Publications

Ozone and haze pollution weakens net primary productivity in China

Publication ID: pub.1085429131

Publication date: 16/05/2017

Keywords: Air Pollution; Beneficial and Detrimental Effects; Carbon Uptake; China; Damage; Direct; Earth System Modelling; Indirect; Land Ecosystems; Net Primary Productivity (NPP); Surface Ozone (O3)

Abstract. Atmospheric pollutants have both beneficial and detrimental effects on carbon uptake by land ecosystems. Surface ozone (O3) damages leaf photosynthesis by oxidizing plant cells, while aerosols promote carbon uptake by increasing diffuse radiation and exert additional influences through concomitant perturbations to meteorology and hydrology. China is currently the world’s largest emitter of both carbon […]

Charcoal evidence that rising atmospheric oxygen terminated Early Jurassic ocean anoxia

Publication ID: pub.1085390562

Publication date: 12/05/2017

Keywords: Animals; Aquatic Organisms; Atmosphere; Carbon; Charcoal; Earth, Planet; Ecosystem; Extinction, Biological; Fires; Fossils; Global; Oceans and Seas; Oxygen

The Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (T-OAE) was characterized by a major disturbance to the global carbon(C)-cycle, and depleted oxygen in Earth’s oceans resulting in marine mass extinction. Numerical models predict that increased organic carbon burial should drive a rise in atmospheric oxygen (pO2) leading to termination of an OAE after ∼1 Myr. Wildfire is highly responsive […]

Constraining the instantaneous aerosol influence on cloud albedo

Publication ID: pub.1085080810

Publication date: 26/04/2017

Keywords: Aerosols; Clouds; Global; Radiative Forcing

Much of the uncertainty in estimates of the anthropogenic forcing of climate change comes from uncertainties in the instantaneous effect of aerosols on cloud albedo, known as the Twomey effect or the radiative forcing from aerosol-cloud interactions (RFaci), a component of the total or effective radiative forcing. Because aerosols serving as cloud condensation nuclei can […]

Interactions of microplastic debris throughout the marine ecosystem

Publication ID: pub.1085005144

Publication date: 20/04/2017

Keywords: Altered Behaviours; Anthropogenic Pollutants; Bio-accummulation; Bioturbation; Carbon Flux; Deep Ocean; Density; Disposal; Ecocorona; Ecological Harm; Ecological Processes; Ecological Risk; Exposure; Global; Knock-on Effect; Marine Ecosystems; Microplastic; Science and Society; Surface Charge; Toxicity

Marine microscopic plastic (microplastic) debris is a modern societal issue, illustrating the challenge of balancing the convenience of plastic in daily life with the prospect of causing ecological harm by careless disposal. Here we develop the concept of microplastic as a complex, dynamic mixture of polymers and additives, to which organic material and contaminants can […]

Pilot test of a novel food response and attention training treatment for obesity: Brain imaging data suggest actions shape valuation

Publication ID: pub.1084936565

Publication date: 19/04/2017

Keywords: Adipose Tissue; Adult; Attention; Brain; Cues; Female; Functional Neuroimaging; Humans; Inhibition, Psychological; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Obesity; Overweight; Photic Stimulation; Pilot Projects; Psychomotor Performance; Psychotherapy; Reward; Young Adult

Elevated brain reward and attention region response, and weaker inhibitory region response to high-calorie food images have been found to predict future weight gain. These findings suggest that an intervention that reduces reward and attention region response and increases inhibitory control region response to such foods might reduce overeating. We conducted a randomized pilot experiment […]

Early benefits of mitigation in risk of regional climate extremes

Publication ID: pub.1084537628

Publication date: 03/04/2017

Keywords: Benefits of Mitigation; Climate Risk; Climate Variability; Emissions Reductions; Extreme Seasonal Temperatures; Global; Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Outcomes; Societies

It is unclear when the risk reduction benefits of mitigation will be detectable. This study shows for many regions a 50% reduction in the probability of extreme warm periods could be seen in 20 years, indicating near-term benefits of early mitigation.