UC Berkeley News: Using Berkeley Technology, Glasgow Debuts New GHG Monitoring Network

Berkeley CA

05 November, 2021

6:12 AM

Description

Press release from UC Berkeley News: November 3, 2021 Like the network in the Bay Area, Glasgow's 25 new sensors will monitor levels of greenhouse gases as well as air pollutants and particulate matter. "Cities can make a substantial impact in GHG emissions reductions since they currently contribute more than 70% of the total. Until now, local governments have had limited access to timely data to help guide their GHG reduction policies," said Tom Baer, GEMM co-lead and director of the Stanford Photonics Research Center at Stanford University. "With these low-cost, real-time compact optical sensors deployed around the city, for the first time, leaders will have actionable science in hand to support strategic policy decisions." This localized modeling is the first to provide day-to-day, neighborhood-scale forecasts for cities and regions, which can be used to model future scenarios and as a way to assess current policies that aim to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution emissions. Last year, for example, Cohen's Bay Area BEACO2N network allowed him to see in real-time the impact of the pandemic shutdown on CO2 emissions. "In the next five years, all the cities on the planet need to take quick and deliberate action," Cohen said. "We stand ready with BEACON to provide observations that help them know their plans are occurring on track and on target." This international effort is a result of a collaboration between the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow City Council, Stanford University, UC Berkeley, Optica, AGU, the Met Office and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). This press release was produced by UC Berkeley News. The views expressed here are the author's own.