Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist Riley Duren says these pollutants include greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. And he says, they do not just effect cities.
“So these gases have a small local effect but the bigger impact is on the climate. We’re all in this together. It takes several weeks or months for these gases to mix, but they end up in the atmosphere and they affect everywhere - not just in the local city.”
Global carbon dioxide emissions, 2012
The Megacities Carbon Project wants to observe greenhouse gases over long periods of time to try to identify patterns. The goal is to find out if environmental policies are successful in lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Sixteen highly sensitive monitoring devices are being placed on rooftops and media towers across southern California. These instruments work continuously to analyze what is in the air.
Scientists also use what is called “remote sensing” to monitor the air. Instruments placed on airplanes and a satellite are able to find evidence of carbon dioxide and methane in the air.
There is also a remote sensing instrument on top of Mt. Wilson, northeast of Los Angeles. NASA’S Stan Sander says this remote sensing equipment can study air quality across the Los Angeles area.
“What we’re hoping to do here on Mt. Wilson is create a sort of pattern or model for the way other cities might be able to measure their greenhouse gas emissions in a very similar way.”
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25