Satellite Technology Aiming to Improve Air Quality Monitoring

Residents of Curtis Bay, Maryland, have long campaigned for improved air quality in their area. A forthcoming satellite aims to significantly enhance air pollution data collection. This could be crucial in addressing poor air quality in heavily affected neighborhoods.

Many communities across the U.S. endure polluted air. These areas often include neighborhoods where working-class individuals and people of color live. Residents are usually aware of the poor air quality but lack the detailed data necessary to advocate effectively for change.

NPR climate reporters Rebecca Hersher and Seyma Bayram recently discussed the potential impact of a new satellite with Short Wave host Emily Kwong. The satellite is called TEMPO, which stands for Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring Pollution.

TEMPO represents a collaboration between NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The satellite will monitor pollutants, including ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide, across the U.S. It will provide data every hour, every day.

This advanced monitoring aims to create more accurate air quality guides that can be updated promptly. By offering more precise, location-specific information, it holds promise for communities striving for clean air.

“The idea is to use the data to better inform air quality guides that are more timely and location specific,” NPR’s team explained.

NPR encourages questions from the public about science. You can send inquiries to [email protected]. Short Wave is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

This episode’s production team included Berly McCoy, with managing producer Rebecca Ramirez. Fact-checking was provided by Rebecca Hersher and Seyma Bayram. Patrick Murray handled the audio engineering.