Tropospheric air pollution-aviation industry’s case

Abstract

In this chapter, the impact of CO2 emissions from a specific industry, aviation, is detailed together with monitoring of CO2 by airlines. In addition, forward-looking schemes by the aviation industry, such as the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme, are presented. Technical discussions are provided related to (1) calculations of aircraft CO2 direct emissions from individual and national flights and worldwide records, and (2) an evaluation of the contribution and impact of some additions to CO2 greenhouse gases, such as of NOx and water vapor, on radiative forcing. The chapter also reviews natural and man-made sources of CO2 and the carbon cycle to provide a background for discussing CO2 emissions from the aviation industry. It further provides some basic background on traditional nondispersive infrared absorption techniques, as well as modern spectroscopic instruments used to quantify CO2 emissions by aviation. The chapter concludes by discussing some instruments mounted on satellites for monitoring greenhouse gases.

keywords: Absorption spectroscopy; Aviation emissions; Climate change; Emission trading scheme; Greenhouse gas; International civil aviation organization; Monitoring; Remote sensing