Can we reliably assess climate mitigation options for air traffic scenarios despite large uncertainties in atmospheric processes?

Air traffic has an increasing influence on climate; therefore identifying mitigation options to reduce the climate impact of aviation becomes more and more important. Aviation influences climate through several climate agents, which show different dependencies on the magnitude and location of emission and the spatial and temporal impacts. Even counteracting effects can occur. Therefore, it is important to analyse all effects with high accuracy to identify mitigation potentials. However, the uncertainties in calculating the climate impact of aviation are partly large (up to a factor of about 2). In this study, we present a methodology, based on a Monte Carlo simulation of an updated non-linear climate-chemistry response model AirClim, to integrate above mentioned uncertainties in the climate assessment of mitigation options. Since mitigation options often represent small changes in emissions, we concentrate on a more generalised approach and use exemplarily different normalised global air traffic inventories to test the methodology. These inventories are identical in total emissions but differ in the spatial emission distribution. We show that using the Monte Carlo simulation and analysing relative differences between scenarios lead to a reliable assessment of mitigation potentials. In a use case we show that the presented methodology can be used to analyse even small differences between scenarios with mean flight altitude variations.     

A comparative life-cycle energy and emissions analysis for intercity passenger transportation in the U.S. by aviation,intercity bus,and automobile

Intercity passenger trips constitute a significant source of energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and criteria pollutant emissions. The most commonly used city-to-city modes in the United States include aircraft, intercity bus, and automobile. This study applies state-of-the-practice models to assess life-cycle fuel consumption and pollutant emissions for intercity trips via aircraft, intercity bus, and automobile. The analyses compare the fuel and emissions impacts of different travel mode scenarios for intercity trips ranging from 200 to 1600 km. Because these modes operate differently with respect to engine technology, fuel type, and vehicle capacity, the modeling techniques and modeling boundaries vary significantly across modes. For aviation systems, much of the energy and emissions are associated with auxiliary equipment activities, infrastructure power supply, and terminal activities, in addition to the vehicle operations between origin/destination. Furthermore, one should not ignore the embodied energy and initial emissions from the manufacturing of the vehicles, and the construction of airports, bus stations, highways and parking lots. Passenger loading factors and travel distances also significantly influence fuel and emissions results on a per-traveler basis. The results show intercity bus is generally the most fuel-efficient mode and produced the lowest per-passenger-trip emissions for the entire range of trip distances examined. Aviation is not a fuel-efficient mode for short trips (<500 km), primarily due to the large energy impacts associated with takeoff and landing, and to some extent from the emissions of ground support equipment associated with any trip distance. However, aviation is more energy efficient and produces less emissions per-passenger-trip than low-occupancy automobiles for trip distances longer than 700–800 km. This study will help inform policy makers and transportation system operators about how differently each intercity system perform across all activities, and provides a basis for future policies designed to encourage mode shifts by range of service. The estimation procedures used in this study can serve as a reference for future analyses of transportation scenarios.     

Greenhouse gas emissions from road construction: An assessment of alternative staging approaches

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with road construction activities are analyzed. The main focus of this analysis is on the vehicle emissions associated with alternative project staging approaches, specifically a full closure of the road during construction, versus an intermittent road closure. The analysis includes the direct and upstream emissions associated with materials, construction equipment, mobilization of resources to the work site, and maintenance activity associated with the project over its lifetime. The analysis is based on one case study of a road project in New Jersey. The assumptions underlying the staging analysis are based on hypothetical approaches. Results provide an assessment of the main sources of project related emissions and the ability to minimize total project emissions by minimizing traffic disruption. In the analysis with a full closure of the road, traffic disruption accounts for 26% of total emissions, while with an intermittent road closure, traffic disruption accounts for only 2% of total emissions. The other main sources are from materials and life-cycle maintenance. The analysis demonstrates the feasibility of minimizing project related GHG emissions during road construction activities.     

Predicting market potential and environmental benefits of deploying electric taxis in Nanjing,China

This paper investigates the market potential and environmental benefits of replacing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the taxi fleet in Nanjing, China. Vehicle trajectory data collected by onboard global positioning system (GPS) units are used to study the travel patterns of taxis. The impacts of charger power, charging infrastructure coverage, and taxi apps on the feasibility of electric taxis are quantified, considering taxi drivers’ recharging behavior and operating activities. It is found that (1) depending on the charger power and coverage, 19% (with AC Level 2 chargers and 20% charger network coverage) to 56% (with DC chargers and 100% charger network coverage) of the ICE vehicles can be replaced by electric taxis without driving pattern changes; (2) by using taxi apps to find nearby passengers and charging stations, drivers could utilize the empty cruising time to charge the battery, which may increase the acceptance of BEVs by up to 82.6% compared to the scenario without taxi apps; and (3) tailpipe emissions in urban areas could be significantly reduced with taxi electrification: a mixed taxi fleet with 46% compressed-natural-gas-powered (CNG) and 54% electricity-powered vehicles can reduce the tailpipe emissions by 48% in comparison with the fleet of 100% CNG taxis.     

Wildlife strikes to civil helicopters in the US, 1990–2011

This paper examines wildlife strikes with civil helicopters within the US. Month and time of day, location, and other factors influenced the frequency of wildlife strikes with civil helicopters. Wildlife strikes occurred most frequently when the aircraft were traveling en route or engaged in terrain flight. Birds accounted for over 97% of the wildlife strikes where the animal was identified.     

A multi-objective optimization model for sustainable logistics facility location

This paper offers an exploratory study of sustainable facility location. The methodology, based on the classical uncapacitated facility location problem, provides decision makers with a multi-objective optimization model to determine the trade-off among economic, service and environmental considerations. Our results indicate that it may be desirable to open more facilities than optimal from a narrow economic perspective to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of transport and to improve service reliability.     

我国水路运输碳排放现状及减碳路径分析

本文在阐述我国水路运输碳排放现状的基础上,分析了水路运输减少碳排放过程中存在的主要问题,提出了水路运输减碳主要路径和政策建议,为相关部门开展碳减排工作提供参考。     

CFRP补强(加固)钢筋混凝土开孔平板的试验研究

研究了体外粘贴碳纤维增强复合材料CFRP(Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer)加固钢筋混凝土开孔平板的受力性能,通过5块开孔平板的加固试验,从破坏形态、开裂荷载、极限荷载和弯曲变形等方面分析构件的加固效果,研究粘贴层数、开孔尺寸和开孔位置等因素对构件加固效果的影响。试验结果表明,经外贴CFRP加固后,钢筋混凝土开孔平板的极限承载力、弯曲变形能力均得到明显提高,构件的抗裂性能也有一定程度的提高。     

潜艇舱室固态胺CO2清除技术的化学热力学分析

依据有关文献提供的热力学状态函数值,分水蒸气再生和真空再生2种工况,近似计算了标准状态和实际状况下固态胺吸附与解吸CO2反应的平衡与程度,并讨论了温度、湿度和CO2分压等对其所产生的影响。     

外贴碳纤维布加固大比例钢筋混凝土梁抗弯性能

以某类铁路桥梁为原型,通过5根粘贴碳纤维布加固钢筋混凝土梁的1/3比例模型试验,研究了梁表面处理方式和加固前预载历史对加固梁抗弯能力和破坏形态的影响。试验结果表明,粘贴表面打磨的梁发生纤维布带面层剥离破坏,而凿毛处理时最终破坏均为混凝土压碎;若不出现剥离破坏,则碳纤维布具有良好的加固效果;加固时,梁上既有荷载越小,则加固效果越好。基于《规程》(CECS146:2003)的基本假定,考虑既有荷载的影响,对本文试件的屈服弯矩和极限弯矩进行理论分析,其结果与实测值较吻合,说明《规程》中计算屈服后压碎时的的正截面承载力公式对碳纤维布加固较大尺度、较高配筋混凝土梁也是适用的。