Air Brained

‘FORTY scientists from seven British universities are to travel to the Azores today to follow a plume of air as it heads across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Intercontinental Transport of Ozone and Precursors programme’s HQ

Yes, that’s right – 40 scientists have managed to convince their employers that they need to travel to the islands to look at air.

The Independent says the aim of the mission is not purely to get a suntan, but also to see if American smog and exhaust fumes are harming us here in Britain.

Dr Alastair Lewis, of the Intercontinental Transport of Ozone and Precursors programme, explains.

‘It’s highly likely that air leaving the States contains a cocktail of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons which are emitted from vehicle exhausts and power stations.

‘We want to know how these will react together on the way to Europe and whether they will form ozone and particles, both of which can be harmful to humans.’

Important work, we are sure you would agree, and work that demands the presence of at least 40 scientists (all of whom will have flown there on a gas-guzzling jumbo).

We just hope that they manage to keep track of the particular plume of air they’re following all the way to, say, the Amalfi Coast, the Greek islands and beyond…’

Posted: 12th, July 2004 | In: Broadsheets Comment | TrackBack | Permalink