La qualità dell'aria: uno sguardo dallo spazio


Pollution
 
Animated sequence of nitrogen dioxide concentrations over the city of London during a high-pollution event that occurred on 15 November 2000. The major source of nitrogen dioxide pollution is road traffic, and the highest concentrations (deep red colour) can clearly be seen around the busiest roads during the morning and evening rush hours. High nitrogen dioxide concentrations may trigger asthma attacks, or cause breathing difficulties for those with lung complaints or heart conditions. This London pollution animation was produced by Cambridge Environmental Consultants (CERC), commissioned by Hackney Building Exploratory.

Central London Air Quality Forecast
 
Highest hourly nitrogen dioxide concentrations in micrograms per cubic metre. Streets are outlined in white.
YourAir is a prototype system providing street level urban air quality forecasts. YourAir is part of the European Space Agency’s PROMOTE GMES service.

Greenhouse gases
 
Human activities are releasing increased amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, causing the atmosphere to heat up. Around half of this surplus carbon dioxide is then taken up in carbon 'sinks' on the land and sea surface, mitigating the extent of global warming - at least for now. Carbon modellers seek to better understand the movement of carbon between the atmosphere, land, sea, and biosphere, known as the carbon cycle.

Greenhouse gases
 
The carbon cycle is the term for the flow of carbon between the atmosphere, land, ocean and biosphere. Increasing knowledge of the carbon cycle is important for the study of climate change. Human activities are releasing increased amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, causing the atmosphere to heat up. Around half of this surplus carbon dioxide is then taken up in carbon 'sinks' on the land and sea surface, mitigating the extent of global warming - at least for now. Carbon modellers seek to better understand the carbon 'flux' between the surface and atmosphere within the carbon cycle.



Release date: 6 Febbraio 2006