Airplane Landing in the Fog at Night
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
In my recent article, "Externalities and Risks, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport", I discussed externalities associated with Airport operations. The Airport environment presents a number of environmental issues, many of which are impacted by meteorological factors.
Fog is an important risk factor. Fog reduces visibility, and although airports have radar systems, fog is still a hazard for pilots to be aware of. Fog is a cloud at ground level, water droplets or ice suspended in air. Suspended particulates or gas molecules can provide a nucleus around which water droplets or ice can form, thus encouraging the formation of clouds. Enucleated pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide gain an easier entry into the respiratory system, increasing the impact on health.
During the fall, winter and spring, when temperature inversions form, often in the wake of high pressure systems, there is an increased risk from pollutants, often accompanied by fog. This is especially true in the Pacific Northwest with the influence of marine air from the Pacific Ocean.
Fog is an important risk factor. Fog reduces visibility, and although airports have radar systems, fog is still a hazard for pilots to be aware of. Fog is a cloud at ground level, water droplets or ice suspended in air. Suspended particulates or gas molecules can provide a nucleus around which water droplets or ice can form, thus encouraging the formation of clouds. Enucleated pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide gain an easier entry into the respiratory system, increasing the impact on health.
During the fall, winter and spring, when temperature inversions form, often in the wake of high pressure systems, there is an increased risk from pollutants, often accompanied by fog. This is especially true in the Pacific Northwest with the influence of marine air from the Pacific Ocean.
A normal temperature gradient is warmer air on the surface and colder air aloft. A temperature inversion reverses the normal gradient, trapping colder air on the bottom layer, with warmer air aloft.
Temperature inversions early this year influenced the snow pack in the mountains, as temperatures warmed aloft. Temperature inversions can impact the levels of ice pack and the availability of water from mountain sources. Because pollutants are trapped with the warm air aloft and the cold air on the bottom, pollutants are trapped within a lesser layer of air, increasing the density of pollutants. These conditions lead to air stagnation advisories and burn bans, which are called by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
Climate change and global warming may impact a variety of meteorological factors, increasing severity. Other meteorological factors affecting air traffic may include wind shear, thunderstorms, snow storms and heat, which is of concern in the southwest, where a certain air density is required for take off.
Temperature inversions early this year influenced the snow pack in the mountains, as temperatures warmed aloft. Temperature inversions can impact the levels of ice pack and the availability of water from mountain sources. Because pollutants are trapped with the warm air aloft and the cold air on the bottom, pollutants are trapped within a lesser layer of air, increasing the density of pollutants. These conditions lead to air stagnation advisories and burn bans, which are called by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.
Climate change and global warming may impact a variety of meteorological factors, increasing severity. Other meteorological factors affecting air traffic may include wind shear, thunderstorms, snow storms and heat, which is of concern in the southwest, where a certain air density is required for take off.
Pollutants from aviation operations are a concern. Pollutants are the product of combustion of aircraft fuel, burning of oils and solvents as well as particulate matter which may become abraded especially during take off and landing (TO/L) where the stresses on parts are higher.
Aircraft emissions include a variety of gases, including those of interest in analysis of climate change and global warming. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide.
Aircraft emissions include a variety of gases, including those of interest in analysis of climate change and global warming. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide.
A study by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gives a comprehensive study of aircraft emissions.
The components of aircraft emissions may vary depending on whether they are aloft, and considered greenhouse gasses, or local air quality pollutants. " Aircraft engine emissions are roughly composed of about 70 percent CO2, a little less than 30 percent H2O, and less than 1 percent each of NOx, CO, SOx, VOC, particulates, and other trace components including HAPs."
About ten percent (10%) of aircraft emissions, except for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons occur at ground level. Thirty percent (30%) of Carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions from aircraft occur at ground level.
Carbon Dioxide and Nitric oxides, and methane, as well as water vapor have significant contributions to climate change and global warming. Ozone is also an issue with aircraft emissions, although the effect is felt downwind due to the impact and timing of the photochemical effect that produces ozone.
The airport industry, according to industry source Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), produces 2% of world carbon dioxide emissions and 12% of carbon dioxide emissions from transportation sources. The impact of carbon dioxide may be more significant before springtime, when leaves emerge on the deciduous trees. Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can be illustrated by the Keeling Curve which graphs levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over time. One concern is that carbon dioxide emissions may impact feedback mechanisms that determine breathing patterns and modulate delivery of oxygen throughout the body.
An Airport Report Quality Manual published by the International Civil Aviation Organization discusses Airport Pollution issues. They discuss various particulate matter of varying sizes (10 micrometers or less, or PM2.5 of 2.5 micrometers or less. Particulate matter "has a very diverse composition (heavy metals, sulphates, nitrates, ammonium, organic carbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins/furans)."
The manual states: "Effects: fine particles and soot can cause respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, increased mortality and cancer risk; dust deposition can cause contamination of the soil, plants and also, via the food chain, human exposure to heavy metals and dioxins/furans contained in dust."
Air pollution impacts many systems. Respiratory systems, in particular, are affected, impacting the delivery of oxygen to the bloodstream, and thus to the brain, affecting the respiratory muscles and vasculature, and impacting sleep. Air Pollution and the Respiratory System is a comprehensive journal article discussing the topic. Cardiovascular systems also are impacted. Air quality issues raise a number of concerns.
Noise pollution from airport operations also have a significant impact. Meteorological conditions also affect the sound propagation, or noise emissions from airport operations. According the "Encyclopedia of the Earth", microclimate effects can impact the refraction of sound waves through the atmosphere, intensifying sound levels. Noise emissions may result in a variety of physiological and psychological impacts, including cardiovascular effects. Such effects may reflect exposure to short, high intensity effects from jet engine backblast, to longer term impacts of exposure to moderate sound levels.
Emissions from Airport operations play an important role in contributing to pollution, both in the immediate area of the airport, in a larger, regional context, and with regards to global issues of planetary climate change and global warming. Externalities from such emissions encapsulate the full downstream effects of these emissions, which impact citizens who may incur the cost of such emissions but not share in the economic benefits that the airport brings to the region.
Meteorological conditions affect the deposition of such emissions, near or far, through the atmosphere, in soil or water, or perhaps deposited in human tissue, blood or other organs of the body. Thus the effects of emissions on water systems is important It is interesting to note that the human body is about 55% to 65% water, depending on who and what is being measured, so that the study of water systems can include the atmosphere, rivers, lakes, oceans, and even the human body.
Given the dispersion and deposition of emissions from airport operations, a challenge is to pluck out the impacts attributable to airport operations from other sources surrounding the airport, some of which are directly related to, and gain from, the airport's presence. This issue brings me back to the original blog article on "Externalities and Risks, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport",
Future blog articles will further explore these issues, taking into account current locally available information, assessing the measurement of risks, and considering means of compensating those impacted for the economic and social burden of the externalities in question. These are important issues that have implications for both local and global health, extending into physiological and psychological areas that impact humanity.
The components of aircraft emissions may vary depending on whether they are aloft, and considered greenhouse gasses, or local air quality pollutants. " Aircraft engine emissions are roughly composed of about 70 percent CO2, a little less than 30 percent H2O, and less than 1 percent each of NOx, CO, SOx, VOC, particulates, and other trace components including HAPs."
About ten percent (10%) of aircraft emissions, except for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons occur at ground level. Thirty percent (30%) of Carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions from aircraft occur at ground level.
Carbon Dioxide and Nitric oxides, and methane, as well as water vapor have significant contributions to climate change and global warming. Ozone is also an issue with aircraft emissions, although the effect is felt downwind due to the impact and timing of the photochemical effect that produces ozone.
The airport industry, according to industry source Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), produces 2% of world carbon dioxide emissions and 12% of carbon dioxide emissions from transportation sources. The impact of carbon dioxide may be more significant before springtime, when leaves emerge on the deciduous trees. Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can be illustrated by the Keeling Curve which graphs levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over time. One concern is that carbon dioxide emissions may impact feedback mechanisms that determine breathing patterns and modulate delivery of oxygen throughout the body.
An Airport Report Quality Manual published by the International Civil Aviation Organization discusses Airport Pollution issues. They discuss various particulate matter of varying sizes (10 micrometers or less, or PM2.5 of 2.5 micrometers or less. Particulate matter "has a very diverse composition (heavy metals, sulphates, nitrates, ammonium, organic carbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins/furans)."
The manual states: "Effects: fine particles and soot can cause respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, increased mortality and cancer risk; dust deposition can cause contamination of the soil, plants and also, via the food chain, human exposure to heavy metals and dioxins/furans contained in dust."
Air pollution impacts many systems. Respiratory systems, in particular, are affected, impacting the delivery of oxygen to the bloodstream, and thus to the brain, affecting the respiratory muscles and vasculature, and impacting sleep. Air Pollution and the Respiratory System is a comprehensive journal article discussing the topic. Cardiovascular systems also are impacted. Air quality issues raise a number of concerns.
Noise pollution from airport operations also have a significant impact. Meteorological conditions also affect the sound propagation, or noise emissions from airport operations. According the "Encyclopedia of the Earth", microclimate effects can impact the refraction of sound waves through the atmosphere, intensifying sound levels. Noise emissions may result in a variety of physiological and psychological impacts, including cardiovascular effects. Such effects may reflect exposure to short, high intensity effects from jet engine backblast, to longer term impacts of exposure to moderate sound levels.
Emissions from Airport operations play an important role in contributing to pollution, both in the immediate area of the airport, in a larger, regional context, and with regards to global issues of planetary climate change and global warming. Externalities from such emissions encapsulate the full downstream effects of these emissions, which impact citizens who may incur the cost of such emissions but not share in the economic benefits that the airport brings to the region.
Meteorological conditions affect the deposition of such emissions, near or far, through the atmosphere, in soil or water, or perhaps deposited in human tissue, blood or other organs of the body. Thus the effects of emissions on water systems is important It is interesting to note that the human body is about 55% to 65% water, depending on who and what is being measured, so that the study of water systems can include the atmosphere, rivers, lakes, oceans, and even the human body.
Given the dispersion and deposition of emissions from airport operations, a challenge is to pluck out the impacts attributable to airport operations from other sources surrounding the airport, some of which are directly related to, and gain from, the airport's presence. This issue brings me back to the original blog article on "Externalities and Risks, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport",
Future blog articles will further explore these issues, taking into account current locally available information, assessing the measurement of risks, and considering means of compensating those impacted for the economic and social burden of the externalities in question. These are important issues that have implications for both local and global health, extending into physiological and psychological areas that impact humanity.
Blog Articles:
Externalities and Risk - The Seattle Tacoma International Airport
Climate Change and Carbon
Externalities and Risk - The Seattle Tacoma International Airport
Climate Change and Carbon
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