NASA published a study today on several global impacts from reducing black carbon and methane in the atmosphere. Click on the graphic, or follow this link for the url. The url presents the major findings which includes several interactive charts.
A new study led by a NASA scientist highlights 14 key air pollution control measures that, if implemented, could slow the pace of global warming, improve health and boost agricultural production. The research, led by Drew Shindell of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City, finds that focusing on these measures could slow mean global warming 0.9 ºF (0.5ºC) by 2050, increase global crop yields by up to 135 million metric tons per season and prevent hundreds of thousands of premature deaths each year. While all regions of the world would benefit, countries in Asia and the Middle East would see the biggest health and agricultural gains from emissions reductions.
"We've shown that implementing specific practical emissions reductions chosen to maximize climate benefits would also have important 'win-win' benefits for human health and agriculture," said Shindell. The study was published today in the journal Science.
Shindell and an international team considered about 400 control measures based on technologies evaluated by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Laxenburg, Austria. The new study focused on 14 measures with the greatest climate benefit. All 14 would curb the release of either black carbon or methane, pollutants that exacerbate climate change and damage human or plant health either directly or by leading to ozone formation.
The first interactive chart shows how much 14 control measures that would limit black carbon and methane emissions would offset global warming. The second interactive chart shows how many deaths per 100,000 people 14 control measures would prevent in each country. The third interactive graphic shows how reductions in methane and black carbon emissions would improve agricultural output around the world.
The findings of the study are presented with links to additional sources at the bottom.
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