Researchers from the University of Surrey and São Paulo State University in Brazil, have discovered how nanostructured gas sensor devices can monitor harmful emission sources, such as nitrogenous gasses. They believe that these devices could help track and control the emissions and have the potential to assist in tackling climate change.
Why do we want to lower the amount of nitrogenous gasses in the atmosphere?
- N2O is a long-lived greenhouse gas that is almost 300 times more potent than CO2 over a 100-year period and is the third-largest contributor to climate change after CO2 and methane, which is why it is important that we are able to monitor it.
- If excess nitrogen is released into our atmosphere it can produce pollutants which can impair our ability to breath and limit visibility and alter plant growth. Likewise if any excess comes back from earth from the atmosphere, it can harm forest health, soils and waterways.
What problem will the sensors solve?
- By having the ability to monitor and track these emissions, the nanostructured gas sensors could have potential to allow us more control over the levels of these gases that we are emitting into the atmosphere.
- It is a positive contribution towards tackling climate change.
If you are an avid science fan, you can click here for a link to the original paper. This includes more specific details on their research and information on how the sensors function.