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Air Quality

Details

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Added to the Catalog
Available for
SOS
Categories
Air: Chemistry
People: Health
Keywords
Aerosols
Air Pollution
Air Quality
Atmosphere
Black Carbon
Chemistry
Emissions
Industrial
Nitrogen Dioxide
Ozone Pollution
Particulate Matter
Soot
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Description

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NASA uses satellite instruments and advanced computer models to track how air pollutants move through the atmosphere. This visualization features data from the Goddard Earth Observing System Composition Forecasting (GEOS-CF) system, one of the world's highest-resolution models for atmospheric chemistry.

The dataset showcases the transport of key pollutants during July and August 2024—a period marked by an exceptionally active fire season in North America. By combining weather data with emissions and chemical transformations, the GEOS-CF model allows scientists to see how smoke from wildfires and urban pollution travel across continents and oceans, impacting air quality far from the source.

Data Details

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  • Duration: ~60 seconds
  • Date: July 1, 2024 - September 14, 2024
  • View it on NASA SVS

Dataset Layers

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  • Composite View: All pollutants combined
  • PM 2.5 Layer: Focuses on particulate matter
  • CO Layer: Focuses on carbon monoxide
  • NOx Layer: Focuses on nitrogen oxides
  • O3 Layer: Focuses on ozone

Notable Features

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  • The visualization tracks:
    • Particulate Matter (PM2.5): Fine particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, often from smoke and dust
    • Carbon Monoxide (CO): A colorless gas produced by incomplete combustion (e.g., fires and vehicles)
    • Ozone (O3): A gas that is a primary component of smog at ground level
    • Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): Pollutants primarily from tailpipes and power plants
  • Wildfire Impact: Clearly illustrates the massive plumes of PM2.5 and CO generated by the 2024 North American fire season
  • High Resolution: Utilizes the GEOS-CF research model, which tracks hundreds of gas-phase chemical species and dozens of particle types

Data Source

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GEOS-CF, NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO)