Hi David,

just out of curiosity

>kerosene combustion reaction: C12H28 + 37/2 O2 -> 12C02 + 13H20

where is the single H2 where do you get a half O2?

28 Atoms H on the left does not equal 13H2 equal 26 Atoms on the right

it must be

C12H28 + 37/2 O2 -> 12C02 + 13H20 +H2

but this sounds not likely, why shouldn't the free H2 not react? If there is not enough oxygene I always thought it would react with the hydrogen rather then carbon.

or

C12H28 + 19 O2 -> 12C02 + 14H20

If you use a more complex equation where the H2 goes to something else you need to put this into the equation and its remnants into acount to the rest of your view.

Short range flights consume more fuel then average. No idea how much. But just consider the repeated acceleration, climbing and lower flight altitude.

Universe is non linear.

Agnes

>
>Kerosene (Jet fuel) is 0.8g/cm3 = 800g / L
>
>Kerosene = (12*12 +1*28) = 172 g / mole
>
>greenhouse gas produced = 12( 12 + 16 * 2 ) = 528 g / mole
>
>800 g / L divided by 172 g/mole = 4.65 moles / L
>
>greenhouse gas per liter of kerosene = 4.65 moles / L * 528 g / mole = 2455 g / L
>
>greenhouse gas per km / passenger = 2455 g / L * 0.048 L / km / passenger = 117 g / km / passenger
>
>Now if you divide 400 kg CO2 per flight / 117 g / km / passenger it means the average flight length is 3418 km! Given that Europe is total about 3500 km east to west and 3000 km north to south, and I'd bet that 90% of the air traffic involves a region less than 2000km e-w and 1500km n-s.
>
>Please point out any miscalculations.
>
>>I'm going to have to look up some chemistry tonight but this doesn't sound right at all:
>>
>>"An average European flight produces 400 kg of greenhouse gases per passenger"
>>
>>And exactly what is the average European flight? Are they talking just intra-European flights, or all flights that have a European origin or destination? update - reading further looks like just intra-European flights based on the "short-haul" sentence.
>>
>>>http://www.greenmuze.com/climate/travel/1850-shocking-polar-bear-ad.html