tech
Google and the UK think changing flights paths could cut down on climate change
Hundreds of commercial flights will be told to change their paths over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean during the next two winters to show how minor altitude adjustments can reduce aviation’s climate impact.
TL;DR
- The UK and Google are testing flight path changes to reduce heat-trapping contrails.
- Hundreds of commercial flights will participate in the trial over the northeastern Atlantic Ocean for two winters.
- Minor altitude adjustments, up to 2,000 feet, will be implemented.
- Google's AI-powered forecasts will identify contrail formation regions.
- Contrails, formed by ice crystals around engine soot, trap heat and contribute to global warming.
- The trial, Operation Blue Skies, involves test periods during winter months with less air traffic.
- About 1% to 5% of flights deviating could show a significant reduction in contrail formation.
- This effort expands on individual airline trials to mitigate contrails across an entire flight corridor.
- Contrails are responsible for 1% to 2% of Earth's warming, with the Shanwick airspace accounting for a significant portion.
- The UK government is funding over half of the 5 million pound study.
- The consortium includes Google, the UK Department for Transport, the Met Office, NATS, Contrails.org, Imperial College London, and the University of Cambridge.