A prominent nonprofit is pushing the federal government to integrate satellites into its air monitoring networks to better show soot pollution across the country.
The American Lung Association, which puts out yearly reports analyzing air quality nationwide, released research Wednesday indicating gaps in ground monitoring for the pollutant commonly called soot. By integrating satellite data, the association was able to identify 300 new counties with dangerous levels of soot.
“Communities without local air quality monitors may be facing dangerous levels of particle pollution without official data to point to in order to advocate for change,” said Harold Wimmer, the group’s president.
“Satellite-derived data presents an exciting opportunity to augment the existing network of monitors and improve our understanding of air quality across the country.”
