Emissions inventories for climate modelling of net-zero aviation CO2 pathways

This dataset contains global aviation emissions inventories generated using the aviation systems model AIM2015 for the NERC MAGICA project (NE/Z503836/1). Emissions inventories are generated for 2015, for a 2050 baseline with no aviation CO2 emissions mitigation policy, and for four different scenarios which reach net zero CO2 emissions in 2050 in different ways. Each net zero scenario additionally has four sub-cases based on assumptions about combustor technology in the next generation of aircraft engines, and whether contrail avoidance is widely adopted. 

Inventories are provided in eighteen separate files, comprising:

·       A baseline inventory for 2015;

·       A no-policy scenario for 2050, in which no policies aimed at reducing aviation CO2 are applied;

·       For each of the net zero scenarios (SAF, Hydrogen, DAC, Demand) in 2050:

o   A scenario with no lean burn engines and no contrail avoidance;

o   A scenario with lean burn engines and no contrail avoidance;

o   A scenario with no lean burn engines and contrail avoidance; and

o   A scenario with both lean burn engines and contrail avoidance.

Within each file, gridded emissions are provided for nine variables of interest to climate modelling:

·       Kerosene burnt (kg, total including SAF), and kerosene SAF burnt (kg) which also allow direct estimation of the location of CO2, H2O and SOx from kerosene combustion via emissions factors;

·       Hydrogen burnt (kg), which also allows direct estimation of hydrogen aircraft combustion H2O via emissions factors;

·       NOx produced (kg, from all fuels);

·       nvPM produced (g, from all fuels);

·       vPM (sulphate component, g, from all fuels);

·       vPM (unburnt hydrocarbons and engine oil component, g, from all fuels);

·       3D Distance flown by kerosene aircraft (km); and

·       3D Distance flown by hydrogen aircraft (km).

In each case, variables are gridded by latitude, longitude, altitude, month and daily time bin, at 1 degree x 1 degree x 2,000 ft x month x 6-hour UTC bin resolution. Files are provided in netCDF format, but csv files containing the same data (at 1 degree by 1 degree by 2000ft by month and 6-hour UTC time bin) are also available from the authors on request.