I havn't travelled on an aeroplane for over 18 years, don't miss it because I used to work on one many moons ago. Never thought 20 years ago about the pollution from aeroplanes... would be interested to know as there are in my mind too many!
2006-10-29 10:39:14 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment
The main ones and their effects are:
Carbon dioxide - greenhouse gas
Nitrogen Oxides (NO, NO2,) - can form ozone (greenhouse gas/UV absorber) and also many other atmospheric chemical reactions.
Sulphate particles - reflect incoming sunlight (cooling effect)
Soot particles - Absorb incoming sunlight (heating effect)
In addition there are other indirect effects, like the change in meteorology. Emitted particles change the type and duration of clouds, which have impacts on the amount of sunlight reaching the ground (global dimming). After Sept 11th 2001, there were no planes over new york and it looks like the ground temperature is influenced by contrails.
2006-10-29 11:18:42 · answer #1 · answered by Rickolish 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Immediately after 9/11 all commercial U.S. flights were grounded for three days, daytime temperatures across the country rose slightly, and nighttime temperatures dropped.
This supported the hypothesis that contrails reduce the temperature range by cooling the atmosphere during the day and heating it at night.
2006-10-30 04:43:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
apart from "blue ice" people are concerned with the level of CO2 and other hydrocarbons.
the fact remains that aircraft jet engines are the most efficient engines on the planet. Just because they use more fuel than cars is a means for justifying slating planes and not knocking cars which are far less efficient, much more prevalent and therefore huge contributors to the problem.
2006-10-29 10:57:13 · answer #3 · answered by Icarus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC 2001 report you will get all you need to know and much more there. There are a whole load of reports just on aviation and their affects on the atmosphere.
2006-10-29 11:17:03 · answer #4 · answered by no1drakey 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I assume it's the fact that the engines burn fuel producing carbon dioxide, the main 'greenhouse' gas. Or is that too simple/inaccurate?
2006-10-29 10:43:33 · answer #5 · answered by migdalski 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you burn any fossil fuel it produces dangerous gasses that trap
the atmosphere which causes global warming
2006-10-29 19:50:25 · answer #6 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋