New study to explore ways of lowering ozone levels

World Today

Scientists in the U.S. state of Colorado are embarking on a new study of ozone. The pollutant, a key component of smog, has been shown to cause health problems and to damage crops. As CCTV’s Hendrik Sybrandy reports, this comprehensive effort could help countries around the world tackle their future pollution problems.

Ozone study: Scientists explore new ways to improve environment

Scientists in the U.S. state of Colorado are embarking on a new study of ozone. The pollutant, a key component of smog, has been shown to cause health problems and to damage crops. As CCTV's Hendrik Sybrandy reports, this comprehensive effort could help countries around the world tackle their future pollution problems.

In a large airplane hangar in Colorado, several hundred scientists unveil an ambitious new study involving aircraft, ground-based instruments and computer simulations.The target of the research is ozone, a pollutant that’s chemically produced when nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbon emissions mix in sunlight.

The goal of the month-long project is to learn more about how the ozone is created. A C-130, packed with measuring devices, is one of three planes that will collect air samples. Scientists believe new computer models of Colorado’s ozone, which is moderately bad during the summer time, will translate internationally.

The study could help policymakers devise ways of lowering ozone levels. And since ozone has been proven to hurt crop yields, agriculture could benefit. That’s important because the world’s food demands continue to go up. The first results from all this work should be known in about a year.