20 years after the launch of MOZAIC, seven Airbus widebody aircraft (six A340-300s and an A330) equipped with measurement devices are flying daily and internationally, with the support of the programme’s associated airlines: Lufthansa, China Airlines, Air France, Iberia, Cathay Pacific and Air Namibia.
“There is today no atmospheric or climate model which does not use the huge MOZAIC and IAGOS* databases to adjust results” said Rainer Von Wrede, Airbus’ Head of Environment for Engineering and Research & Technology. “Thanks to our participation and the strong partnerships with airlines, laboratories and institutes the scientific community has a much better understanding of the atmosphere and climate change.”
The scientific data collected, including near real-time data provision for weather prediction, climate and air quality forecasting, are verified and added to the MOZAIC/IAGOS database with free access given to international scientific and policy-making communities. The measurement devices capture key information needed for research, such as aircraft parameters (date/hour, geo-localisation, wind direction & speed, temperature, pressure) and atmospheric data such as concentrations in ozone, water vapour and carbon monoxide.
To date, the measurements captured on more than 41,000 commercial flights have been added to the MOZAIC/IAGOS database since the first data obtained on an Air France A340 flight from Caracas to Bogota in August 1994.