* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Entertainment Community Fund Launches Program Supporting Entrepreneurs – Playbill

    Entertainment Community Fund Unveils Exciting New Program to Empower Entrepreneurs

    Behind the turntables: DJ Johnny Kage’s story of perseverance – yahoo.com

    Behind the Turntables: DJ Johnny Kage’s Inspiring Journey of Perseverance

    The other WWE star James Gunn wanted for Peacemaker instead of John Cena – yahoo.com

    The WWE Star James Gunn Originally Wanted for Peacemaker Instead of John Cena

    Quinta Brunson, John Stamos Join Entertainment and Technology Summit – Variety

    Quinta Brunson and John Stamos to Headline Thrilling Entertainment and Technology Summit

    ‘Breaking Bad’ star arrested for incident with neighbor. Here’s the latest – PennLive.com

    Breaking Bad’ Star Arrested Following Neighbor Dispute: Latest Updates

    Palmetto Sports & Entertainment to air Columbia Fireflies playoff games – WIS News 10

    Catch Every Thrilling Moment: Palmetto Sports & Entertainment to Broadcast Columbia Fireflies Playoff Games!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Aston Martin to integrate Pirelli’s cyber tyre technology in future models – Just Auto

    Aston Martin to Revolutionize Future Models with Pirelli’s Cutting-Edge Cyber Tyre Technology

    Figure Technology’s stock sizzles after IPO, as investors stay hungry for crypto deals – MarketWatch

    Figure Technology’s Stock Skyrockets After IPO Amid Surging Crypto Investor Excitement

    AI is the ‘most transformational technology’ in our lifetime, AMD CEO argues – Fox Business

    AMD CEO Declares AI the Most Transformative Technology of Our Era

    PAR Technology (PAR) Unveils AI-Powered Assistant Enhancing Restaurant Operations and Customer Engagement – simplywall.st

    PAR Technology Unveils AI-Powered Assistant to Revolutionize Restaurant Operations and Boost Customer Engagement

    Lincoln Laboratory technologies win seven R&D 100 Awards for 2025 – MIT News

    Lincoln Laboratory Technologies Secure Seven Prestigious R&D 100 Awards for 2025

    ASE Technology (ASX) Hits Record High on AI Fuel – uk.finance.yahoo.com

    ASE Technology Rockets to New Heights Driven by Game-Changing AI Breakthroughs

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Entertainment Community Fund Launches Program Supporting Entrepreneurs – Playbill

    Entertainment Community Fund Unveils Exciting New Program to Empower Entrepreneurs

    Behind the turntables: DJ Johnny Kage’s story of perseverance – yahoo.com

    Behind the Turntables: DJ Johnny Kage’s Inspiring Journey of Perseverance

    The other WWE star James Gunn wanted for Peacemaker instead of John Cena – yahoo.com

    The WWE Star James Gunn Originally Wanted for Peacemaker Instead of John Cena

    Quinta Brunson, John Stamos Join Entertainment and Technology Summit – Variety

    Quinta Brunson and John Stamos to Headline Thrilling Entertainment and Technology Summit

    ‘Breaking Bad’ star arrested for incident with neighbor. Here’s the latest – PennLive.com

    Breaking Bad’ Star Arrested Following Neighbor Dispute: Latest Updates

    Palmetto Sports & Entertainment to air Columbia Fireflies playoff games – WIS News 10

    Catch Every Thrilling Moment: Palmetto Sports & Entertainment to Broadcast Columbia Fireflies Playoff Games!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Aston Martin to integrate Pirelli’s cyber tyre technology in future models – Just Auto

    Aston Martin to Revolutionize Future Models with Pirelli’s Cutting-Edge Cyber Tyre Technology

    Figure Technology’s stock sizzles after IPO, as investors stay hungry for crypto deals – MarketWatch

    Figure Technology’s Stock Skyrockets After IPO Amid Surging Crypto Investor Excitement

    AI is the ‘most transformational technology’ in our lifetime, AMD CEO argues – Fox Business

    AMD CEO Declares AI the Most Transformative Technology of Our Era

    PAR Technology (PAR) Unveils AI-Powered Assistant Enhancing Restaurant Operations and Customer Engagement – simplywall.st

    PAR Technology Unveils AI-Powered Assistant to Revolutionize Restaurant Operations and Boost Customer Engagement

    Lincoln Laboratory technologies win seven R&D 100 Awards for 2025 – MIT News

    Lincoln Laboratory Technologies Secure Seven Prestigious R&D 100 Awards for 2025

    ASE Technology (ASX) Hits Record High on AI Fuel – uk.finance.yahoo.com

    ASE Technology Rockets to New Heights Driven by Game-Changing AI Breakthroughs

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

A comprehensive approach to tackling pollution in Houston and beyond

November 7, 2023
in Science
A comprehensive approach to tackling pollution in Houston and beyond
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A cutting-edge approach to tackling pollution in Houston and beyond

Graphical abstract. Credit: Environmental Pollution (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122223

With its notoriously hot and humid climate and robust industrial environment, Houston is one of the most ozone-polluted cities in the United States. Now, a University of Houston research team is integrating the power of machine learning (ML) with innovative analysis techniques to pinpoint the city’s air pollution sources more accurately.

While the ozone layer in the stratosphere protects the Earth, and us, from the harmful rays of the sun, it’s also a major pollutant that can be harmful to human health when it’s closer to the ground. Long-term exposure to surface ozone can cause difficulty breathing, worsen asthma and increase the risk of heart disease, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The research team integrated the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model with the SHAP algorithm of machine learning, which helps explain why ML models make certain decisions while also making the data more understandable. Their analysis revealed that in industrial areas, Houston’s oil and gas industry had the highest impact on emissions, while shortwave radiation and relative humidity were the two most important influencing factors for overall ozone concentration. The work is published in the journal Environmental Pollution.

Combining these two methods to get a deeper understanding of what is causing ozone pollution is an innovative approach that hadn’t been tried in Houston before, the researchers shared.

“We basically use the new technologies to identify major sources of emissions in the Houston area based on the different species or types of pollutants. It’s like a fingerprint, if certain species show up together that’s indicative of a certain pollution source,” said Delaney Nelson, a doctoral student at the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences of UH’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and first author of the paper. “Then we utilized SHAP to identify what emission sources are affecting the city most and at what magnitude.”

Ozone concentrations in different areas can vary depending on several factors, including whether an area is urban, rural, or industrial, as well as atmospheric conditions. Houston is unique because it includes all of these areas and has a warm, humid climate that attracts ozone buildup. Ozone, a gas made up of three oxygen molecules, is formed via photochemical reactions among nitrogen-based compounds and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—these are the two compounds that the UH atmospheric science team tracked for the study.

The nitrogen-based compounds essentially are from vehicular emissions, but the VOCs are harder to pinpoint.

“Given the extent to which VOCs contribute to creating ozone, it’s critical to learn where these chemicals are coming from and what are the influencing factors,” said Yunsoo Choi, corresponding author and professor of atmospheric chemistry, AI deep learning, air quality modeling and satellite remote sensing. “Once we know the specific emission sources and factors, we can develop targeted strategies to reduce emissions, which will in turn reduce ozone in the air and make it healthier for everyone.”

The researchers used multi-year VOC measurements data from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)’s monitoring stations located in an industrial area and an urban area. The Lynchburg Ferry site was chosen as representative of Houston’s industrial sector since it is located on a peninsula that leads into the Houston Ship Channel, one of the busiest seaports in the world. And the Milby Park station was chosen to represent a typical urban area because it’s just southeast of downtown and surrounded by residential and commercial areas.

The team’s two-step approach with modeling and analysis showed a chemically definitive difference between the ship channel area and the urban site. Moreover, the chemical emissions were not just impacting the general ship channel site, but also areas downwind.

Both Nelson and Choi are thrilled that their innovative approach proved to be efficient and accurate for identifying emission sources and factors influencing ozone concentrations.

“Pollution is a critical issue in Houston, where you have extreme high heat and high concentration of ozone in the summers,” Choi said. “The types of insights we got are very useful information for the local community to develop effective policies. That’s why we put our time, effort and technological expertise into this project.”

He is eager to apply the two-step method to other areas. “Austin, San Antonio and Dallas all have different characteristics, so I expect the VOC sources will also be different,” Choi said. “Identifying VOC sources in different cities is very important because each city should have its own unique pollution fighting strategy.”

Nelson, who calls Houston home, is glad they started with “H-town.” However, she can envision expanding her research further to compare rural areas and urban areas, do a statewide study, and then go national—state by state.

“All of this is a huge puzzle and I love solving puzzles,” she said.

More information:
Delaney Nelson et al, A comprehensive approach combining positive matrix factorization modeling, meteorology, and machine learning for source apportionment of surface ozone precursors: Underlying factors contributing to ozone formation in Houston, Texas, Environmental Pollution (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122223

Citation:
A comprehensive approach to tackling pollution in Houston and beyond (2023, November 6)
retrieved 6 November 2023
from https://phys.org/news/2023-11-comprehensive-approach-tackling-pollution-houston.html

This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Phys.org – https://phys.org/news/2023-11-comprehensive-approach-tackling-pollution-houston.html

Tags: Approachcomprehensivescience
Previous Post

Ottawa police ask for help in search for 23-year-old

Next Post

STEM Career Days boost high school students’ career aspirations in STEM fields, study finds

Australia approves world-first vaccine to save koalas from chlamydia – AP News

Australia Approves Groundbreaking Vaccine to Protect Koalas from Chlamydia

September 12, 2025
I got a discounted premium economy seat by bidding. It made my 10-hour flight better, but I wouldn’t pay full price for it. – Business Insider

How Bidding for a Discounted Premium Economy Seat Transformed My 10-Hour Flight-But It’s Not Worth Paying Full Price

September 12, 2025
Entertainment Community Fund Launches Program Supporting Entrepreneurs – Playbill

Entertainment Community Fund Unveils Exciting New Program to Empower Entrepreneurs

September 12, 2025
New global collaboration uses UC Davis experts and AI to spot the next pandemic – University of California – Davis Health

Global Collaboration Harnesses UC Davis Experts and AI to Detect the Next Pandemic Early

September 12, 2025
Why pesticides could threaten a MAGA-MAHA political divorce – CNN

Why pesticides could threaten a MAGA-MAHA political divorce – CNN

September 12, 2025
Direct mortality due to humans threatens migratory shorebirds – Nature

Human Impact Pushes Migratory Shorebirds Toward Grave Threats

September 12, 2025
Scientists celebrate a decade of listening to black holes – NPR

Scientists celebrate a decade of listening to black holes – NPR

September 12, 2025
Lori Falce: Finding a solution to political violence is science fiction – TribLIVE.com

Lori Falce Explores Why Ending Political Violence Feels Like Science Fiction

September 12, 2025
Pharmacologic Advances and Lifestyle Foundations in MASH Care, With Allysa Saggese, NP – HCPLive

Revolutionary Drug Developments and Vital Lifestyle Strategies in MASH Care with Allysa Saggese, NP

September 12, 2025
Aston Martin to integrate Pirelli’s cyber tyre technology in future models – Just Auto

Aston Martin to Revolutionize Future Models with Pirelli’s Cutting-Edge Cyber Tyre Technology

September 12, 2025

Categories

Archives

September 2025
MTWTFSS
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930 
« Aug    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (818)
  • Economy (837)
  • Entertainment (21,715)
  • General (17,001)
  • Health (9,880)
  • Lifestyle (851)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (840)
  • Politics (845)
  • Science (16,046)
  • Sports (21,336)
  • Technology (15,818)
  • World (819)

Recent News

Australia approves world-first vaccine to save koalas from chlamydia – AP News

Australia Approves Groundbreaking Vaccine to Protect Koalas from Chlamydia

September 12, 2025
I got a discounted premium economy seat by bidding. It made my 10-hour flight better, but I wouldn’t pay full price for it. – Business Insider

How Bidding for a Discounted Premium Economy Seat Transformed My 10-Hour Flight-But It’s Not Worth Paying Full Price

September 12, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version