Effects of energy demand in Southeast Asia
Not only the population, but also the economy of Southeast Asia is growing rapidly. As a result of these developments, the demand for energy is also rising. Since energy generation is mainly based on conventional fossil processes, regional air pollution is increasing fast. These emissions and pollutants have an impact on the regional and global climate. The Asian summer monsoon (ASM) has a major influence on the spatial redistribution of climate-relevant trace gases and aerosols, as emissions are transported from the boundary layer into the lower stratosphere in this circulation system.
Under the leadership of JARA-ENERGY member Prof. Martin Riese, the Institute for Energy and Climate Research, Stratosphere, at Forschungszentrum Jülich, in cooperation with the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) in Beijing and the University of Wuppertal, is investigating both emission sources and transport routes in the area of the monsoon (e.g. CO2, CO, SO2, water vapour, aerosol). The focus lies on CO2 measurements of the Chinese satellite TanSat (launched at the end of 2016). These will be analysed and interpreted in combination with aircraft measurements from the Bergische Universität Wuppertal (Nepal, 2017; see figure of the research aircraft and approach to Kathmandu) and atmospheric simulations from Forschungszentrum Jülich.