Energy / Climate Change

March 11, 2006

 

Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations Measured Continuously Using Commercial Airliners

Keywords: Climate Change Government Non-manufacturing industry University / Research institute 

A Japanese project team has succeeded in the world's first attempt to make regular observations of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations using a commercial jetliner equipped with a continuous measuring device, it was announced by the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) on November 30, 2005. The project has been jointly conducted by the JAL (Japan Airlines) Foundation, the Meteorological Agency's Research Institute, Tohoku University, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Jamco Corp., and Japan Airlines (JAL), as well as NIES.

The continuous CO2 measurement equipment (CME), which was developed by the group and installed in a Boeing 747-400 aircraft, measured CO2 concentrations during scheduled flights over a four-day period, and successfully demonstrated a high level of performance. Compared to an automatic air sampler currently used in the project, the CME can significantly increase the frequency and area of atmospheric observations.

The CME can collect detailed data on the distribution of CO2 concentrations because of its ability to make continuous measurements (every minute during level flight, and every 10 seconds during ascent or descent). The first observation with the CME has provided interesting results, including more specific data on the vertical distribution of CO2 concentrations in the air over Narita, Jakarta, Bangkok and Beijing, and the horizontal distribution in the upper troposphere (10 to 12 kilometers in altitude) between these cities.

By the end of fiscal 2006, the CME will be installed in five aircraft, two of which will also carry an improved model of the automatic air sampling equipment (ASE). More observations will be made using JAL flights to and from Australia, other parts of Asia, North America, Hawaii and Europe. Furthermore, the CME and the improved air sampler can be installed in other airlines' aircraft as both of them have been approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

- Global Warming Observations from Commercial Jets (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/144-e
- Commercial Jetliners to Strengthen GHG Monitoring (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/948-e

Posted: 2006/03/11 11:30:07 AM
Japanese version

 

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