Tracking climate through ship exhaust
28 Sep 2022
A total of 99,800 commercial ships sail the seas, carrying around 90% of the world’s trade in goods. Their operation is vital—the transport of COVID-19 vaccines, for instance, wouldn’t have been possible without them.
The fuel oil that runs these immense vessels can contain up to 3,500 times more sulfur than the diesel that is used for land vehicles. When the fuel is burned, large amounts of sulfur oxides and other aerosols are released into the atmosphere. These aerosols increase the concentration of droplets in marine low clouds, which makes them appear brighter. These bright clouds trail ships and can be seen in satellite images.
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