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CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Canadian researchers have an eye on the sky, tracking contrails with cameras
Using a camera network, the researchers are tracking contrails to mitigate aviation-induced climate change. CTV London's Reta Ismail has the story. Researchers at Western University are tackling aviation-induced climate change – by using existing cameras to track contrails. They're called contrails short for condensation trails, visible in the sky. And according to scientists, these thin white trails impact the environment. 'Aviation is a significant source of climate change impact and a portion of that is not direct CO2 emissions, but the secondary effects that come from contrails,' said Denis Vida, a physics and astronomy professor at Western University. To mitigate the impact of contrails, a team of researchers from Western, along with the Global Meteor Network (GMN), is working with an experienced pilot to change the flying altitude of planes by using ground-based cameras to observe airplanes. 'Small percentage of flights, about 15 per cent, would need to make little corrections just in height that don't cost much to eliminate contrails entirely,' explained Vida. 'The major problem is that, there's no data to inform the models to send the airplanes in the right direction, and we're changing that with our project.' The project is now financially backed by Google and Breakthrough Energy. Vida founded and now coordinates GMN, a game-changing international collaboration that has more than 1,400 cameras globally to capture meteor events and now survey aircraft contrails. This project started after Luc Busquin, an experienced captain with Alaska Airlines and founder of ContrailCast, reached out to Vida about using a GMN meteor camera to observe contrails for climate impact research. 'This solution was answering a need from the contrails researchers that they needed to be able to associate contrails with flights, but they were not able to do. And this solution was an answer to the problem,' said Busquin. Vida says existing geostationary satellite systems on average only detect contrails 30 minutes after formation, limiting their utility for actionable mitigation strategies. GMN, with its global distribution of calibrated cameras that directly observe contrails as they are created, offers a unique opportunity. By the end of the year, the team hopes to deliver the first open-access dataset linking contrails with flights and atmospheric conditions. This will give air traffic controllers and various other stakeholders relevant information to re-organize the flow of flight patterns and create real change in future aircraft designs and technologies.


CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Indigenous youth arrive in Sudbury for STEM and mining camp
Laurentian University has been hosting Indigenous youth from across the province, who learned about STEM programs and mining. Indigenous youth from across the province are gaining valuable hands-on experience in Sudbury as part of a summer camp focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as well as mining. 'I really enjoyed this past week … There's a lot of introduction into STEM and trades (and) I'm really interested in geology,' said Ava Naveau, 18, from Mattagami First Nation. 'So that was quite fun.' Indigenous STEM The camp, hosted by Laurentian University's Goodman School of Mines and Cambrian College, provides an opportunity for students to explore potential career paths and build confidence. (Photo courtesy of Goodman School of Mines) The camp, hosted by Laurentian University's Goodman School of Mines and Cambrian College, provides an opportunity for students to explore potential career paths and build confidence. 'Since Sunday, they've been living at Laurentian University and they participated in STEM activities at Laurentian in engineering in our sciences and to undertake some experiences in Indigenous history and cultural community,' said Nicole Tardif, program coordinator at the Goodman School of Mines. The Outland Youth Employment Program STEM and Mining Experience is a six-week program for ages 16 to 19. The group spent three days in Sudbury, giving participants a close look at the city's mining industry. Filling some holes Twenty-five students from at least 10 First Nations communities were in Sudbury from Aug. 4-7. 'The focus of this program is on employment in the North. We're trying to maybe fill in some of the holes that the school curriculum might have with some more experiential, work-related activities and education,' said Tyler Muzzin, an Outland Youth employment program site supervisor. 'Students can even earn certifications that prepare them for the workforce after they graduate high school.' Muzzin said it's also about removing barriers. 'A lot of it is about letting them know what's out there, because some students don't know,' he said. Providing access 'Some students live in cities, some students live on reserves far away. So, this gives them more access to what's available and hopefully something sparks an interest.' Students participated in various STEM workshops and took an underground tour at NORCAT. Kyson Mark Sutherland, 18, from Moose Factory First Nation, said the program has been a valuable experience. 'I didn't exactly know, you know, what the program had to offer for me,' Sutherland said. 'And when I do leave, I have the confidence ... that I belong in any atmosphere of the workforce.' The youth will head back to Timmins for the final two weeks of the program, where they will participate in activities like tree planting, a job simulator and canoe training. Organizers are already planning for the program to return to Sudbury next year.


CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Canadian researchers use cameras to tackle aviation climate impact
Using a camera network, the researchers are tracking contrails to mitigate aviation-induced climate change. CTV London's Reta Ismail has the story. Researchers at Western University are tackling aviation-induced climate change – by using existing cameras to track contrails. They're called contrails short for condensation trails, visible in the sky. And according to scientists, these thin white trails impact the environment. 'Aviation is a significant source of climate change impact and a portion of that is not direct CO2 emissions, but the secondary effects that come from contrails,' said Denis Vida, a physics and astronomy professor at Western University. To mitigate the impact of contrails, a team of researchers from Western, along with the Global Meteor Network (GMN), is working with an experienced pilot to change the flying altitude of planes by using ground-based cameras to observe airplanes. 'Small percentage of flights, about 15 per cent, would need to make little corrections just in height that don't cost much to eliminate contrails entirely,' explained Vida. 'The major problem is that, there's no data to inform the models to send the airplanes in the right direction, and we're changing that with our project.' The project is now financially backed by Google and Breakthrough Energy. Vida founded and now coordinates GMN, a game-changing international collaboration that has more than 1,400 cameras globally to capture meteor events and now survey aircraft contrails. This project started after Luc Busquin, an experienced captain with Alaska Airlines and founder of ContrailCast, reached out to Vida about using a GMN meteor camera to observe contrails for climate impact research. 'This solution was answering a need from the contrails researchers that they needed to be able to associate contrails with flights, but they were not able to do. And this solution was an answer to the problem,' said Busquin. Vida says existing geostationary satellite systems on average only detect contrails 30 minutes after formation, limiting their utility for actionable mitigation strategies. GMN, with its global distribution of calibrated cameras that directly observe contrails as they are created, offers a unique opportunity. By the end of the year, the team hopes to deliver the first open-access dataset linking contrails with flights and atmospheric conditions. This will give air traffic controllers and various other stakeholders relevant information to re-organize the flow of flight patterns and create real change in future aircraft designs and technologies.