Reconstruction of historic fossil CO₂ emissions using radiocarbon measurements from tree rings

<p>This project aims to reconstruct historic fossil fuel derived CO₂ (CO₂ff) emissions from two closely located point sources in Taranaki, New Zealand. The Vector gas processing plant and the Ballance agri-nutrients ammonia urea plant have combined emissions of ~0.16 TgC yr⁻¹ since 1970 and 1982 respectively. Previous work found 2–5 ppm CO₂ff in short term integrated samples collected 600m downwind of the Vector plant. This study extends the dataset back 30 years using radiocarbon measurements in tree rings. Trees incorporate CO₂ from the local atmosphere into their annual growth rings. Measurements of ¹⁴C in polluted and clean air trees were compared to the Baring Head Δ¹⁴CO₂ atmospheric record. As CO₂ff emissions are devoid of ¹⁴C addition of CO₂ff will cause a decrease in ¹⁴C directly related to the amount of CO₂ff present. Trees growing immediately downwind of the Vector plant and from clean air locations in Taranaki and Baring Head Wellington, were cored and cut into one year growth increments. Two cellulose preparation methods were tested to confirm effectiveness at removing mobile extractive components and lignin. Radiocarbon and stable isotope results showed that the ANSTO method was more effective than the Rafter method. The clean air trees compare well with the Baring Head atmospheric record whereas trees growing downwind of the Vector plant demonstrate lower ¹⁴C content consistent with CO₂ff addition. Historic CO₂ff emissions were reconstructed for the polluted trees, with 1–3ppm of CO₂ff in the Luscombe chestnut tree and 4–7 ppm CO₂ff in the Vector pine tree. CO₂ff observations were compared with reported emissions from the Vector and Ballance plants. Observed CO₂ff increased by 10% in the Vector pine tree for the period 1994–2012 relative to pre-1994 levels, whereas combined CO₂ff emissions increased by 64%. No increase was observed in the Luscombe chestnut tree for the same time period. Meteorological analysis was performed to assess the relative contribution of CO₂ff from the sources to the trees. It is proposed that the trend observed in the Vector pine is due to the dominance of emissions from the Ballance plant and a relatively minor contribution from the Vector plant.</p>

Reconstruction of historic fossil CO₂ emissions using radiocarbon measurements from tree rings

<p>This project aims to reconstruct historic fossil fuel derived CO₂ (CO₂ff) emissions from two closely located point sources in Taranaki, New Zealand. The Vector gas processing plant and the Ballance agri-nutrients ammonia urea plant have combined emissions of ~0.16 TgC yr⁻¹ since 1970 and 1982 respectively. Previous work found 2–5 ppm CO₂ff in short term integrated samples collected 600m downwind of the Vector plant. This study extends the dataset back 30 years using radiocarbon measurements in tree rings. Trees incorporate CO₂ from the local atmosphere into their annual growth rings. Measurements of ¹⁴C in polluted and clean air trees were compared to the Baring Head Δ¹⁴CO₂ atmospheric record. As CO₂ff emissions are devoid of ¹⁴C addition of CO₂ff will cause a decrease in ¹⁴C directly related to the amount of CO₂ff present. Trees growing immediately downwind of the Vector plant and from clean air locations in Taranaki and Baring Head Wellington, were cored and cut into one year growth increments. Two cellulose preparation methods were tested to confirm effectiveness at removing mobile extractive components and lignin. Radiocarbon and stable isotope results showed that the ANSTO method was more effective than the Rafter method. The clean air trees compare well with the Baring Head atmospheric record whereas trees growing downwind of the Vector plant demonstrate lower ¹⁴C content consistent with CO₂ff addition. Historic CO₂ff emissions were reconstructed for the polluted trees, with 1–3ppm of CO₂ff in the Luscombe chestnut tree and 4–7 ppm CO₂ff in the Vector pine tree. CO₂ff observations were compared with reported emissions from the Vector and Ballance plants. Observed CO₂ff increased by 10% in the Vector pine tree for the period 1994–2012 relative to pre-1994 levels, whereas combined CO₂ff emissions increased by 64%. No increase was observed in the Luscombe chestnut tree for the same time period. Meteorological analysis was performed to assess the relative contribution of CO₂ff from the sources to the trees. It is proposed that the trend observed in the Vector pine is due to the dominance of emissions from the Ballance plant and a relatively minor contribution from the Vector plant.</p>

The Dynamics of Flower Development in Castanea Sativa Mill.

The sweet chestnut tree (Castanea sativa Mill.) is one of the most significant Mediterranean tree species, being an important natural resource for the wood and fruit industries. It is a monoecious species, presenting unisexual male catkins and bisexual catkins, with the latter having distinct male and female flowers. Despite the importance of the sweet chestnut tree, little is known regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in the determination of sexual organ identity. Thus, the study of how the different flowers of C. sativa develop is fundamental to understand the reproductive success of this species and the impact of flower phenology on its productivity. In this study, a C. sativa de novo transcriptome was assembled and the homologous genes to those of the ABCDE model for floral organ identity were identified. Expression analysis showed that the C. sativa B- and C-class genes are differentially expressed in the male flowers and female flowers. Yeast two-hybrid analysis also suggested that changes in the canonical ABCDE protein–protein interactions may underlie the mechanisms necessary to the development of separate male and female flowers, as reported for the monoecious Fagaceae Quercus suber. The results here depicted constitute a step towards the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in unisexual flower development in C. sativa, also suggesting that the ABCDE model for flower organ identity may be molecularly conserved in the predominantly monoecious Fagaceae family.

Influence of Climate Change on Chestnut Trees: A Review

The chestnut tree (Castanea spp.) is an important resource worldwide. It is cultivated due to the high value of its fruits and wood. The evolution between Castanea biodiversity and humans has resulted in the spread of chestnut genetic diversity. In 2019, the chestnut tree area worldwide was approximately 596 × 103 ha for fruit production (Southern Europe, Southwestern United States of America, and Asia). In Europe 311 × 103 t were produced. Five genetic poles can be identified: three in Greece, the northwest coast of the Iberian Peninsula, and the rest of the Mediterranean. Over the years, there have been some productivity changes, in part associated with climate change. Climate is considered one of the main drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem change. In the future, new challenges associated with climate change are expected, which could threaten this crop. It is essential to identify the impacts of climate change on chestnut trees, improving the current understanding of climate-tree interconnections. To deal with these projected changes adaptation strategies must be planned. This manuscript demonstrates the impacts of climate change on chestnut cultivation, reviewing the most recent studies on the subject. Furthermore, an analysis of possible adaptation strategies against the potentially negative impacts was studied.

What to Lea(f) In, What to Lea(f) Out

Anne Frank’s chestnut tree can be found on the pages of children’s books, in the frame of a video, as a digital leaf on a cyber-trunk or as a seedling shared throughout the world. The image can never represent Anne Frank’s entire story, but, as this chapter demonstrates, as a subsequent icon it does serve as a reminder for overcoming ignorance, respecting humanity and, most importantly, combatting prejudice. The chapter explores the complexity of the chestnut tree as a ‘pedagogical icon’ by studying the way it applies to and influences the educational sector both on literary and digital platforms. It follows insights from Cohen-Janca, Gottesfeld, Kohuth and Eisenberg Sasso, who state that it is the interplay between the remembrance of the Shoah and the sustainability of trees and the environment that inspires a fruitful compositional narrative for young readers.

ADSORPTION OF SPINDLE OIL BY NATIVE AND THERMAL MODIFIED CHESTNUT TREE WASTE

Adsorption is a widespread and effective way of treating sewage containing petroleum products. To imple-ment this method, one of the best sorbents is activated carbon. However, sorbents based on activated coals are of high cost and require further regeneration, which significantly increases the cost of water treatment. In addition, during the regeneration of such sorption materials secondary toxic waste is formed, which also cre-ate environmental problems. Therefore, the development of new efficient and inexpensive sorption materi-als, especially on the base of a variety of wastes, is an urgent task. For research, we used tree waste of the genus of horse chestnut (Latin Aésculus hippocastanum L.). Horse chestnut is widespread in the midland of the Russian Federation, CIS countries, Southern Europe. Ac-cording to municipal services about 5.000 chestnut trees grow on the territory of a city with a population of about 400.000 people and tree waste of the trees covering streets and square every year. Tree waste is no-where used and removed to landfills. Extraction of I-20A spindle oil from model emulsions by native and thermal modified chestnut tree waste as a sorption material in industry was carried out because this oil is a widely used petroleum product. The physicochemical properties of tree waste, such as bulk density, humidity, ash content, pH of aqueous ex-tract, specific surface area are studied. Before extraction, the chestnut tree waste was ground to a size of 3-5 mm. Thermal treatment was carried out in a drying cabinet of the type SNOL and muffle furnace in the temperature range 100-500 C. It is es-tablished that during the thermal treatment the specific surface area of the sorption material increases from 2.6 to 27.9 m2/ g. The surface of micro relief structure changes in the direction of increasing roughness and defectiveness; sorption material acquires hydrophobic properties. The recommended thermal treatment tem-perature is 200 C. The efficiency of cleaning model emulsions is 91%.

Strategies for the Valorisation of Chestnut Resources in Italian Mountainous Areas from a Sustainable Development Perspective

The chestnut tree has characterised the social history of the Italian hills and mountains. However, in recent years, this resource has been abandoned because of the change in socio-economic needs. The aim of this study is twofold: (i) To give an overview of this resource, assessing the strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats of the chestnut tree through the use of the SWOT methodology; (ii) to provide action strategies for resource valorisation, in accordance with the SDGs set out in the UN 2030 Agenda, by using the TOWS methodology. Our results suggest four strategies, specifically; ‘resource-based’, ‘network-based’, ‘policy-based’ and ‘market-based’, capable of valorising the resource from environmental, economic and societal points of view. The active management of chestnut forests, together with the development of a value chain can guarantee sustainable production, technological and process innovation and could empower companies to face global markets in a more competitive way and lead to the creation of high value-added products, generating a strong economic and social engine for the revival of the sector. Moreover, the commitment of the private sector to the reorganisation of the supply chain must also be accompanied by coherent public policy action. This is essential for the adoption of plans and programmes consistent with sustainable development objectives, ensuring their prioritisation and implementation.