Suspended 300 meters above the 15th arrondissement of Paris, the famous Paris balloon is no longer content to offer a breathtaking view of the capital. Since his return to the sky after three months of interruption, this hot air balloon has turned into real scientific laboratory Flying, capable of measuring with extreme precision the main gases responsible for global warming.
Precise measures
In March 2024, the Generali balloon had already been endowed with a new system capable of measuring, among other things, CO2 and methane shows in the Parisian air. It was added to the LOAC, intended for the measurement of the quantity of fine particles, as well as the ozone tracker already present on the captive balloon.
It is now equipped with a new sensor latest cry, developed as part of a partnership with the European Copernicus program. Its mission: to analyze the composition of the air by detecting the concentration of three major greenhouse gases: CO2, methane and water vapor. Although natural, the latter plays an amplifier role in warming the atmosphere (2 to 3 times more than CO2 according to the IPCC).
Thanks to a slow rise – about one meter per second – up to 300 meters above sea level, the balloon offers a suitable vertical profile to carry out very fine atmospheric surveys at different heights.
Technical advances at the service of science
The quality of these data allows researchers to observe local variations in pollution, to identify emission sources, and even to detect CO₂ concentrations as subtle as “those produced by The expiration of passers -by in the street“, According to Loic Loigerot, research engineer at the Laboratory of Climate and Environmental Sciences (LSCE), in an interview given to the media Natura Sciences.
The on -board system, fruit of more than two years of work by CNRS and LSCE engineers, represents an opportunity to follow the evolution of the urban climate.
It will allow, for example, to check if Paris actually progresses in its decarbonation policy. Between 2004 and 2024, the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide fell on average by 50 %, and the concentrations of fine particles of 55 %, according to Airparif.
-An educational tool and an alert signal
Beyond its scientific performance, the ball also plays an awareness role. Its surface now sports the following figure: 1,56°Cor the current level of global warming compared to the pre -industrial era.
In real time, it also indicates the increase in the average annual temperature compared to the pre-industrial era in the world and in Europe, and the increase in average monthly temperature in Europe compared to the averages of periods 1991-2020.
The balloon Even change color Depending on the level of air pollution (from blue-green to red-violet) at night. A choice from the desire of the airport company, designer of the ball, to make it a lasting attraction: no gas burner, but helium and an electric winch to regulate the altitude.
Anyone can pay to board this captive balloon, but you must first check on the website that weather conditions allow it, otherwise the ball does not take the risk of taking off.
Surveillance that interests insurers
This initiative also draws the attention of the world of insurance. Sponsor of the ball, the Generali group uses the data collected for better anticipate risks Climate -related. The Italian insurer has developed an internal climate LAB and offers a platform via a QR Code on the ball allowing citizens to estimate the climatic risks of their place of residence.
In 2024, climatic disasters in France cost insurers 5 billion euros. This is the most expensive 9th year for insurance since 1982, but the first three remain 2023, 2022 and 1999. A marked increase noted by the French Insurer annual report in 2023.
According to him, during the 1900s to 2008, climatic disasters in France cost an average of 2.7 billion euros per year. Between 2010 and 2019, this average cost increased to 3.7 billion and between 2020 and 2024, the average increased to 5.6 billion.
