Greenhouse Gases Observation over the Indian Ocean by "FUJISAN MARU" a Very Large Crude Oil Carrier (VLCC)
The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Idemitsu Tanker Co., Ltd. (Idemitsu Tanker) and IINO Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd. (IINO Lines) have decided to conduct GHGs observations over the Indian Ocean by the VLCC "FUJISAN MARU" as part of the project of S-22-1(2) supported by Environment Research and Technology Development Fund "Understanding atmospheric GHG*1 and SLCF*2 dynamics through multi-platform observations (the Project)".
VLCC "FUJISAN MARU, " planned to install atmospheric observation equipment (Delivered in 2020)
NIES promotes the long-term observation of global environmental change (global environmental monitoring) in several fields. In particular, NIES conducts high-precision observations of greenhouse gas concentrations using various platforms such as ground stations, commercial vessels and aircraft to monitor the distribution and increase of global atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases that cause global warming. NIES has been conducting shipboard observations in the Pacific Ocean for many years, but the Indian Ocean has remained an unobserved area. As the implementation of observations over the Indian Ocean is expected to improve the accuracy of GHG emission and absorption analysis, the expansion of the observing network has been planned as a funding issue.
The vessel, owned by IINO Lines and chartered by Idemitsu Tanker, has a main route from the Middle East to Japan and is suitable for observation over the Indian Ocean by the NIES, so we plan to install atmospheric monitoring equipment and conduct observations around the end of FY2024.
We will contribute to the clarification of global GHG distribution and carbon cycle mechanisms through the observation of GHGs using vessels navigating wide areas, and work toward the achievement of carbon neutrality.
Atmospheric CO₂ concentration observation sites used in the CO₂ emissions and absorption analysis model (NISMON-CO2).
There is almost no observational data over the Indian Ocean. (Exhibit: Niwa et al., Prog Earth Planet Sci, 2022)
*1 GHG
Abbreviation for Greenhouse Gas. Substances that have the effect of warming the atmosphere near
the earth's surface by absorbing and emitting some of the infrared radiation emitted from the earth's surface. Carbon dioxide, methane, dinitrogen monoxide, hydrofluorocarbons, etc.
*2 SLCF
Abbreviation for Short-lived Climate Forcer. Substances that have a shorter lifetime in the atmosphere than greenhouse gases but influence climate through air quality and aerosol formation.
Nitrogen oxides and black carbon, etc.
Contact:
Oil Tanker Department
Inquiry Form: https://www.iino.co.jp/kaiun/english/contact/
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