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Precise estimation of atmospheric pollutant releases is crucial for assessing the impact of environmental accidents. Atmospheric inversion typically relies on a linear model with a source–receptor sensitivity (SRS) matrix, which may contain significant errors or even completely fail to capture the real magnitude of the event. We propose a correction of the SRS matrix formulated as slight shifts in the observation locations, effectively warping the sensitivity field. To constrain these shifts and ensure data-driven corrections, we model them using a Gaussian process prior. This prior not only enforces smoothness and sparsity, but also enables posterior prediction of shifts at previously unseen locations. This key feature provides a mechanism for hyper-parameter tuning: the predicted shift field can be visualized on a map and assessed by an expert. We present a user-friendly framework that combines a Bayesian inversion model with correction and a tuning algorithm based on L-curve-like plots and the maps of predicted shifts. The proposed method is demonstrated on three case studies: the ETEX-I experiment, the 137Cs emissions during the 2020 Chernobyl wildfires, and the 106Ru release in 2017.
2026
Accumulation patterns of polychlorinated alkanes in an Arctic marine food web
Polychlorinated alkanes (PCAs), otherwise known as chlorinated paraffins, are contaminants of emerging Arctic concern where our understanding of their occurrence and trophic transfer in Arctic food webs remains limited. To investigate biomagnification potential of PCAs, we analyzed short-chain PCAs: C10-C13 and medium-chain PCAs-C14-17 in three Arctic species: polar cod (Boreogadus saida), ringed seal (Pusa hispida), and polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and Subarctic capelin (Mallotus villosus) samples collected from the northern Barents Sea in 2017 and 2021. PCAs-C10-13 concentrations were low, but detectable in all species, while PCAs-C14-17 concentrations were mainly below detection limits in the mammals. PCAs did not biomagnify, as the lowest concentrations were found in polar bear (0.7 ng g−1 lw) and the highest in capelin (56.9 ng g−1 lw). The PCA homologue profiles were similar among Arctic species, with PCAs-C10-13 dominating in polar cod and marine mammals, which may suggest a contribution from long-range atmospheric transport.
In contrast, PCAs-C14-17 were most abundant in the Subarctic capelin, likely reflecting a different exposure. Despite differing PCAs-C14-17 concentrations among the two fish species, their PCAs-C14-17 homologue profile was similar, indicating uniform global production trends. Subarctic capelin is increasingly being preyed upon by Arctic predators and may facilitate the biological transport of PCAs-C14-17 into Arctic ecosystems.
These findings suggest that climate-driven shifts in species distribution may have the potential to alter contaminant exposure pathways in Arctic marine food webs.
2026
The ISLAS2020 field campaign during February and March 2020 set out to obtain a unique dataset describing the Arctic water cycle using stable water isotope (SWI) observations. Our observation strategy focused on measuring evaporation, deposition, and precipitation, all of which are commonly sub-grid scale processes in numerical weather and climate models. Uncertain parameterizations for these processes can lead to compensating errors, which can go unnoticed; however, evaporation and precipitation can also be investigated with SWIs, as they are an integrated tracer for processes that atmospheric moisture has undergone. The campaign can be divided into two efforts: a localised field experiment in Ny-Ålesund focused on evaporation and deposition, and a larger precipitation collection network distributed around the Nordic Seas. The Ny-Ålesund field experiment lasted three weeks, from 23 February to 15 March 2020, with temperatures reaching below −30 °C. During these weeks, we obtained near-surface, high-resolution (approx. 20 cm) SWI profiles at two deployment sites. Using a newly developed profiling system, we measured SWI gradients in the lowermost 5 and 2 m over fjord water and snow-covered tundra, respectively. These profiles are complemented by fiber-optic distributed sensing (FODS) columns and ambient conditions from nearby meteorological stations. The FODS columns supply continuous, high-resolution (2 cm or finer) temperature profiles above both locations, whereas the meteorological stations provide information on wind speed and direction. We also made a short deployment to the Zeppelin mountain observatory (472 ma.s.l.) for measurements of the isotopic signal in the free-troposphere. Additionally, numerous water samples from the snowpack in and around Ny-Ålesund were taken, in addition to daily fjord water samples from Kongsfjorden. These samples provide the context for the surface conditions under which profiles were collected. Isotopic connections on the synoptic scale are achieved by linking Ny-Ålesund observations with precipitation sampling at locations across the European Arctic, namely Longyearbyen, Tromsø, Andenes, Ålesund, and Bergen. The resulting dataset provides comprehensive insight into the Arctic hydrological cycle and can facilitate the study of phase change processes and transport of water vapour into and out of the Svalbard region. Datasets from the field campaign are publicly available at the PANGAEA data repository (https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.971241, Seidl et al., 2024).
2026
Marine Carbon Removal Gains Momentum But Can It Scale Responsibly?
As mCDR gains global traction, we discuss the current state of this sector with leading mCDR representatives.
2026
Verden er mørk. TV 2s reporter Hilde Gran spurte ChatGPT om hjelp
Svaret jeg fikk var overraskende rørende.
2026
Start-up asked for regulation changes to allow controversial marine carbon storage
Gigablue applied for permission to put a thousand tonnes of its particles in New Zealand waters - but was told its plans amounted to marine dumping.
2026
Marine carbon dioxide removal is a big idea - with big hurdles
Explainer - A start-up company wants to carry out marine carbon dioxide removal in New Zealand waters. What is mCDR and why is it controversial?
2026
Kan bli mer av dette – nå advarer forskere
Nye kriterier for emballasje peker på mer bruk av resirkulert plast. Men slik plast er ikke uproblematisk.
2026
Soil degradation in Europe is projected to accelerate under changing land use and climate
Soil degradation threatens food security and environmental sustainability, yet future projections of it are rare. Using projections from 18 global climate models under two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) and land-use projections from the Land Use and Climate Across Scales Land Use Change (LUCAS LUC) dataset, we assess future soil vulnerability to degradation by linking a Soil Degradation Proxy (SDP) to climate, land-use, soil characteristics, and socio-economic factors at 7433 observation sites across Europe. We project that by 2071–2100, ~59% of sites may become more vulnerable under the high-emission scenario. Cold forest regions in northern Europe are projected to face increased degradation pressure by ~+0.04SDP. However, some European croplands may improve locally through conversion to secondary lands, reduced human pressures, and natural recovery processes. These regionally specific trends highlight that, while soil degradation remains a major threat, proactive land management can mitigate soil vulnerability under future climate trajectories.
2026
2026
Abstract The International Cooperative Programme on Integrated Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Ecosystems (ICP IM) presents a comprehensive long-term dataset of ongoing integrated ecosystem monitoring from European forested catchments. The dataset encompasses measurements from 46 monitoring stations across 14 European countries, with temporal coverage mostly extending from the early 1990s to 2020 (48 sites are currently active). The integrated monitoring approach applies over 20 monitoring subprogrammes to simultaneously measure physical, chemical, and biological properties across multiple ecosystem compartments including atmosphere, precipitation, throughfall, soil water, groundwater, runoff water, soil, vegetation, and biota. All measurements follow standardised protocols detailed in the ICP IM Manual, ensuring data quality and comparability across sites and time periods. The dataset supports research on ecosystem responses to air pollution, climate change impacts, and biogeochemical cycling. Data are available under a Creative Commons By Attribution (CC BY) licence, providing valuable long-term environmental monitoring data for the scientific community.
2026
Circular Economy (CE) principles seek to eliminate hazardous substances and promote the reuse and recycling of plastic products. However, implementing these principles is challenging due to the wide variety of substances used in plastics, their potential health and environmental risks, the complexities of global supply chains, and concerns regarding reappearance of Chemicals of concern (CoCs) in post-recycled plastics (PRP). This study presents a novel approach for identifying CoCs in the waste stream by assessing the potential presence of chemicals in polymers across different industrial sectors and their hazard categories. With the objective of identifying CoCs that are most problematic regarding their reappearance in new products, selected CoCs are classified into four priority groups based on their physicochemical properties and molecular structures, for further risk and regulatory assessment. The first group includes 88 CoCs, that must be avoided in a circular economy, of which 70% are metalloids and 30% are organic additives. The second group comprises 167 CoCs, mainly additives, whose risks depend heavily on their concentration and specific use in products. The third and fourth groups consist of CoCs that are less frequently found in plastic waste and thus associated with relatively lower risks. Overall, this study offers a practical and adaptable tool to support the identification of hazardous substances in plastic waste, helping stakeholders make informed decisions by removing CoCs and promoting the development of safer alternatives for substitutions.
2026
Coastal aerosols are formed through the complex mixing between marine air masses and continental emissions, which originate from both natural and anthropogenic sources. The properties of coastal aerosols are decisive for their interaction with sunlight and their influence on clouds, as well as the potential health implications for the population in these areas. In this study, the aerosol properties and sources at Aarhus Bay, Denmark, were investigated by combining in situ aerosol light scattering and absorption with size distribution measurements and footprint analysis by FLEXPART. Our analysis demonstrates a considerable contribution of anthropogenic aerosols from both fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning, as well as periods with highly scattering aerosols. Furthermore, good agreement was found between in situ and modelled black-carbon data. Combining in situ measurements and FLEXPART analysis further evidenced a major impact of local emissions, as well as a few long-range transport intrusions.
2026
During summer 2023, Greece experienced one of its most severe wildfire seasons in recent decades, with widespread fires across Evros, Rodopi, Attica, the Peloponnese, and several islands. This study investigates the aerosol optical and microphysical properties, as well as the impact on ground-level ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation over Athens, focusing on two major wildfire episodes (18–21 July and 22–25 August). A synergistic approach was deployed, combining satellite imagery (MODIS), FLEXPART simulations, ground-based remoter sensing, in situ aerosol and radiation measurements. Elevated aerosol optical depths (AOD) up to 1.2, high fine-mode fractions (FMF) (> 0.85), and Ångström exponents (AE) above 1.5 indicated a strong dominance of fine biomass burning aerosols. The Single scattering albedo (SSA) ranged from 0.85 to 0.98, showing enhanced absorption during biomass burning periods and weaker absorption when smoke was mixed with dust. At 320 nm, dust presence resulted in stronger absorption, with SSA below 0.8 for pure dust cases compared to smoke mixtures. Particle linear depolarization ratios (PLDR), varied between 0.03 and 0.20, with higher values (∼ 0.10–0.20) reflecting the presence of non-spherical dust particles, and lower values (∼ 0.03–0.08) indicating spherical smoke particles. Ground-level UVB irradiance decreased by up to 50 % during peak smoke episodes, highlighting strong aerosol radiative impacts. Concurrently, PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations increased to 94 and 49 µg m−3, respectively, while organic aerosols peaked at 22.77 µg m−3, consistent with intense fire activity. FLEXPART simulations confirmed long-range transport of smoke from active fire regions, with additional contributions from regional pollution and Saharan dust.
2026
Suspect screening helps detect chemicals in environmental samples without predefined target lists which can facilitate isolation of a larger number of substances. This study shows however that no single extraction method or analytical platform (LC-HRMS or GC-HRMS) can capture all relevant pollutants—at least half are missed. The technique works best for chemically similar families, where optimized methods can target specific classes or broader families of similar substances (e.g. PFAS). Effective grouping of similar substances is therefore essential. A broad coverage of substances can however be achieved if multiple sample extractions are performed and each extract is analysed on both LC- and GC-HRMS. Strategies where comparisons can be made over time or across locations will also help to isolate pollutant-related signals from the background. Such considerations must be integrated into programme design and budgeting for retrospective analysis. This will maximize likelihood of detection for the largest diversity of substances.
Norwegian Environment Agency, M-3038|2025
NILU
2026
Plastic pollution monitoring programs use a wide array of methods, protocols, and analytical approaches, making it difficult for researchers and practitioners to determine which techniques to apply, where, and how. This lack of harmonisation across environmental compartments and plastic size classes has led to inconsistent data and limited comparability across studies. To address this, a systematic review of monitoring methods from 1960 to 2021 was conducted, encompassing both peer-reviewed and grey literature. Techniques were categorised into Reproducible Analytical Pipelines (RAPs), each comprising six core steps: survey design, sample collection, sample preparation, analytical detection, quantification, and data reporting. Each RAP was assessed using Technological Readiness Levels (TRLs) to evaluate maturity and suitability for standardised monitoring. The review revealed that while robust and repeatable methods exist, they are inconsistently applied. At the time of this review, atmospheric plastics was underrepresented, highlighting a critical gap in monitoring efforts. The findings underscore the urgent need for a global, objective framework to guide the selection and implementation of plastic pollution monitoring methodologies. This paper lays the foundation for such a framework by presenting a methodology to identify mature, reproducible methods and prioritise areas for further development. Future work should focus on harmonising protocols across compartments and size classes, improving transparency in data reporting, and building consensus around standardised practices to enable global comparability and policy relevance.
2026
Abstract Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a persistent pollutant with potential long‐term effects on the environment and on health. Recent studies using ice core records report large increases (up to tenfold) in Arctic TFA deposition since the 1970s, and trends suggest long‐lived chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) replacements may be a major source. Here, we use a chemical transport model to examine the global TFA budget arising from CFC replacements–hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)–and inhalation anesthetics. Global TFA deposition from these sources increased ∼3.5‐fold from 6.8 (5.9–7.6) Gg/yr in 2000 to 21.8 (18.6–25.0) Gg/yr in 2022, with cumulative deposition reaching 335.5 Gg. We find HCFC‐123, HCFC‐124, and HFC‐134a account for most modeled TFA production and that long‐lived CFC replacements account for virtually all of the observed Arctic deposition trend. At lower latitudes, our analysis supports the recent emergence of hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) as a TFA source. We conclude that increased TFA monitoring is required.
2026
As climate change impacts intensify across Europe and globally, societies are confronted with increasingly frequent and severe hazards that challenge public health, urban livability, and environmental sustainability. While adaptation measures are urgently needed to cope with current and near-term climate risks, it is becoming increasingly evident that mitigation efforts are essential to ensure a resilient and sustainable future. Too often, however, adaptation and mitigation strategies are planned and implemented in isolation, within sectoral silos, overlooking their potential interdependencies, synergies, and co-benefits. This contribution draws on the on-going experience and perspectives of the EU-funded healthRiskADAPT project, which addresses climate-related health risks by explicitly linking adaptation and mitigation pathways across multiple hazards.The project adopts a broad and integrated perspective that combines existing technical solutions, nature-based interventions, and engagement strategies, with a strong emphasis on co-benefits for health and well-being in the face of climate hazards namely heatwaves, air pollution including wildfire emission, and pollen. Central to this framework is the use of cost–benefit and co-benefit analyses to support decision-makers in identifying, prioritizing, and implementing measures that maximize societal resilience while delivering climate resilience solutions, considering natural based solutions (e.g., greening) as well as technical solutions (e.g., smart-buildings, do-it-yourself air purifier devices, evaporative cooling, high efficiency filtering). Beyond technical assessments, the healthRiskADAPT project recognizes that increasing resilience requires engagement beyond institutional actors. Social solutions such as education, awareness-raising, and capacity building at the stakeholder level are considered essential components of effective climate strategies. The contribution therefore also explores participatory formats and stakeholder engagement approaches designed to enhance understanding of climate-related health risks and support the co-design of locally relevant policies and interventions.By presenting the project’s methodological pathways, tools, and engagement strategies, this contribution illustrates how integrated adaptation–mitigation planning can be operationalized in practice. It highlights the value of moving beyond sector-specific solutions toward systemic approaches that acknowledge complex interdependencies between climate, environment, health, and society. Ultimately, the contribution aims to demonstrate how such integrated frameworks can support cities and regions in developing more coherent, evidence-based, and socially inclusive climate policies, strengthening resilience in the face of a changing climate.
2026