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United Kingdom NASA and SpaceX Launch Instrument to Monitor Earth's Pollution Levels from Space
NASA, in collaboration with Elon Musk's SpaceX, has launched the first-ever space-based pollution tracking instrument called Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO). This instrument will track air quality levels across North America to help scientists better understand and monitor air pollution.
TEMPO is a UV-visible spectrometer that will operate from a geostationary orbit, about 22,000 miles above the Earth's surface. It will provide hourly measurements of air quality over North America, which will help researchers to identify and track sources of pollution, including natural sources such as wildfires and human-made sources such as traffic and industrial activities.
The launch of TEMPO is a significant step forward in NASA's efforts to monitor and understand the impacts of air pollution on human health and the environment. With this new instrument, scientists will be able to better understand the sources and effects of air pollution, which will help policymakers to develop more effective strategies for reducing pollution levels and protecting public health.
How TEMPO Works
TEMPO will measure the amount of sunlight reflected by the Earth's atmosphere in the UV-visible range. This will allow scientists to measure the concentrations of pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and aerosols, which are all harmful to human health and the environment.
TEMPO will provide hourly measurements of air quality over North America, which will be made available to the public through a web-based portal. This will allow anyone to access real-time information about air quality in their area, which will help people to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
The launch of TEMPO is an important milestone in NASA's efforts to monitor and understand the impacts of air pollution on the environment and human health. With this new instrument, scientists will be able to better understand the sources and effects of air pollution, which will help policymakers to develop more effective strategies for reducing pollution levels and protecting public health.
