Scientists take to air and sea to chart progress on greenhouse gases
6 March 2013
Related Stories
Scientists will use the results from the project to help gauge and track progress on Government targets to curb greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.
The project will measure gases emitted from various UK sources, such as industry, landfill and agriculture. Tracking their movements will also help researchers improve their current understanding of how the gases affect climate change.
A team of British researchers will fly across the UK in an aircraft equipped with sensors to measure carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide in the air. The team will also take samples from sensors on a North Sea ferry, and from a series of towers, several storeys high, situated across the UK.
Results from the four-year survey will be coupled with observations from European, US and Japanese satellites of greenhouse gas movements. Together this will give details of UK emissions to the atmosphere, in a global context, taking account of seasonal changes, such as emissions linked to agriculture.
Air sampling at the BT Tower in London, and observations at a tower to be built in southeast England, will enable the first long-term study of greenhouse gas emissions from the capital.
The study, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, will be carried out by the Universities of Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds and Leicester, the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Met Office and the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
Grant Allen, from the University of Manchester’s School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences and leader of the airborne survey component of the project, said: “This exciting project will see the first ever comprehensive measurements of emissions of greenhouse gases from the UK as a whole, leading us away from potentially inaccurate industry-reported estimates and towards measured and real emissions data as required under our treaty obligations.”
Paul Palmer, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences, who is leading the project, said: “This will deliver robust greenhouse gas emission
estimates from the UK and the world, by bringing together comprehensive data and talented scientists who can make sense of it – this should help track progress towards tackling climate change.”
The project will measure gases emitted from various UK sources, such as industry, landfill and agriculture. Tracking their movements will also help researchers improve their current understanding of how the gases affect climate change.
A team of British researchers will fly across the UK in an aircraft equipped with sensors to measure carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide in the air. The team will also take samples from sensors on a North Sea ferry, and from a series of towers, several storeys high, situated across the UK.
Results from the four-year survey will be coupled with observations from European, US and Japanese satellites of greenhouse gas movements. Together this will give details of UK emissions to the atmosphere, in a global context, taking account of seasonal changes, such as emissions linked to agriculture.
Air sampling at the BT Tower in London, and observations at a tower to be built in southeast England, will enable the first long-term study of greenhouse gas emissions from the capital.
The study, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, will be carried out by the Universities of Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds and Leicester, the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Met Office and the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
Grant Allen, from the University of Manchester’s School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences and leader of the airborne survey component of the project, said: “This exciting project will see the first ever comprehensive measurements of emissions of greenhouse gases from the UK as a whole, leading us away from potentially inaccurate industry-reported estimates and towards measured and real emissions data as required under our treaty obligations.”
Paul Palmer, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences, who is leading the project, said: “This will deliver robust greenhouse gas emission
estimates from the UK and the world, by bringing together comprehensive data and talented scientists who can make sense of it – this should help track progress towards tackling climate change.”
Last job offers
- Chemistry - 1.5
Research Associate in Natural Products Biosynthesis & Biosynthetic Engineering - Business - 22.5
KPMG Professorship of Management Studies - Pedagogy - 21.5
Professor of Cyber Security - Life Sciences - 21.5
Chair in Auditory Genetics - Medicine - 21.5
Chair in Genomic / Genetic Medicine - Microtechnics - 21.5
Professor of Functional Surface Engineering - Administration - 21.5
Professorships in the Sainsbury Laboratory - Medicine - 21.5
Professorship of Stem Cell Medicine
» Share this page: