News on Environment and Climate

Auch wegen der Klimaerwärmung steigt der Bedarf an nachhaltiger Kühlung und Klimatisierung. Nach dem Verbot klimaschädlicher Fluorkohlenwasserstoffe (FCKW) und der schrittweisen Reduzierung ihrer noch immer schädlichen Ersatzstoffe wollen Forschende eine neue Generation natürlicher und synthetischer Kühlmittel mit geringem Treibhauspotenzial untersuchen. Dabei spielen auch die Sicherheitstechnik...

Der auch aufgrund der Klimaerwärmung zunehmende Bedarf an nachhaltiger Kühlung und Klimatisierung lässt die Nachfrage nach Kältemitteln weltweit steigen. Nach dem Verbot klimaschädlicher Fluorkohlenwasserstoffe (FCKW) und der schrittweisen Reduzierung ihrer noch immer schädlichen Ersatzstoffe, wollen Forschende eine neue Generation von natürlichen und synthetischen Kühlmitteln mit geringem...

She comes from the coast, and soon she’ll see nothing but the sea for two whole months. We’re talking about Rieke Schäfer, who is 26 years young, and a doctoral student at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB). On 14 April 2023, she’ll be swapping her desk job and lab work for life on the high seas. Her new place of work will be a large research ship that is going to sail about 16 000 km...

The world as a greenhouse – this is what is shown in the picture on the left: Solar radiation enters the Earth’s atmosphere without any hindrance and should normally leave it as heat. Unfortunately, this is impeded by the thickening “greenhouse roof” consisting of carbon dioxide and other gases. That is why the Earth is getting warmer – and our climate is doing so as well. In order to continuously...

As of 1 July 2023, diesel vehicles must at their next emissions test be shown to emit less than 250 000 particles per cubic centimeter of exhaust gas. Measuring this limit value reliably requires particle counters designed specifically for the task. Their measuring range must be adapted to the particle size, the particle concentration and the properties of diesel exhaust gas. Furthermore, they...

Within the European series of research projects labeled “Metrology for Earth Observation and Climate”, a new reference blackbody called the Hemispherical Blackbody (HSBB) was developed.

Hydrogen chloride gas (HCl) occurs as an impurity in biogas/biomethane, stack emissions from combustion processes and in the air of clean rooms and is harmful to health. In particular for legally prescribed measurements, SI traceability has been a problem to this day. The first spectroscopic HCl primary standard worldwide has now been developed and metrologically validated at PTB.

Morre than 23 million people in the world are exposed to ionizing radiation sometime during the course of their work. Natural radiation is everywhere and affects everyone. The topic of radiation protection is also becoming ever more varied. Due to the latest developments, such as pulsed radiation in medical, industrial or technical applications, we are now increasingly dealing with radiation...

Improved air quality in city centers and climate protection – counting soot particles is to become an integral part of the exhaust examination of diesel cars within the scope of mandatory vehicle inspections in Germany (HU/AU). This novel task requires an entirely new type of measuring instruments that must first be developed and type-approved in order to be installed in vehicle workshops. To...

Nach Tschernobyl wurden weltweit Netzwerke von Messstationen eingerichtet, um die Radioaktivität und Ortsdosisleistung in der Umwelt flächendeckend zu überwachen. Heute sind allein in Europa mehr als 5500 solcher Messstationen nationaler Frühwarnsysteme im Einsatz, die mit hochempfindlichen Dosimetern die Ortsdosisleistung überwachen und ihre Messdaten rund um die Uhr, im Stundentakt, an das Joint...