributor to atmospheric methane levels than previously thought, according to our research which shows that natural seepage of this potent greenhouse gas from oil and gas reservoirs is more modest than had been assumed. In our research, published in Nature on … Continue reading Antarctic ice reveals that fossil fuel extraction leaks more methane than thought
As another smog season looms, India must act soon to keep Delhi from gasping
Vijay Koul, CSIRO "Smog chokes Delhi”, declared the the New York Times on November 7, 2016, informing readers around the world that contaminating particulates in the air in the Indian capital had “soared in some places to…more than 16 times the limit India’s government considers safe.” I was in Delhi at the time for my … Continue reading As another smog season looms, India must act soon to keep Delhi from gasping
Air pollutants reduce India’s solar power generation by 17%
In India, particulate matter deposited on solar panels and present in the ambient air is responsible for about 17% reduction in solar power generation. This translates to about 2 GW reduction in solar power production for about 12 GW installed solar power capacity in the country. India has set an ambitious renewable energy target of 175 GW by 2022. Particulate matter … Continue reading Air pollutants reduce India’s solar power generation by 17%
Euro VI diesel emission norms can avert nearly 174,000 premature deaths
Despite tighter nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission norms for diesel cars, buses and trucks in several countries, the actual amount of NOx emitted by diesel vehicles is far more during on-road driving conditions than under laboratory testing carried out at the time of certification. As a result, the excess NOx emitted over certification limits caused nearly … Continue reading Euro VI diesel emission norms can avert nearly 174,000 premature deaths
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