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Add as a favourite source on Google Add DutchNews as a favourite source on GooglePeople living in the Veluwe region near the German border have been surprised by the sight of a zeppelin hovering in the skies above their heads.

The airship took off from Essen, in the Ruhr area of North Rhine-Westphalia, and is being used to measure air pollution in an area on both sides of the border that covers Arnhem and Utrecht.

Scientists from Wageningen University & Research have equipped the balloon with instruments to measure levels of CO2 pollution, emissions and fine particles in the air, in a joint operation with German colleagues.

“The substances are partly produced by the forest and partly by traffic and industry,” researcher Michiel van der Molen told NOS. “Exactly how that works and how quickly it spreads is interesting, but mostly unknown.”

The zeppelin is due to pass over the area several times during the next week at a height of around 300 metres above ground level. Its path can be followed on Flightradar24 under the code DLZFN.

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