Climate change scientists to stop over

A team of scientists from America’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) and other USA agencies and Universities, are expected to stop over in Rarotonga on Sunday as part of a world wide survey to monitor increasing levels of greenhouse gases and black carbon in the atmosphere.
This exercise is crucial to better understanding human-caused climate change and the impacts of greenhouse gases. The data being collected will help scientists determine whether heat trapping pollutants are having an effect on the Earth’s atmosphere.
The team is in Phase two of a two year mission using a Gulf Stream V aircraft which has been modified to carry on board a portable laboratory. On board equipment is able to detect and measure up to 30 different gases. Phase one began last January. The aircraft will climb and dip repeatedly between 1,000 and 47,000 feet. The data collected will help verify if policies to reduce heat trapping pollutants are having their intended effect.
Flights will continue throughout December. The team will also land in the Solomons, Australia and New Zealand. Three more sets of flights are planned over the next two years.

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