Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute
Section of Atmospheric Composition
Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute
Section of Atmospheric Composition
Statements from the executive
summary in WMO (1995)
"Subsonics: Estimates
indicate that present subsonic aircraft operations may be significantly
increasing trace species (primarily NOx, sulfur dioxide, and soot) at
upper-tropospheric altitudes in the North-Atlantic flight corridor. Models
indicate that the NOx emissions from the current subsonic fleet produce
upper-tropospheric ozone increases as much as several percent, maximizing
at northern mid-latitudes. Since the results of these rather complex models
depend critically on NOx chemistry and since the tropospheric NOx budget
is uncertain, little confidence should be put in these quantitative model
results at the present time."
"Climate effects:
Reliable quantitative estimates of the effects of aviation emissions on
climate are not yet available. Some initial estimates indicate that the
climate effects of ozone changes resulting from subsonic aircraft emissions
may be comparable to those resulting from their CO2 emissions."
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