This is fascinating (and a little frightening too)

[progressoid]

Last edited Wed Apr 2, 2014, 05:01 PM - Edit history (1)

This data visualization of Air Traffic in Europe was created from real flight data. It shows the air traffic which flies on a typical summer day and highlights the intensity of the operation in Europe - an operation which runs 24x7x365

That's a lotta traffic!

http://vimeo.com/88093956

[Joe Shlabotnik]

1. Thats a cool visualization

I often wonder how much fuel is used, and how much pollution is created by today's level of air travel. I wonder how much of it is necessary, although designating whats 'necessary' would be pretty subjective.

[progressoid]

2. Well, I'm pretty sure my Mother-in-law's recent trip to Europe wasn't necessary.

She's been there a dozen times but this time she got robbed, so maybe that was her last one.

[Systematic Chaos]

3. We'll find out as it all grinds to a halt in the not-so-distant future.

When there's no fuel left, those planes won't fly. And when the planes don't fly, all the shit they spew into the upper atmosphere will settle. And then it won't be there to curtail the constant beating down of the sun.

Much fun will ensue.

[Nihil]

4. We(*) had a glimpse of the improvement possible back in 2010 ...

I loved it when Eyjafjallajökull erupted and we had no major aircraft flying over us for about a week!

The majority of air travel miles are unnecessary - personal indulgences, business meetings
that can (and should) be conducted by phone or video, shipping of luxury exotic foodstuffs from
distant lands to be wasted on supermarket shelves - and so the loss of them (temporarily or, as will
eventually be the case, permanently) is simply at the "inconvenience" level rather than anything
vaguely life-threatening.

On the other hand, continuing the incredible volume of unnecessary flights is life-threatening on a
global scale so when it comes to stopping it, I say "Do it and now please".

Bring it on!





(*) "We" = "UK & other NW Europeans" along with anyone else who was intending to visit/return from
those places in early April 2010. By way of comparison, the clear skies following 09-SEP-11 would
have given those on the NE USA a taste of it as well.

[OnlinePoker]

5. Meanwhile

Every time there's a climate conference, it's done in some distant place where everyone has to fly to get there. Maybe it's time they take the lead and have these by teleconference instead of a mass gathering.

[Nihil]

7. Agreed but I think you'll find that the ones who object to such a sensible suggestion ...

... are the poxy politicians (and their entourage of various categories of hangers-on) who
a) want the photo-ops; b) want the break away from their other duties; and c) want to get
all of the backroom, off the record, bribe-trading action kept away from any public sight.

If they were all debating on videoconference then it would be (even more) blatantly obvious
which politicians and which nations were deliberately blocking & de-railing any progress.

[catbyte]

6. WOW. No wonder Air Traffic Contrrollers have more nervous breakdowns,

high suicide rates & early retirement than just about any other profession.