A Ryanair advert in the Guardian denying the airplanes' responsability in Global warming

by Duine Thu Mar 29, 2007 13:25

B'fhéidir go bhfuil difear eatharu, a jacques!

by Terence Thu Mar 29, 2007 13:37

This is typical PR spin, but it obviously works otherwise they wouldn't spend money on these adverts.

The figure for airlines responsible for 2% of CO-2 emissions leaves out much, because it leaves other important considerations in relation to airplanes and that is the exhaust from the jet engines produce considerable amounts of water-vapor which is also greenhouse gas and nitrogenous oxides (NOX) into the upper atmosphere. The NOX have the potential to destroy Ozone. The higher an aircraft flies the more damage it can do.

Normally the upper atmosphere is a very dry place with few clouds because it is so cold -hence can't hold the moisture. Airplanes though effectively inject water vapor into this layer which is not good and the water vapor produce contrails/vapor-trails which in some parts of the Northern Hemisphere can cover significant areas of the sky. Depending on the time -whether day or night their effect differs. During the night these clouds help trap heat and during the day reflect away sunlight.

Another point missed or side-stepped around is that airplanes burn copius quantities of precious cheap oil. As the world approaches Peak Oil and then passes it and the realization hits of the true value of this cheap oil, it will be realized what a frivolous waste that much of it has been put to. This topic has been discussed in the article: Aviation and Oil Depletion at: http://europe.theoildrum.com/story/2006/12/11/45514/799 -where the question was posed during the discussion -How many turbines would be required to produce the hydrogen by electrolysis to fuel a daily service from London to New York - One 747 sized jet flying each way each day (i.e. two planes in service)? (URL = http://europe.theoildrum.com/story/2006/12/11/45514/799#15 ) and from the answer the true value and therefore waste of this precious fuel is very evident.

Overall then there are additional factors other than CO-2 that cause damage or modifications that need to be considered in relation to flying that the advert convienently ignores.

Ryanair and all the other airlines could never contenance a plan which says: Lets use whatever remaining oil we have much more slowly and carefully and completely restructure the physical layout of our built environmental so that we can achieve the same things by using much much less so that we waste less, use limited resources wisely and reduce pollution levels overall and make changes to avoid the worst effects of global warming/chaos. Indeed if most people were asked if this should be done, I am confident they would mostly agree it is the most reasonable and prudent plan.