A BAE Systems research aircraft is helping scientists analyse air pollution in the northern hemisphere caused by wildfires in Canada, in a bid to improve pollution forecasts. The BAe 146 Atmospheric Research Aircraft (ARA) is on a three-week mission to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada where it is carrying a team of researchers who will use its on-board equipment to measure gases and particles emitted by wildfires. During the mission the BAe 146 ARA will be flown daily along the eastern coast of Canada chasing plumes of wildfire pollution.
These emissions are transported across the Atlantic Ocean and may affect air quality in the UK and Europe. By helping researchers better understand how the chemicals from these wildfires disperse in the air as they are transported, this mission will help estimate the role of North American forest fires on air pollution in Europe and improve forecasting.
