High hopes for greenhouse gas study

RESEARCH to measure the level of greenhouse gases over Scotland has been started by scientists at Edinburgh University.

The three-year study is taking place at the Angus Balcalk transmitter, north of Dundee, and involves the erection of pipes on the 750ft radio mast to draw in air for analysis.

It is being led by Dr John B Moncrieff, a reader in atmospheric and environmental studies at Edinburgh University, who said the results would supersede much of the data from previous readings.

"The important point to this study is that past measurements - going back almost 50 years - have been done at near ground level, and all you get are the local area results, say, within a few hundred metres of the site. This type of study has never been carried out at this altitude in the UK.

"In this project, we want to discover the concentration of trace gases representative of a much wider area - essentially, most of the Scottish countryside. It’s a bit like a small person going to a theatre: they’re going to have trouble getting a clear view of the stage and understand what’s going on. Meanwhile, a tall person can see it perfectly and get a real sense of what is happening."

For the experiment, pumps will suck air down the tubes. It will then be analysed for greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and methane, which, if present in high enough concentrations contribute to global warming.

Also measured will be levels of radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, which has been known to cause cancer in humans, if inhaled over a prolonged period of time.

The results of the tests will be matched to meteorological data to measure not only the gas levels but also to show where the gas has come from. It is expected the study will be producing useable data within two weeks. The experiment is one of six taking place across Europe to measure greenhouse gas levels across the continent.

Dr Moncrieff said the study would also help give an accurate idea of how effective Scotland’s forests are at absorbing the gases.

"Scotland’s forests are very good carbon sinks, especially the new forests, because they tend to be evergreens, so they have an all-year-round effect," he said."