An ongoing study by the ROC Environmental Protection Administration, National Science Council and National Central University in conjunction with Taiwan-based transport enterprises is making major contributions to climate change research.
Data provided by the Pacific Greenhouse Gases Measurement project, which is part of the EU In-Service Aircraft for a Global Observing System, can be used to compare carbon dioxide levels in highly populated areas and over the world’s oceans, for a better understanding of global warming, said Wang Kuo-ying, director of the NCU Center for Environmental Studies, at a news conference in Taipei City September 24.
Since 2009, nine Evergreen Marine ships outfitted with high-tech instruments have recorded greenhouse gases in the atmosphere on 130 regular commercial voyages in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, as well as the Mediterranean and Red seas. A China Airlines plane carrying IAGOS monitoring equipment has made 117 trans-Pacific passenger flights since the end of June.
The ships found CO2 concentrations of 392 parts per million in sea areas far removed from industrial activities, and 430 ppm closer to industrial regions, Wang said. Along the east coast of North America and west coast of Mexico in autumn and winter, the figures topped 511 ppm. Near Taiwan, levels reached about 430 ppm.
Data from the aircraft showed that carbon monoxide is found at about 270 parts per billion both just above ground level and at 10,000 meters, indicating that air convection carries man-made pollution high into the atmosphere, he noted.
The unprecedented observational data from the ships and plane are of great value in quantifying the spatial and temporal distribution of air pollutants, Wang said, contributing to the accuracy of pollution controls and furthering understanding of climate change. The PGGM project is scheduled to continue for another 20 years, he added.
