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NASA Satellite Spots Toxic Air Pollution That Went Unreported

 

Human-made sources of toxic sulfur-dioxide emissions were discovered around the world using new satellite monitoring.

Credit: EPA

A new satellite-based detection method has revealed 39 unreported and major human-made sources of toxic air pollution.

The newly identified sources of toxic sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions include coal-burning power plants; smelters; and oil and gas operations in the Middle East, Mexico and parts of Russia, according to the new study. These previously unreported sources were found in an analysis of data from NASA's Aura satellite from 2005 to 2014.

A known health hazard and contributor to acid rain, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions are closely monitored. Before this satellite-based analysis, SO2 monitoring methods had relied on known locations of pollution sources and subsequent use of emissions inventories from ground-based measurements. [In Photos: World's Most Polluted Places]

"We now have an independent measurement of these emission sources that does not rely on what was known or thought known," Chris McLinden, lead author of the study, said in a statement. "When you look at a satellite picture of sulfur dioxide, you end up with it appearing as hotspots — bull's-eyes, in effect — which makes the estimates of emissions easier."