Earth ID: 11579

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

Released on June 26, 2014

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

For More Information

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

Credits

Trent L. Schindler (USRA): Animator
Kayvon Sharghi (USRA): Producer
Bryan Duncan (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Lok Lamsal (USRA): Scientist
Yasuko Yoshida (SSAI): Scientist
Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Project Support
Kathryn Hansen (Wyle Information Systems): Writer

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

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