Air Quality
Monitoring air quality
The quality of the air we breathe has become an ever more prevalent concern as research continues to show the negative impact of poor air quality on human health.
Satellite data reveals air quality disparities between urban and rural areas, as well as within cities, often showing poorer air quality in less affluent neighbourhoods near pollution sources. This contributes to poorer health outcomes and lower life expectancy for low-income populations—a pattern visible from space.
This video reveals how Sentinel-5P map trace gases, gases that make up a small fraction of Earth’s atmosphere, despite low concentration these gases can have significant effects on the environment.
Credit: ESA
The AIRbezen project:
AIRbezen is a Dutch project that asks residents of Antwerp to grow strawberries on their windowsills, record observations of growth, and send leaf samples for testing. The results are used to create a map of air pollution in the city or province. Through this hands-on approach, AIRbezen raises awareness about air quality and environmental health while engaging young people in scientific research.
For more information visit: https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/projects/airbezen/
Credit: University of Antwerp
The Po Valley, nestled in northern Italy, is renowned for its picturesque landscapes and rich agricultural history. However, the region is also grappling with a persistent environmental challenge: air pollution. The unique geographical and meteorological conditions of the Po Valley contribute to fluctuations in air quality – impacting the health of its residents.
The Po Valley is a densely populated region and is also highly industrialised resulting in large quantities of pollutants released into the atmosphere. Surrounded by the Alps to the north and the Apennines to the south, acts as a natural basin, creating a microclimate that often traps pollutants. During certain weather conditions, such as temperature inversions, the valley becomes a bowl where pollutants, including particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, accumulate, leading to elevated concentrations of air pollutants.
PM10 plays a pivotal role in the air quality dynamics of the Po Valley. Comprising various particles like dust, pollen and combustion byproducts, PM10 is inhalable and can impact respiratory health.
According to EU directives and legal standards, concentrations of PM10 exceeding 50 μg/m³ are deemed dangerous, and this threshold should not be surpassed for any location for a specified number of days annually, typically set at 35 days.
However, recent observations indicate that in January 2024, there have been multiple instances where this critical threshold was exceeded – highlighting a concerning trend in air quality fluctuations. This trend, although not unusual for January, raises notable concerns for environmental health.
This animation shows hourly concentrations of PM10 (particulate matter with an average diameter of 10 micrometres or less) across the Po Valley from 1 January to 31 January 2024. Credit ESA
Links to further information:
ESA Air-quality mission ready to join its host weather satellite