A change in the calculated impact of supersonic aircraft NO x emissions on the atmosphere

Abstract

Abstract New model calculations suggest that the potential impact on the atmosphere of a future fleet of supersonic aircraft, for the year 2015, is highly dependent upon the amount of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) emitted from the fleet. This result contrasts with the IPCC assessment which suggested that the impact of supersonic aircraft on the atmosphere was primarily through the role of water vapour emissions both on atmospheric ozone and climate change. These new findings are extremely important for atmospheric scientists, the aviation industry and policy makers, highlighting the importance of further development of low NO x combustors for supersonic aircraft, an aspect which has been largely ignored following the IPCC Special Report.