Aranet4 at Forest Days: Measuring CO2 Capture

How Children and Adults Measured CO2 Capture in a Live Experiment

At the recent "Meža dienas" (Forest Days) event organized by JSC "Latvijas Valsts Meži" (Latvian State Forests), visitors had the opportunity to explore nature and see firsthand how the environment impacts air quality. To make the invisible visible, Aranet4 sensors were brought in to demonstrate to children and youth how fresh air differs from stale air in actual numbers.

During the event, visitors learned about carbon dioxide CO2 capture and its vital role in our daily lives. Trees and green plants act as the planet's lungs, consuming CO2 through photosynthesis and generating the oxygen we need to breathe. To demonstrate this clearly, a simple yet engaging experiment was conducted using two mini-greenhouses.

Visitors were able to compare two completely different environments:

• Fresh Forest Air: In the greenhouse filled with green seedlings, the Aranet4 consistently showed excellent air quality, matching natural outdoor levels at around 400 ppm.
• Stale Indoor Air Simulation: In an empty greenhouse, visitors blew air inside and closed it immediately to track the changes in real time. Participants of all ages eagerly joined in to set "records." On the first day, the CO2 concentration inside the empty greenhouse reached a peak of 4200 ppm, while the second day record hit 2700 ppm.

This data clearly illustrated how quickly air becomes heavy and unhealthy in enclosed, unventilated spaces. Alongside the hands-on measurements, visitors explored reference tables to learn where else carbon dioxide is used in everyday life, such as in the production of carbonated beverages.

We are thrilled that Aranet4 could help the younger generation understand natural processes and the importance of air quality in such an intuitive, engaging way during this educational event.