AERONET: The European aeroemissions network

• Forschungsstelle: EU FRP
• Projektnummer: 97.0524
• Projekttitel Englisch: AERONET: The European aeroemissions network

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Engine and aircraft technologies; aircraft emissions; measurement techniques; gaseous species measurements; non-intrusive measurements; NOx measurements; emissions databases and inventories; near field modelling

Alternative Projektnummern (Englisch)

EU project number: BRRT-CT97-5013

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 2.1 Industrial and materials technologies

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

See abstract

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

Coordinator: DLR (D)

Abstract (Englisch)

Contribution ECO PHYSICS:
The main theme of the AERONET network - aircraft emissions and their impact on the atmosphere - is of great interest to Switzerland and our company for two main reasons.
Firstly, Switzerland lies at the center of the European air lanes and is an important hub in international airline movements. The effects of aircraft emissions, both on ground and in the upper atmosphere are therefore of particular interest, especially in view of the projected growth rates of passenger aircraft activity.
Secondly, as a manufacturer and developer of very fast, high sensitivity NOx analyzers specifically designed for atmospheric research application, ECO PHYSICS AG participation in the AERONET network has enabled us to expand our scientific and technical contacts in this community. We actively participated in two Expert Groups within the AERONET Thematic Network which are directly relevant to our experience and interests: Measurement Technology (MT), and Engine and Aircraft Technologies (EAT). As a result of extensive discussions with other AERONET partners during these Expert Group meetings we became aware of two interesting but difficult pollutant measurement problems, the solutions to which we are currently pursuing. One problem involves determining the concentration of nitrogen-containing hydrocarbons in combustion gases, knowledge of which would help improve the understanding of the reaction processes. This would be of value to a wide spectrum of researchers in the field of combustion chemistry.
Our involvement with the AERONET project has been valuable to us in that it has allowed us to exchange information on a regular basis with the most active European researchers in the field of atmospheric measurements. This open exchange of ideas is a two way process - on the one hand we receive feedback on new trends in atmospheric research, and suggestions for improving our products. On the other we can offer advice on current problems facing researchers and make suggestions based on our wide experience of NOx measurement and sample preparation techniques.

Project Results and Conclusions:
Experience:
After 3 ½ years of collaboration of the Network it can be concluded that the basic idea to create the network was good and the decision for setting it up was well done. No other mechanisms than a network of this kind would have been in the position to foster the coming together, exchange of information, and harmonised co-operation in the aeronautics community and with the atmospheric scientists.
- Network Projects need to be established where there exists sufficient interest on a topic of common concern but where the cohesion is not strong enough to form interest groups by itself.
- The Topic 'Aircraft Emissions and Their Impact on the Atmosphere' is of basic interest for a great variety of communities.
- Autonomous networking did not and will not happen due to the complexity of the topic and the necessary contribution from many different disciplines; it needs persons and a dedicated management team to actively motivate and support networking.
- AERONET was well accepted from the partners as it offers the only platform to exchange and discuss general or dedicated information, experiences or views.
- All activities have to be carefully selected and well focused and need a good justification through dedicated interests from industry, politics or research.
- Due to its complexity and variety, the network needs large and growing efforts for information exchange, co-ordination and organisation.

Overall results and conclusions:
- A more cohesive and better informed European aviation sector has been developed.
- Improved understanding in the AERONET community of the topic - from technology to operations to impact was generated.
- Collaborative research to meet identified needs was initiated.
- Links between the research and policy communities have been improved.
- Enthusiasm to continue the network into a second phase was confirmed from the partners.
- The goals of AERONET have been accomplished; they will be matched and extended in AERONET II.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 97.0524