Augmenting the Standard Operating Procedures of Health and Air Quality Stakeholders With NASA Resources

The combination of air quality (AQ) data from satellites and low-cost sensor systems, along with output from AQ models, have the potential to augment high-quality, regulatory-grade data in countries with in situ monitoring networks and provide much needed AQ information in countries without them, including Low and Moderate Income Countries (LMICs). We demonstrate the potential of free and publicly available USA National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) resources, which include capacity building activities, satellite data, and global AQ forecasts, to provide cost-effective, and reliable AQ information to health and AQ professionals around the world. We provide illustrative case studies that highlight how global AQ forecasts along with satellite data may be used to characterize AQ on urban to regional scales, including to quantify pollution concentrations, identify pollution sources, and track the long-range transport of pollution. We also provide recommendations to data product developers to facilitate and broaden usage of NASA resources by health and AQ stakeholders. Plain Language Summary We demonstrate that free and publicly available USA National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) resources, which include capacity building activities, satellite data, and global air quality (AQ) forecasts, have the potential to augment air pollution data from surface monitors and low-cost sensors. These resources are valuable for health and air quality stakeholders who have no or little access to air pollution data for their communities. For instance, they are a viable and cost-effective option for stakeholders in Low and Moderate Income Countries (LMICs) to acquire the data necessary for monitoring air quality trends, assessing the efficacy of emission controls, daily risk communication and local health studies. Such an approach to air quality monitoring combines the strengths of these monitoring technologies (i.e., regulatory-grade stationary monitors, satellite data, low-cost sensors, and air quality forecast models). We also provide recommendations to data product developers to facilitate and broaden usage of NASA resources by health and AQ stakeholders.

Automated summary

The combination of satellite data, low-cost sensor systems, and AQ models has the potential to provide valuable and cost-effective AQ information, particularly in countries without monitoring networks. NASA's free resources offer capacity building activities, satellite data, and global AQ forecasts that can benefit health and AQ professionals globally, including those in LMICs. These resources can help monitor air quality trends, assess emission controls, provide daily risk communication, and facilitate local health studies.