We have developed detailed emission inventories for the amount of both black and organic carbon particles from biomass burning sources (wood fuel, charcoal burning, dung, charcoal production, agricultural, savanna and forest fires). We have also estimated an inventory for organic carbon particles from fossil fuel burning and urban activities from an existing inventory for fossil fuel sources of black carbon. We also provide an estimate for the natural source of organic matter. These emissions have been used together with our global aerosol model to study the global distribution of carbonaceous aerosols. The accuracy of the inventories and the model formulation has been tested by comparing the model simulations of carbonaceous aerosols in the atmosphere and in precipitation with observations reported in the literature. For most locations and seasons, the predicted concentrations are in reasonable agreement with the observations, although the model underpredicts black carbon concentrations in polar regions. The predicted concentrations in remote areas are extremely sensitive to both the rate of removal by wet deposition and the height of injection of the aerosols. Finally, a global map of the aerosol single scattering albedo was developed from the simulated carbonaceous particle distribution and a previously developed model for aerosol sulfates. The computed aerosol single scattering albedos compare well with observations, suggesting that most of the important aerosol species have been included in the model. For most locations and seasons, the single scattering albedo is larger than 0.85, indicating that these aerosols, in general, lead to a net cooling.

A global three‐dimensional model study of carbonaceous aerosols

https://www.cell.com/trends/plant-science/pdf/S1360-1385(09)00043-0.pdf

Not just a grain of rice: the quest for quality

Senescence and Postharvest Physiology of Cut Flowers, Part 1

Stored-product insects can cause postharvest losses, estimated from up to 9% in developed countries to 20% or more in developing countries. There is much interest in alternatives to conventional insecticides for controlling stored-product insects because of insecticide loss due to regulatory action and insect resistance, and because of increasing consumer demand for product that is free of insects and insecticide residues. Sanitation is perhaps the first line of defense for grain stored at farms or elevators and for food-processing and warehouse facilities. Some of the most promising biorational management tools for farm-stored grain are temperature management and use of natural enemies. New tools for computer-assisted decision-making and insect sampling at grain elevators appear most promising. Processing facilities and warehouses usually rely on trap captures for decision-making, a process that needs further research to optimize.

/pdf/biorational-approaches-to-managing-stored-product-insects-1austp43av.pdf

Biorational approaches to managing stored-product insects.

Innovation in concentrated solar power

Background Even as increasing populations put pressure on food supplies, about one-third of the total food produced for human consumption is wasted, with the majority of loss in developing countries occurring between harvest and the consumer. Controlling product dryness is the most critical factor for maintaining quality in stored non-perishable foods. The high relative humidity prevalent in humid climates elevates the moisture content of dried commodities stored in porous woven bags, enabling fungal and insect infestations. Mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxin) produced by fungi in insufficiently dried food commodities affect 4.5 billion people worldwide. Scope and approach We introduce the term “dry chain” to describe initial dehydration of durable commodities to levels preventing fungal growth followed by storage in moisture-proof containers. This is analogous to the “cold chain” in which continuous refrigeration is used to preserve quality in the fresh produce industry. However, in the case of the dry chain, no further equipment or energy input is required to maintain product quality after initial drying as long as the integrity of the storage container is preserved. In some locations/seasons, only packaging is required to implement a “climate smart” dry chain, while in humid conditions, additional drying is required and desiccant-based drying methods have unique advantages. Key findings and conclusions We propose both climate-based and drying-based approaches to implement the dry chain to minimize mycotoxin accumulation and insect infestations in dry products, reduce food loss, improve food quality, safety and security, and protect public health.

/pdf/the-dry-chain-reducing-postharvest-losses-and-improving-food-46gj38yewg.pdf

The dry chain: Reducing postharvest losses and improving food safety in humid climates

https://ucanr.edu/datastoreFiles/234-1286.pdf

Feasibility of simultaneous rough rice drying and disinfestations by infrared radiation heating and rice milling quality

Commercial Cooling of Fruits, Vegetables, and Flowers

http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/datastore/234-953.pdf

James F. Thompson

Papers

The dry chain: Reducing postharvest losses and improving food safety in humid climates

Feasibility of simultaneous rough rice drying and disinfestations by infrared radiation heating and rice milling quality

Commercial Cooling of Fruits, Vegetables, and Flowers

Optical chlorophyll sensing system for banana ripening

Non-destructive freeze damage detection in oranges using machine vision and ultraviolet fluorescence