NASA Images Highlight U.S. Air Quality Improvement – Release Materials

  • Released Thursday, June 26, 2014
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Anyone living in the U.S. for the past decade may have noticed a change in the air. The change is apparent in NASA satellite images that demonstrate the country's reduction of air pollution, or more specifically, nitrogen dioxide.

Nitrogen dioxide can impact the respiratory system, and it also contributes to the formation of other pollutants including ground-level ozone and particulates. The gas is produced primarily during the combustion of gasoline in vehicle engines and coal in power plants. Air pollution has decreased even though population and the number of cars on the roads have increased. The shift is the result of regulations, technology improvements and economic changes, scientists say.

This following visualizations show tropospheric column concentrations of nitrogen dioxide as detected by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument on NASA's Aura satellite. Blue and green denote lower concentrations and orange and red areas denote higher concentrations, ranging from 1e+15 to 5e+15 molecules per square centimeter, respectively.

United States

This visualization shows tropospheric column concentrations of nitrogen dioxide across the U.S. as detected by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument on NASA's Aura satellite, averaged yearly from 2005-2011.

Atlanta Satellite data show that Atlanta has seen a 42 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

Atlanta

Satellite data show that Atlanta has seen a 42 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

Chicago Satellite data show that Chicago has seen a 43 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

Chicago

Satellite data show that Chicago has seen a 43 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

Denver Satellite data show that Denver has seen a 22 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

Denver

Satellite data show that Denver has seen a 22 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

Houston Satellite data show that Houston has seen a 24 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

Houston

Satellite data show that Houston has seen a 24 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

Los Angeles-San Diego Satellite data show that the Los Angeles area has seen a 40 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

Los Angeles-San Diego

Satellite data show that the Los Angeles area has seen a 40 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

New York City Satellite data show that New York City has seen a 32 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

New York City

Satellite data show that New York City has seen a 32 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

Philadelphia Satellite data show that Philadelphia has seen a 26 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

Philadelphia

Satellite data show that Philadelphia has seen a 26 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

San Francisco Bay Area These images show how nitrogen dioxide in the San Francisco Bay area changed between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

San Francisco Bay Area

These images show how nitrogen dioxide in the San Francisco Bay area changed between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods.

Tampa These images show nitrogen dioxide in Tampa, averaged over 2005 (left) and 2011 (right).

Tampa

These images show nitrogen dioxide in Tampa, averaged over 2005 (left) and 2011 (right).

Northeast U.S. – 2005 Still for Slider Close up of nitrogen dioxide in the Northeast U.S. averaged over 2005.

Northeast U.S. – 2005 Still for Slider

Close up of nitrogen dioxide in the Northeast U.S. averaged over 2005.

Northeast U.S. – 2011 Still for Slider Close up of nitrogen dioxide in the Northeast U.S. averaged over 2011.

Northeast U.S. – 2011 Still for Slider

Close up of nitrogen dioxide in the Northeast U.S. averaged over 2011.

Ohio River Valley – 2005 Still for Slider Close up of nitrogen dioxide in the Ohio River Valley averaged over 2005.

Ohio River Valley – 2005 Still for Slider

Close up of nitrogen dioxide in the Ohio River Valley averaged over 2005.

Ohio River Valley – 2011 Still for Slider Close up of nitrogen dioxide in the Ohio River Valley averaged over 2011.

Ohio River Valley – 2011 Still for Slider

Close up of nitrogen dioxide in the Ohio River Valley averaged over 2011.

This visualization corresponds to a hyperwall show of the material above.

For More Information

See http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/new-nasa-images-highlight-us-air-quality-improvement/

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA Goddard's Scientific Visualization Studio

This page was originally published on Thursday, June 26, 2014.
This page was last updated on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 12:18 AM EST.