Center for Satellite and Earth Science Research

Category: Uncategorized

How much of our rising nitrogen pollution is being driven by a warming world with increasing fire activity?

In a new paper by CSER scientists in Nature, they show how climate‑driven wildfires—now more frequent and severe in the western U.S.—are increasingly responsible for surging reactive nitrogen emissions and deposition, pushing critical load exceedances up by 20–40% and signaling a growing atmospheric impact of a hotter, drier climate in the region.

Citation:  Campbell, P.C., Tong, D.Q., Chang, S. et al. Increased contributions of climate-driven wildfires to nitrogen deposition in the United States. Commun Earth Environ (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03279-4

  • *The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

GMU CSER scientists help lead development of an advanced Unified Forecast System – Air Quality Model Version 8 (UFS-AQMv8) community capability at NOAA

The updated UFS-AQMv8 includes numerous scientific advancements including updated chemistry and processes, updated physical parameterizations, updated emissions data and models, and improved fire emissions and behavior.  The community version includes most of the features planned for the next operational implementation of the National Air Quality Forecasting Capability (NAQFC) at NOAA/NWS, UFS-AQMv8, and will continue to incorporate developments from the UFS-AQM technical and scientific teams as they progress.”

Link:  https://epic.noaa.gov/ufs-aqm-capability-announcement/

  • *The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

Eos (June 13, 2025) – Fallowed Fields Are Fueling California’s Dust Problem

New research shows that unplanted agricultural lands are behind most of the state’s anthropogenic dust events.

Read Full Article Here:

https://eos.org/articles/fallowed-fields-are-fueling-californias-dust-problem

  • *The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

NASA (April 30, 2025) – Dusty Days Are Here Again for El Paso

Spring and early summer in the Chihuahuan Desert are dusty, but El Paso and the Borderplex region are experiencing one of their dustiest seasons since the 1930s Dust Bowl.

Read Full Article Here:

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/154230/dusty-days-are-here-again-for-el-paso

  • *The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.

The Lancet (April 8, 2025) – Climate change fuels deadly dust storms worldwide

Dust and sand storms, including the fast-moving, towering walls of particulate matter and debris known as “haboobs”, are becoming more frequent and severe with climate change, posing growing threats to respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, and brain health. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and WHO are sounding the alarm. “Health impacts of dust can be far-reaching”, said Daniel Tong (Center for Satellite and Earth Systems Research, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA).

Read Full Publication Here:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(25)00123-7/abstract

  • *The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.