Costa Cruises monitor air pollution over the Mediterranean Sea
November 07, 2005
Costa Cruises is working in conjunction with the European Union (EU) to monitor air pollution over the Mediterranean Sea. The Costa Cruises ship Costa Fortuna was outfitted with an air pollution monitoring station that will accumulate data concerning the level of air pollution over the sea. Although the monitoring system will likely go unnoticed by the passengers of Costa Fortuna, the data it receives and produces will be watched closely by many scientists.
The Mediterranean Basin is a heavily-trafficked area of the globe, with lots of long-range cargo vessels, merchant ships, and cruise ships that travel over its water on a daily basis. Other possible sources of air pollution include industrial and urban centers along the seaboards of Mediterranean nations. The oversea pollution measurements taken by Costa Fortuna will provide insight into an area of global pollution that is rarely measured, at least not physically.
Scientists have been analyzing and studying computer models of the atmosphere over the Mediterranean for some time now. With this theoretical and representational data, some scientists believe that the heating of the lower atmosphere, caused by the enhanced absorption of light due to air pollution, can reduce rain clouds and thus intensify droughts. The atmospheric pollution barometer on Costa Cruises? Fortuna will let scientists know whether or not their computer models accurately represent the real observations.
Of course, this is not the EU?s first foray into environmental issues. European Union environmental legislation has developed over the last 30 years and today comprises approximately 300 legal acts, directives, regulations, and recommendations. To this come a large number of communications and other policy documents of relevance for EU environmental policy. Often, the EU seeks the help of private companies to assist with their agendas.
The EU Commissioner for Research, Janez Potocnik, said, ?This partnership is a good example of the private and public sectors working together to find new ways of obtaining data which is important for our understanding of climate change.? Regardless of the findings, it?s no doubt that Costa Cruises ship Costa Fortuna will offer passengers the same exciting and intriguing experiences that it has for years.
After all, besides the great staff, thoughtful service, and Italian style onboard the Costa Fortuna, the Mediterranean is a wonder and popular area of the world for cruise ships. The lure of both the ancient and modern life that places like Greece, Italy, Croatia, Southern France, and North Africa draw cruisers from all over the world to the Mediterranean. Beautiful ports of call are just part of the daily routine on a Costa Cruises voyage.
Costa Cruises is one of the leading Mediterranean cruise lines and offer many exciting European, Caribbean, and Mediterranean cruises to passengers from all over the world. With this study, it?s very likely that the Mediterranean will remain the enchanting and beautiful place that it is today.
