Air pollution tracking via satellite imaging
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed an enormous reduction in nitrogen dioxide emissions in China. During February, typically when the Chinese New Year would occur, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) observed a decrease in fine particulate matter of between 20 and 30% when overlayed with data from the previous 3 years.
ESA’s Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor is dedicated to monitoring air pollution by measuring a multitude of trace gases and aerosols. All of which affect the air we breathe.
“With air pollution a major concern, the satellite carries the state-of-the-art Tropomi instrument to map a multitude of trace gases such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone, formaldehyde, sulphur dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide and aerosols – all of which affect the air we breathe and therefore our health, and our climate.”
– European Space Agency (19/03/2020)
