A new satellite called TEMPO aims to offer more accurate data on air pollution in the US, potentially benefiting the country’s most polluted neighborhoods.
Driving the news: The TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions
* Once operational, it will provide near-continuous air pollution information about the entire country, helping to reduce pollution and forecast poor local air quality more accurately.
Improving data granularity: The current network of federal air monitors is too spread out to capture a complete picture of air pollution exposure across the US.
* TEMPO will offer more detailed information by taking hourly measurements of three major air pollutants, allowing researchers to monitor pollution levels in sections of a city.
* This could help identify pollution sources affecting disproportionately polluted neighborhoods.
Potential uses: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sees the satellite as a “big step forward,” and is exploring ways to use the new data in combination with its ground-based air pollution monitors to combat environmental injustice.
* One immediate application could be providing real-time information about wildfire smoke, with plans to integrate the data into the EPA’s AirNow site to improve its accuracy.
Community impact: In areas like Curtis Bay, Baltimore, which suffer from dangerous air pollution, the TEMPO data could help guide companies and government officials to implement stricter regulations and enforce pollution-reduction measures.
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