Increasing the Use of Earth Science Data and Models in Air Quality Management

ABSTRACT

In 2010, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) initiated the Air Quality Applied Science Team (AQAST) as a 5-year, $17.5-million award with 19 principal investigators. AQAST aims to increase the use of Earth science products in air quality-related research and to help meet air quality managers’ information needs. We conducted a Web-based survey and a limited number of follow-up interviews to investigate federal, state, tribal, and local air quality managers’ perspectives on usefulness of Earth science data and models, and on the impact AQAST has had. The air quality managers we surveyed identified meeting the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and particulate matter, emissions from mobile sources, and interstate air pollution transport as top challenges in need of improved information. Most survey respondents viewed inadequate coverage or frequency of satellite observations, data uncertainty, and lack of staff time or resources as barriers to increased use of satellite data by their organizations. Managers who have been involved with AQAST indicated that the program has helped build awareness of NASA Earth science products, and assisted their organizations with retrieval and interpretation of satellite data and with application of global chemistry and climate models. AQAST has also helped build a network between researchers and air quality managers with potential for further collaborations.

Implications: NASA’s Air Quality Applied Science Team (AQAST) aims to increase the use of satellite data and global chemistry and climate models for air quality management purposes, by supporting research and tool development projects of interest to both groups. Our survey and interviews of air quality managers indicate they found value in many AQAST projects and particularly appreciated the connections to the research community that the program facilitated. Managers expressed interest in receiving continued support for their organizations’ use of satellite data, including assistance in retrieving and interpreting data from future geostationary platforms meant to provide more frequent coverage for air quality and other applications.

Acknowledgment

The authors thank Pat Dolwick, Bryan Duncan, Daniel Jacob, Tracey Holloway, David Lighthall, Tom Moore, Theresa Pella, and Ana Prados for advice on the survey instrument, and the National Association of Clean Air Agencies and the Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies for assistance in distributing the survey. The authors also thank all of the air quality managers and scientists whom they interviewed and the managers who completed the survey, for sharing their insights and experience.

Funding

This research was sponsored by NASA Air Quality Applied Science Team award number NNX11AI54G. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of AQAST or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Additional information

Funding

This research was sponsored by NASA Air Quality Applied Science Team award number NNX11AI54G. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of AQAST or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Notes on contributors

Jana B. Milford

Jana B. Milford is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Engineering Program at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Daniel Knight

Daniel Knight is a senior professional research associate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder.