Nitrogen Dioxide Reduction in U.S. Cities

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 Aura satellite, averaged yearly from 2005-2011. 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. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data only. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data with state lines. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data with major roads. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data with state lines and major roads. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data averaged over 2005. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data averaged over 2011. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2005, and state lines. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2011, and state lines. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2005, and major roads. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2011, and major roads. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2005, as well as major roads and state lines. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2011, as well as major roads and state lines. Color bar

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 Aura satellite, averaged yearly from 2005-2011. 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. The impact of technology to reduce emissions of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide from coal-fired power plants in the Ohio River Valley is apparent in satellite imagery, which shows the signal of pollution blink out over time. Still, while air quality is improving, power plant emissions of carbon dioxide – a greenhouse gas – remain an issue. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data only. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data with state lines. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data with major roads. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data with state lines and major roads. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data averaged over 2005. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data averaged over 2011. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2005, and state lines. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2011, and state lines. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2005, and major roads. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2011, and major roads. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2005, as well as major roads and state lines. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2011, as well as major roads and state lines. Color bar

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 Aura satellite, averaged yearly from 2005-2011. 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. Pollution builds up along the U.S. East Coast as it passes from one city to the next, particularly in the Northeast Corridor. These cities include Richmond, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston and all the smaller cities in between. Some of the largest absolute changes in nitrogen dioxide have occurred in this corridor. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data only. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data with state lines. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data with major roads. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data with state lines and major roads. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data averaged over 2005. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data averaged over 2011. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2005, and state lines. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2011, and state lines. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2005, and major roads. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2011, and major roads. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2005, as well as major roads and state lines. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2011, as well as major roads and state lines. Color bar

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 builds up as pollution passes from one city to the next. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data only. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data with state lines. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data with major roads. This visualization shows nitrogen dioxide data with state lines and major roads. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data averaged over 2005. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data averaged over 2011. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2005, and state lines. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2011, and state lines. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2005, and major roads. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2011, and major roads. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2005, as well as major roads and state lines. This still shows nitrogen dioxide data, averaged over 2011, as well as major roads and state lines. Color bar

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 Aura satellite, averaged yearly from 2005-2011. AtlantaSatellite data show that Atlanta has seen a 42 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods. ChicagoSatellite data show that Chicago has seen a 43 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods. DenverSatellite data show that Denver has seen a 22 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods. HoustonSatellite 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 DiegoSatellite 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 CitySatellite 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. PhiladelphiaSatellite 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 AreaThese images show how nitrogen dioxide in the San Francisco Bay area changed between the 2005-2007 (left) and 2009-2011 (right) periods. TampaThese images show nitrogen dioxide in Tampa, averaged over 2005 (left) and 2011 (right). Northeast U.S. – 2005 Still for SliderClose up of nitrogen dioxide in the Northeast U.S. averaged over 2005. Northeast U.S. – 2011 Still for SliderClose up of nitrogen dioxide in the Northeast U.S. averaged over 2011. Ohio River Valley – 2005 Still for SliderClose up of nitrogen dioxide in the Ohio River Valley averaged over 2005. Ohio River Valley – 2011 Still for SliderClose 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 InformationSee [http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/new-nasa-images-highlight-us-air-quality-improvement/](http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/new-nasa-images-highlight-us-air-quality-improvement/)