NASA has released the initial maps from its new space-based pollution instrument, TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution). While it is not surprising to discover higher pollution levels in urban areas, this tool can assist scientists in studying North American air quality on an hourly basis. “Neighborhoods and communities across the country will benefit from TEMPO’s groundbreaking data for many years to come,” stated NASA Administrator Bill Nelson in a press release today.
The instrument, which was launched in April and orbits 22,000 miles above the equator, can aid scientists in studying the health effects of pollutants “at the neighborhood scale.” It can provide hourly measurements, offering insights into the impacts of rush-hour traffic, smoke and ash from forest fires, and the effects of fertilizer on agricultural areas. The tool measures sunlight reflected off the Earth’s surface, atmosphere, and clouds. “Gases in the atmosphere absorb the sunlight, and…
2023-08-24 14:05:39
Link from www.engadget.com rnrn