Antenna - What’s new in science
Does flying cost the Earth?
How does flying contribute to climate change?
Aeroplane emissions help to cause climate change. Like everything that burns fossil fuels to generate energy, planes release carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, water vapour and soot particles. Watch our animation to find out how a plane's exhaust affects the atmosphere and how the effects can last for years...
We know the planet is hotting up, and carbon dioxide is usually singled out as the biggest culprit. But when it comes to aviation, other emissions can have an impact too.
Nitrogen oxides can turn into powerful greenhouse gases. And water vapour and soot particles can form condensation trails and clouds that also warm the planet.
So how are scientists discovering the true effects of these emissions on climate change?
There are still many questions to be answered about the extent to which plane emissions affect the atmosphere. Scientists are building large global climate models to fit together everything we know so far about the effects of aeroplane emissions and to try to predict their future impact.
Find out more about what they're up to...