NASA satellite has identified new sources of emissions of sulfur dioxide – RIA Novosti

05:47 02.06.2016

(updated: 05:52 02.06.2016 )

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WASHINGTON, June 2 -. RIA Novosti Researchers at the United States and Canada with the help of satellite data found about 40 previously unknown source of sulfur dioxide emissions, most of them in Mexico, the Middle East and Russia, announced by NASA on Wednesday .

“Satellite sulfur dioxide shot shows the” hot spots “, which makes the possibility of calculating the emissions easier”, – quotes NASA’s lead researcher from Canada Chris MakLindena. The study, which this week published the journal Nature Geosciences, attended by NASA, the Canadian Institute for the Environment and Climate Change and two other university. The study is based on an analysis of satellite data from 2005 to 2014.

From the previously unregistered official sources of emissions 39 – a coal-fired power plants, smelters, areas of oil and gas processing in the Middle East, as well as in Mexico and Russia. The authors also note that, according to the satellite, emissions of a number of previously known sulfur dioxide sources in two-three times higher than the stated figures.

The study shows that the “undeclared” source of sulfur dioxide emissions account for up to 12 % of the total emissions of the substance. In addition to the sources caused by human activity, 75 natural sources of sulfur dioxide was found.

As noted in the NASA currently control of sulfur dioxide emissions on the basis of measurements from the Earth and indirect calculations. The presence in the atmosphere of sulfur dioxide is one of the causes of acid rain.