Recent News

November 9, 2024

The Lancet Releases Ninth Annual Climate Countdown Report on Health and Climate Change

The 2024 Climate Countdown, “Facing record-breaking threats from delayed action” was recently released with contibution from HAQAST PI Yang Liu. To learn about the report’s tracking of health and climate change, read the report or watch this visual summary.

 

 

October 29, 2024

ALA Releases “Something in the Air” Report: Bridging AQ Data Gap with Satellite Technology

The American Lung Association has released a new report that calls for various initiatives from government, along with individual actions, to overall improve human health related to poor air quality. The analysis of satellite-derived air quality data was conducted by HAQAST Lead, Dr. Tracey Holloway, and other members of the Holloway Group. Read the full report here.

 

 

October 23, 2024

HAQAST-Funded Air Quality Research Benefits Urban and Rural Communities in Alaska

A recent study accomplished through the help of PIs Jingqiu Mao and Pawan Gupta developed a method of quickly determining surface air quality during Alaska’s sometimes intense wildfire season. The method, which derives PM2.5 levels under high aerosol optical depth conditions, fills a major gap in Alaska’s air quality monitoring system.

 

 

October 9, 2024

Yang Liu Interviewed on Recent Study About Health Effects Related to LA Warehouse Pollution

In this article by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, HAQAST PI Yang Liu describes his contributions to a study on particulate concentration from LA warehouses in order to better understand how air pollution disproportionately effects underserved communities. Particulate pollution has been linked to a number of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

 

 

October 8, 2024

Wisconsin’s Air Quality Continues to Improve, Explains Dr. Tracey Holloway

In an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR), Dr. Holloway, Team Lead for HAQAST, said that the EPA’s tightened U.S. air quality regulations are improving local air quality. “We have instruments across the state measuring the air every hour of every day,” Holloway said.

 

 

September 20, 2024

Lead Scientist Pawan Gupta on Contributing Towards Forecasting Project, ZephAir

NASA Senior Scientist Dr. Pawan Gupta was featured in an American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) article on his leading contributions towards ZephAir, the successful air monitoring system. The tool utilizes AI to pull data from ground monitors, satellites, meteorological variables and more to provide a quality forecast.

 

 

September 20, 2024

NASA Data Helps Protect US Embassy Staff from Polluted Air

In collaboration with NASA, the public tool ZephAir now includes three-day air quality forecasts for PM2.5 for all the approximately 270 US embassies and consulates worldwide. More on this exciting development here and here.

 

 

 

August 25, 2024

HAQAST’s New Dataset from MERRA-2 Satellite Provides Bias-Corrected PM2.5 Concentrations

NASA has recently released a new version of the MERRA-2 dataset which was created as part of HAQAST’s “Machine Learning Derived MERRA2 PM2.5” team partially led by Pawan Gupta. This product provides bias-corrected surface PM2.5 mass concentrations derived using the CNN machine learning method.

 

 

August 22, 2024

Nationwide Cuts to Air Pollution Have Unintentionally Increased Ground-Level Pollution, Finds New Research

In a recent publication in partnership with Princeton, researchers found that decreased rates of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) have led to increased nitrogen deposits in forests and streams around the U.S. Da Pan and Mark Zondlo emphasize the importance of renewable energy systems to prevent further pollution. Read the full research article here.

 

August 14, 2024

Daniel Tong Emphasizes the Health Impacts of Canadian; U.S. Wildfires

In this article by the American Thoracic Society, HAQAST member Daniel Tong highlights the human health risks associated with border-defying wildfire smoke. The 2023 Health of the Air Report, which was funded by NASA’s HAQAST, provided first-ever estimates of human health effects directly attributed to wildfire smoke.

 

 

August 8, 2024

City of Madison to Install 60+ Monitors of PM2.5 to be Regulated by the EPA

Madison is now one of over a hundred cities nationwide to install monitors of fine particulate matter in order to better monitor associated health risks, for instance respiratory and heart diseases. Tracey Holloway, who was interviewed, says these monitors are the first step towards reducing local air pollution rates.

 

 

August 5, 2024

NO2 Now Included in EPA EJScreen Thanks to HAQAST Tiger Team

NASA’s program manager for Health and Air Quality, John Haynes, and HAQAST researcher Gaige Kerr were quoted in this NASA article on a recent update to EJScreen, which now offers data about nitrogen dioxide (NO2). This crucial update was made possible by the work of the Satellite Data for Environmental Justice Tiger Team in partnership with the EPA.

 

 

July 25, 2024

Susan Anenberg to NY Times: Wildfire Smoke Endangers Vulnerable Populations

Wildfire smoke from Western burns have reached the East Coast. HAQAST member Susan Anenberg was interviewed on the public health impacts of the smoke, for instance cardiovascular, neurological and mental health effects.

 

 

 

July 24, 2024

NO2 Concentrated Near Warehouses Nationwide, Research Shows

Dr. Gaige Kerr led a recent research project that tracked air pollution from space, resulting in the identification of Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) congregations at some 150,000 U.S. warehouses. These dangerous NO2 concentrations are now attracting regulatory and legal attention from both the local community and lawmakers.

 

 

July 16, 2024

NASA Celebrates 20 Years of Aura, Considering the Satellite “Transformative” for Air Quality Research

Bryan Duncan was quoted in this NASA article which commemorates the work of Earth-observing satellite, Aura, which paved the way for recent missions including PACE and TEMPO. The mission’s data have given researchers an unparalleled view of air pollution around the world, Duncan said.

 

 

July 8, 2024

NO2  Indicator Integrated into EPA EJScreen

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) from 2020 block group-level source data is now available in an updated version of EJScreen 2.3. This is a result of the efforts for the Satellite Data for Environmental Justice Team. EJScreen 2.3 makes a number of important improvements to better meet the needs of users, including new environmental indicators and map layers, interface improvements, and updated demographic and environmental data.

 

July 2, 2024

TROPOMI NO2 Version 2.4 Release Included in Earthdata Roundup

Level 3 GLOBAL TROPOMI Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) collections covering the period from July 2019 to present were recently released and noted as significant in Earth Data’s June 2024 Data Summary.

 

 

 

June 28, 2024

Dr. Tracey Holloway Discusses Link Between Air Pollution and Human Health

HAQAST Team Lead, Dr. Tracey Holloway spoke with ABC13 news on the relationship between poor air quality and adverse health effects. Respiratory disease is one of the biggest impacts, Holloway said.

 

 

June 27, 2024

HAQAST Lead Tracey Holloway Interviewed on Outdoor Air Quality and Wildfire Smoke

In a recent interview with SciLine, Dr. Holloway spoke on the importance of staying up-to-date with local air quality due to adverse human health effects. While she acknowledges significant successes in the fight against climate change, Dr. Holloway addresses the need to combat both climate and air pollution together.

 

 

June 26, 2024

Earth Action Program Translates Satellite Data to Health Research

John Haynes’ 2023 presentation at the American Thoracic Society Conference described the many benefits of using NASA satellite data for health research. The goal, he said, is to apply Earth Action data to benefit the economy, human health, quality of life and the environment.

 

 

June 4, 2024

HAQAST Massachusetts was held June 4-5

HAQAST’s 14 PIs and 60+ collaborators partnered with MIT at this biannual meeting in Cambridge, MA. This two-day public event offered an opportunity for researchers, stakeholders and data users to foster collaboration using NASA tools and data. Recorded sessions 1A-7A are now available to view here.

 

 

June 4, 2024

A.44 Earth Action Deadlines Announced; Extended

HAQAST’s deadline to request Notice of Intent is June 4th, 2024. The complimentary proposal due date has been extended to June 16th due to widespread power loss from Hurricane Beryl.

 

 

June 3, 2024

Advanced Seminar on Satellite Monitoring of Smoke and Fires in South America was held April-June

Dr. Ana Prados, a HAQAST member and contributor, organized an advanced satellite course at two universities in Bolivia which concluded on June 3rd. 30 attendees from government agencies, the private sector, and universities from both countries completed the multi week course, which included outstanding group end-of-course presentations.

 

 

May 24, 2024

High Ozone Levels from Warmer Months May Lead to Further Pollution, Says Dr. Tracey Holloway

In an interview with The Chicago Sun Times, HAQAST Lead Dr. Holloway said that air pollution may still increase despite less wildfire smoke and less extreme heat than prior years. “We’re seeing warmer springs and warmer summers that may be leading to high ozone levels that undo some of the pollution reductions we’ve seen,” Holloway said.

 

 

May 16, 2024

NASA Satellite Data Used to Measure, Help Reduce India’s Air Pollution

In this Earthdata article, Pawan Gupta discusses the applied benefits of using satellites to monitor air quality. In an effort to better understand the source of air pollution, Gupta emphasizes the disproportionate effects on human health.

 

 

 

May 14, 2024

ZephAir Mobile App Announces Forecasting Function

The Greening Diplomacy Initiative (GDI) has partnered with HAQAST in developing a three-day air quality forecast for particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) for ZephAir, the first air quality mobile app. In-app forecasting functionality will be made available in summer 2024, the US Department of State said.

 

 

May 10, 2024

Announcing the Release of Forecasting Functionality for the Department of State’s Air Quality App, ZephAir

Featuring Pawan Gupta’s project in partnership with the Greening Diplomacy Initiative (GDI) announcing a new, machine learning-powered particulate air pollution forecast.

 

 

Headshot of Rosalie Powell
May 2, 2024

Rosalie Powell Graduates UW Madison with Double Major

Powell, who worked with HAQAST as a Digital Media Specialist, graduated UW Madison in spring 2024 with degrees in Environmental Sciences and Life Sciences Communication. Post-grad, Rosalie is beginning a conservation outreach fellowship and aims to connect researchers and their communities.

 

 

May 1, 2024

HAQAST Study Included on Astrobiology’s NASA Current Awareness List

Qian Xiao’s study on the relationship between neighborhood light and noise levels on long-term sleep patterns was emphasized as significant on Astrobiology’s April 2024 Current Awareness List.

 

 

 

April 24, 2024

130 million Americans routinely breathe unhealthy air, report finds

Susan Anenberg discusses the increasing challenge of combating human-driven, poor air quality in this OPB article. In regard to addressing air pollution and climate change, the easy wins are gone, Anenberg said.

 

 

 

April 23, 2024

HAQAST Annual Program Review was held in Jackson, WY from April 23-24

All currently funded grants, interagency agreements and various contracts in the Health and Air Quality program area collaborated for this event. See here to learn more about a presentation given by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality in partnership with HAQAST.

 

April 22, 2024

Study: Wildfire Smoke Contributes to 16,000 US Deaths Annually

HAQAST member Susan Anenberg was interviewed by Nature World News about her study on the effects of air pollution on human health. The number could grow to 30,000 annual deaths without proper intervention, Anenberg said.

 

 

 

March 19, 2024

One Thing Most Countries Have in Common: Unsafe Air

HAQAST researcher Gaige Kerr was quoted, and his team’s research was featured in this New York Times article. It discusses global air pollution, disparities in the US, and future perspectives.

 

 

 

March 18, 2024

Study on Heat Illness Used to Inform Miami’s Extreme Heat Action Plan

Chris Uejio’s work alongside HAQAST helped identify areas in Dade County, Miami that are most vulnerable to risk of extreme heat illness.

 

 

 

March 8, 2024

Faces of Technology – Women of NASA 2024

To celebrate National Women’s Day, NASA looked back on the Faces of Technology series. This video compilation included clips from three members of HAQAST projects: Amber Soja, Emily Gargulinski, and Kellin Slater.

 

 

 

March 6, 2024

EPA’s Integrated Science Assessment includes over 100 citations describing and applying satellite-derived PM2.5 data supporting the revised standard

The Integrated Science Assessment and its Supplement that underpin the revised PM2.5 standard as well as the final rule itself (89 FR 16202) include cited work from Randall Martin.

 

 

Gaige Kerr, PhD — SatSummit 2022
March 6, 2024

3Qs with Gaige Kerr: New Study on How Air Pollution Impacts Minority Populations

Gaige Kerr discusses his new publication which investigates the disproportionate impact of air pollution on minority populations. Kerr and the team found that despite decreases in air pollution effects over the past ten years, racial and ethnic disparities in pediatric asthma and premature mortality have widened.

 

 

February 5, 2024

Geostationary satellites could provide better air quality alerts: study 

Susan Anenberg alongside researchers from GW, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency released a new study to demonstrate the public health value of geostationary satellites for air pollution monitoring.

December 18, 2023

Living in Heat that Kills

Featuring HAQAST PI Chris Uejio

In partnership with Miami-Dade County, Chris Uejio and the HAQAST Environmental Justice Team used satellite data to understand which residents and what areas are most impact by heat. Summer heat can be deadly and understanding the issue is the first step to implementing change. Miami-Dade County is using this data to transform the science into a heat-action plan which will benefit the most at risk populations.

 

November 28, 2023

Tiny but Mighty

Featuring HAQAST PI Susan Anenberg 

On this episode of the NASA’S Curious Universe Podcast guest Susan Anenburg and others discuss the effect of aerosols in areas from air pollution to climate change. Additionally, they talk about the role of HAQAST and how satellite data can inform on the ground decision making.

 

November 15, 2023

Satellite Data Can Help Limit the Dangers of Windblown Dust

Featuring HAQAST program manager John Haynes & HAQAST PI Daniel Tong

Dust storms are increasing threat due factors including urban sprawl and climate change. HAQAST research led by Daniel Tong utilizes NASA and NOAA data to provide early warnings to the public. This helps build awareness and understanding, in hopes of preventing collisions and health risks.

 

November 4, 2023

Why School Location Can Expose Certain Kids To More Air Pollution

This Forbes opinion piece highlights a recent publication from the HAQAST Satellite Data for Environmental Justice Tiger Team. The study shows how school location across the nation impacts children’s exposure to air pollution. It quotes NASA Earth Observatory article which also highlight the team.

 

 

November 3, 2023

Dr. Tracey Holloway Featured on the “Sustain UW” Podcast

Featuring HAQAST Team Lead Dr. Tracey Holloway

HAQAST Lead Tracey Holloway recently joined Madison’s Sustain UW podcast for the “Hot, Hazy and Hazardous” episode. Dr. Holloway discussed Canadian wildfires, ozone and smoke in Madison, and steps for moving forward.

 

 

November 1, 2023

Wildfires Impact Health Across Every Region in U.S. According to “Health of the Air” Report

Feature HAQAST Member Kevin Cromar & Daniel Tong

The American Thoracic Society (ATS) has released their annul “Heath of the Air” Report. It includes data and analysis produced by a Rapid Response Team lead by Kevin Cromar and Daniel Tong.  Their team’s health analysis is the “first-ever local and national estimates of the health impacts specifically attributable to air pollution from wildland fires”.

 

Oct 16, 2023

Using Satellite Data to Solve Real-World Health and Air Quality Issues

NASA HAQAST is profiled in this NASA Earth Data article, explaining how Tiger Teams and Rapid Response Teams are formed, and featuring Satellite Data for Environmental Justice.

 

 

October 6, 2023

Air Quality Forecasts Get an Upgrade

Featuring HAQAST Member Daniel Tong

Daniel Tong and his team collaborated with the National Air Quality Forecast Capability (NAQFC) and NOAA Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) to provide air quality forecasts about dust storms using satellite data. This work allows the public to understand where and when dust storm events will occur, saving lives.

 

September 12, 2023

UAF helps develop air quality data for popular Alaska wildfire website

Featuring HAQAST Member Jingqiu Mao

A new interactive map developed in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Alaska Fire Service allows users to quickly and easily understand where Alaskan wildlife smoke is headed. It features current air quality conditions and forecasts.

 

Haze from wildfire smoke over Washington, D.C., in June.
August 24, 2023

Featuring HAQAST Team Lead Tracey Holloway

The satellite will stay parked above North America and provide scientists with hourly daytime updates on air pollution nationwide. On August 24th, researchers released their first images, which show changes in nitrogen dioxide pollution over the United States over the course of a day.

 

Group of people looking at air quality monitoring devices.
August 1, 2023

Featuring work from the HAQAST Team

A Department of State team comprised of representatives from policy, management, medical, and regional bureaus visited the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on June 1st to meet with NASA scientists about our ongoing collaboration to provide U.S. diplomatic posts with air quality data.

 

Aerial view of a forest fire.
July 27, 2023

Wildfire exposure linked to higher risk for death after lung cancer surgery

Featuring HAQAST Ambassador Leticia M. Nogueira

Discusses at study that shows the effects of wildfires on patients recovering from lung cancer surgery, showing they have worse survival outcomes than their unexposed counterparts.

 

Biker wearing a mask while smoke covers the DC area.
July 25, 2023

The long term effects of repeated exposure to the smoke and haze from Canadian wildfires

Featuring HAQAST PI Susan Anenberg

Radio interview discussing the raging wildfires in Canada have been causing a smokey haze in the D.C. region this summer — and how it doesn’t appear to be getting better, and what this means for the long term health of the people living there.

 

Scientists walking on a sand dune.
July 12, 2023

Special Webinar for the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms

Featuring HAQAST PI Daniel Tong

The UN General Assembly declared July 12 to be the International Day for Combating Sand and Dust Storms. You can access the special webinar with it’s round table of experts on sand and dust storms here. HAQAST PI Daniel Tong was also asked to record a brief statement on these issues and you can find his statement here.

 

Nurse helping asthmatic child
July 14, 2023

Looking to Solve Real-World Air Quality Issues

Featuring HAQAST Outreach Coordinator Jenny Bratburd

Monitoring oil and gas emissions; how to use data from a new NASA mission; combining air pollution data with information on household income – these are just a few of the research topics chosen for support by the NASA Health and Air Quality program area.

 

June 28, 2023

The Air Quality Index, Explained with Dr. Tracey Holloway

Featuring HAQAST Team Lead Tracey Holloway

In a recent interview with Vox, Dr. Holloway helps break down the Air Quality Index; an air quality guide developed by the EPA and fueled by 5,000 air monitors across the country.

 

June 28, 2023

UW-Madison scientist predicts an increase in smoky days in the future

Featuring HAQAST Team Lead Tracey Holloway

Tracey Holloway was featured in two TV segments, What’s in the smoke? and UW-Madison scientist predicts an increase in smoky days in the future, to explain the recent air quality concerns and what the future may look like.

 

Satellite image of smoke sweeping into New York and Pennsylvania on the morning of June 7, 2023.
June 16, 2023

Wildfires Will Only Get Worse. We Need Satellite Tracking of Air Pollution

Featuring HAQAST PI Susan Anenberg

Satellite monitoring of air quality could help reduce premature death from smoke exposure.

 

 

June 1, 2023

Senior Research Scientist Ana Prados Interviewed on Urban Environments and Air Quality

HAQAST member and collaborator Ana Prados of the University of Maryland Baltimore County was interviewed by Gareth Byatt. They discussed a wide variety of topics relating to air quality and human health, for instance urban infrastructure, ecological environments and climate change.

 

 

May 16, 2023

Faces of Technology – Meet Kellin Slater

Meet Kellin Slater, an environmental epidemiologist who uses NASA satellite data to help detect health impacts from small fires. As a Project Manager at Colorado State University for one of NASA’s Health and Air Quality Applied Science Teams (HAQAST), Kellin is interested in environmental justice for all communities impacted by smoke from agricultural fires.

 

April 5, 2023

How deadly are dust storms? New research shows they cause more crashes than previously recorded

Featuring HAQAST PI Danial Tong

Dust storms can prove deadly to drivers, causing panic and loss of visibility. Danial Tong and his team shed light on crashes related to dust storm events, providing new data and suggestions for future reporting.

 

April 3, 2023

Brighter Neighborhoods Harm Human Health

Featuring HAQAST PI Qian Xiao

A recent study published by Qian Xiao and her team, found an association between the light exposure at night and human health. Namely, brighter neighbors experienced higher risk of breast cancer. The risk disproportionality impacts poorer, non-white communities as they are more likely to live in brighter neighborhoods. Explore the group’s toolkit here.

 

No Breathing Easy for City Dwellers: Nitrogen Dioxide (Image of the day)

Featuring HAQAST PI Susan Anenburg

This ground breaking research connects ‘health outcomes in cities around the world to satellite and ground-based data on air pollution’ for the first time.

 

March 10, 2023

Martin named Raymond R. Tucker Distinguished Professor

HAQAST member Randall Martin has been named as the Raymond R. Tucker Distinguished Professor at the Washington University in St. Louis. This recognition honors Raymond Tucker a former St. Louis mayor, professor, and Environmentalist. It speaks to Martin’s deep commitment to researching and improving air quality and health.

 

 

March 9, 2023

EPA’s Good Neighbor Plan Yields Support from Environmental Groups; Opposition from Industry

Featuring HAQAST Team Lead Tracey Holloway

A new plan by the EPA proposes stricter pollution standards to reduce smog and target power plant emissions in 23 states, including Wisconsin. Dr. Tracey Holloway acknowledges an improvement in air quality over time, but argues that many areas still contribute to respiratory diseases and other human health issues from poor air quality.

 

January 31, 2023

Milken Institute School of Public Health Announces New Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health

HAQAST PI Susan Anenburg has been selected as the new chair for the George Washington University Department of Environmental and Occupational Health. This position speaks to her outstanding achievements in the fields of climate and health.

November 27, 2022

Madison to use low-cost sensors to measure neighborhood air quality

With the help of a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the City of Madison and 3 community partners are implementing 68 air quality sensors throughout the city. This will give residents a real time understanding of particulate matter levels on the neighborhood scale. Tracey Holloway, a project advisor, notes that air quality can vary greatly on small scales, so this project will allow us to understand if certain areas are disproportionately impacted.

 

November 16th, 2022

Air Pollution High at US Public Schools with Kids from Marginalized Groups

Air pollution can have significant health impacts especially for children, who have increased vulnerability. This study conducted by HAQAST PIs Susan Anenburg and Randall Martin among others, is the first of its kind—offering a report of ‘atmospheric fine particulate pollution and nitrogen dioxide exposure patterns at U.S. public schools’ at a nationwide scale.

 

November 11, 2022

Faces of Technology – Meet Emily Gargulinski

Meet Emily Gargulinski, a NASA Research Engineer at the National Institute of Aerospace. Emily watches fires from space. She uses geospatial data to evaluate what’s happening with fires on the ground. As part of her work with NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team, or HAQAST, Emily is looking at the impact of small agricultural and range fires.

 

November 3rd, 2022

Six New Trustees Elected to the UCAR Board

HAQAST Team Lead Tracey Holloway was recently elected to the board of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) which oversees the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). NCAR is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and seeks to provide resources including models tools, educational resources and facilities to atmospheric research scientists.

 

November 2, 2022

A Hole in the Ozone Layer is Shrinking, Says Dr. Tracey Holloway

In this WPR episode, HAQAST Team Lead Tracey Holloway explains how a hole in the ozone layer is expected to be eliminated by 2065– and what we can learn from this rare climate success story.

 

 

October 18, 2022

UW’s Tracey Holloway elected to National Academy of Medicine

HAQAST Team Lead Tracey Holloway has been elected a member of the National Academy of Medicine. This honor recognizes her interdisciplinary approach to air quality, climate science, and public health.

 

 

LADCO logo
September 9, 2022

 

LADCO works to understand the causes of ground level ozone pollution in the Great Lakes region. This page provides the state of the science information on ozone chemistry, sources, and mitigation strategies.

 

 

Map of Earth showing population-weighted annual-average pollutant concentrations
August 17, 2022

Comprehensive New Report Details Two Major Air Pollutants and Related Health Impacts in More Than 7,000 Cities

Featuring HAQAST PI Susan Anenberg and Ambassador Pallavi Pant

Read full report and explore the interactive maps to learn more about air quality in your city, how it is changing, and the disease burdens associated with air pollution.

 

Map of the Northeastern coast of the U.S. showing concentrations of NO2
August 17, 2022

Using Data to Mitigate Inequitable Environmental Burdens

Featuring HAQAST PI’s Susan Anenberg and Qian Xiao

A new transdisciplinary special collection welcomes studies exploring data and tools for identifying and mitigating environmental injustice.

 

Dust storm in Arizona
August 1, 2022

Dust-up over dust storm link to ‘Valley Fever’ disease

Featuring HAQAST PI Daniel Tong

Researchers are divided over whether rising cases of the fungal infection in the United States can be linked to dust storms.

 

Woman in the sun with her hand to her head, perspiring in the heat
July 29, 2022

How Does The Human Body React to Extreme Heat?

Featuring HAQAST PI Chris Uejio

Chris Uejio joins guest host Sophie Bushwick to talk about what high temperatures do to the body, and how we can protect our health and safety in a heat wave.

 

Map of the Lake Michigan area showing the surface ozone levels
July 27, 2022

Clearer View of Great Lakes Air Quality (NASA Image of the Day)

The complex lake and land breezes and the atmospheric pressure differences across the Great Lakes region of North America can result in high levels of ozone pollution that are difficult to monitor or predict. Recently, air quality experts began incorporating more satellite data and customized models from NASA to better track that pollution. Their goal is to better inform local decision-making about how to improve air quality.

 

July 20, 2022

Air EQuality for All

Featuring HAQAST PIs Susan Anenberg & Dan Goldberg

An analysis of air quality across the D.C. metro area reveals the disparities between neighborhoods divided by racial segregation. These disadvantaged areas additionally present with many times more visits to the emergency room for asthma, demonstrating the monumental health impacts.

 

April 20, 2022 to May 18, 2022

Virtual Workshop on Health Applications for Satellite-Derived Air Quality: Opportunities and Potential Pitfalls

Featuring HAQAST PI’s Tracey Holloway, Dan Goldberg, & Yang Liu

Health Effect Institute hosted a virtual workshop open to the general public to ‘identify opportunities for health application research using new and expected satellite remote sensing data’. HAQAST lead Tracey Holloway was a chair of the program and HAQAST PIs Dan Goldberg, and Yang Liu were among the presenters.

 

Screenshot of the city health dashboard
March 30, 2022

City Health Dashboard adds ozone data, with help from HAQAST PI Daniel Tong

Featuring HAQAST PI Daniel Tong

Starting today, users can now access two new measures: Air Pollution-Ozone and the Credit Insecurity Index. Adding these particular metrics is part of our ongoing mission at the Dashboard to develop more innovative and timely data sources and methods that seek to better demonstrate how physical, economic and social determinants impact health, particularly in cities.

 

Map of the world showing differences in population weighted concentrations of PM2.5
March 15, 2022

No Breathing Easy for City Dwellers: Particulates (NASA Image of the Day)

Featuring HAQAST PI Susan Anenberg

Air pollution is the fourth leading risk factor for death around the world. But one type of pollutant is particularly harmful: fine particulate matter (PM2.5). These small, inhalable particles (less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) result from direct emissions into the air, as well as interactions among other pollutants.

 

Global map showing change in annual NO2 concentration
March 14, 2022

No Breathing Easy for City Dwellers: Nitrogen Dioxide (NASA Image of the Day)

Featuring HAQAST PI Susan Anenberg

NASA-funded scientists have, for the first time, connected health outcomes in cities around the world to satellite and ground-based data on air pollution. The researchers concluded that despite improvements in some parts of the world and for certain pollutants, air quality continues to be an important contributor to disease.

 

Map of Atlanta showing difference in ground level NO2
January 19, 2022

COVID-19 Lockdown Drove Pollution Changes Between – Even Within – Cities

Featuring HAQAST PI Randall Martin

New modeling method allows researchers to measure levels of NO2 on a finer scale, revealing disparities in exposure during COVID.

Collage of images from NASA's health and air quality webpage
December 12, 2021

HAQAST Work Featured on NASA Health and Air Quality Webpage

The NASA Health & Air Quality program area provides policymakers with Earth observations to enhance decision-making about public health, and HAQAST is an integral part of this mission. We provide managers and policymakers with Earth observations that inform decisions about air quality standards, public policies and government regulations for economic and human welfare.

 

Hazy skies over the Manhattan skyline
December 1, 2021

The Far-Reaching Consequences of Wildfire Smoke Plumes

Featuring HAQAST PI Jeffrey Pierce

Knowledge of wildfire smoke impacts is critical for researchers and public health experts going forward, as climate change continues to produce a warmer, drier western United States and the fire season is expected to become only longer and more intense. To fill this gap, Jeffrey Pierce and his team looked at smoke exposure across seasons and regions in the United States between 2006 and 2018.

 

Map of Washington D.C. neighborhoods showing PM2.5 levels
November 9, 2021

An Extra Air Pollution Burden (NASA Image of the Day)

Featuring HAQAST PI’s Susan Anenberg and Randall Martin and Member Pat Kinney

Like many cities in the eastern United States, Washington, D.C., has seen major improvements in air quality in recent decades. Susan Anenberg, Pat Kinney, and Randall Martin have been able to shed light on these improvements and bring attention to their impact on health problems.

 

October 28, 2021

Scientific Questions Arrive in Ports (NASA Image of the Day)

Featuring HAQAST PI Daniel Goldberg

Due to COVID pandemic supply chain issues, many container ships were stuck in major ports. HAQAST PI’s Danial Goldberg and Susan Anenburg among others investigated this unusual activity to understand its impacts on NOconcentrations in these areas.        

 

Air resource advisor setting up a temporary smoke monitor in Idaho
October 7, 2021

NASA Smoke Signals for Air Quality

Featuring HAQAST PI Susan O’Neill

Susan O’Neill and her team developed a set of data tools as part of NASA’s 2017 California Wildfires Tiger Team which has reshaped the way scientists observe smoke from wildfires.

 

HAQAST logo
September 30, 2021

HAQAST Featured by NASA Applied Sciences

NASA Applied Sciences introduces the third installment of the Health and Air Quality Applied Science Team, which includes 14 principal investigators and a push to answer complex environmental problems.

 

 

Headshots of the HAQAST PI's
September 27, 2021

HAQAST Announces Five Innovative Tiger Teams

In the 1960’s, NASA began using the term “Tiger Teams” for small, determined teams of experts to help solve complex problems. The tradition continues today, with the announcement of the third generation of Tiger Teams within the Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team.

 

 

Graphic of a farmer worrying about the effects of drought
October 2021

Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change Policy Brief

Featuring HAQAST PI Yang Liu

This fifth annual Policy Brief is supported by a diverse group of health experts from over 70 institutions, organizations, and centers who recognize that climate change is first and foremost a health crisis. It uses recent scientific studies to expose the inequitable health risks of climate change, including work by Yang Liu.

 

Daily traffic on an interstate
August 16, 2021

Addressing Disparity of Clean Air in Marginalized Communities

Featuring HAQAST PI Susan Anenberg and Member Gaige Kerr

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep-seated inequities in everything from safe working conditions and affordable health care to kids’ access to the internet for school. It also highlighted another alarming disparity that isn’t visible to the naked eye: access to clean air.

 

Satellite image of nighttime lighting in the San Francisco Bay area
May 26, 2021

Integrating Satellite Data to Find Links Between Environment and Health

Featuring HAQAST PI Daniel Tong

Several obstacles stand in the way of integrating social, health, and Earth science data for vital geohealth studies, but Tong and his team promote tools and opportunities to overcome these obstacles.

 

Thick wildfire smoke in an Alaskan forest
March 17, 2021

Research Aims to Help Alaskans, Visitors Avoid Wildfire Smoke

Featuring HAQAST Member Jingqiu Mao

HAQAST Member Jingqiu Mao and colleagues will connect satellite data with health and air quality to support the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and others.

 

Tracey Holloway on stage giving a speech
March 10, 2021

Tracey Holloway Highlighted by UW News

The University of Wisconsin – Madison highlights HAQAST Team Lead Tracey Holloway’s efforts to bring space-based data to the world.

 

 

Heavy smoke plume over Fort Collins
March 4, 2021

Researchers see need for better warnings for Colorado residents about health impacts of long-range wildfire smoke

Featuring HAQAST PI Jeff Pierce

Need for better air quality monitoring is promoted by HAQAST Member Jeff Pierce and his team to inform Colorado residents about health impacts of long-range wildfire smoke.

 

HAQAST logo
February 2021

Final Report for HAQAST 2016-2020 Released

5 years of HAQAST successes are culminated in this final report, with in-depth analysis of stakeholder growth, lessons learned, and next steps for the future.

Global satellite map showing air pollution
April 14, 2020

HAQAST Helping the World to Breathe More Easily

HAQAST, along with NASA’s Health and Air Quality Program, is helping to lead the charge for global air quality.

 

 

 

Map showing air pollution in the Northeastern United States
April 9, 2020

NASA Satellite Data Show 30 Percent Drop In Air Pollution Over Northeast U.S.

Featuring HAQAST PI Bryan Duncan

Though further studies are needed, it appears that NO2 for March, 2020, is 30% lower than the 5-year March average, suggest new NASA research.

 

 

Headshot of Daniel Tong
April 7, 2020

NASA Contributes to National Public Health Week

Featuring HAQAST PI Daniel Tong

Part of the HAQAST mandate is to build bridges between the air quality and public health communities. A host of NASA Earth researchers, including our own Daniel Tong, are doing just that.

 

Trees blooming with flowers in the spring
February 24, 2020

UW Scientist Works to Improve Allergy Forecasting

Featuring HAQAST PI Jeremy Hess and Member Fiona Lo

Fiona Lo explains her work with Jeremy Hess using satellite data to forecast pollen season on Seattle TV news.

View from a skyscraper of Manhattan and the Empire State Building
October 2, 2019

Jin & Fiore’s Research on Health Co-Benefits Widely Covered

Featuring HAQAST PI Arlene Fiore

Xiaomeng Jin and Arlene Fiore’s research on the public health benefits of reduced PM 2.5 exposure in New York State has been covered by media outlets in the US and internationally.

 

Graphic of a man inhaling unhealthy air
August 8, 2019

ClimateBits: Unhealthy Air

Featuring HAQAST PI’s Susan Anenberg and Bryan Duncan

This video explains how PM2.5 affects the health of people and is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide.

 

 

August 7, 2019

New Map Shows Risk of Sunburn Across the U.S.

Featuring HAQAST PI Yang Liu

A map series of UV exposure developed by HAQAST was featured as the NASA Earth Observatory Image of the Day. This collaboration with the CDC, is a new step in protecting the public from skin cancer. The project is ‘the first publicly available map of ultraviolet (UV) radiation for all counties in the contiguous United States’.

 

Data chart concerning air pollution in New York
August 7, 2019

Air Pollution Cuts Are Saving Lives in New York State

Featuring HAQAST PI Arlene Fiore

Columbia University highlights Arlene Fiore’s study on how reduced PM2.5 in New York State led to a decrease in mortality between 2002 and 2012.

 

 

Power plant emitting smoke against a blue sky
June 19, 2019

America’s Skies Have Gotten Clearer, but Millions Still Breathe Unhealthy Air

Featuring HAQAST PI’s Bryan Duncan and Jason West

The New York Times drew on Bryan Duncan and Jason West’s Tiger Team work estimating health benefits of cleaner air in the US from 1990 to 2010.

 

Child blowing his nose against a background of flowers
December 13, 2018

Google Trends Could Help Scientists Track Allergy Season

Featuring HAQAST PI Jeremy Hess

Jeremy Hess’s work on pollen and allergies profiled by EOS.

 

 

Map of the U.S. showing ammonia concentrations
December 10, 2018

The Seasonal Rhythms of Ammonia

Featuring HAQAST PI Mark Zondlo

Mark Zondlo’s work on the seasonal rhythm of NH3 profiled by NASA’s Image of the Day.

 

 

Map of the U.S. showing annual mean levels of PM2.5
December 4, 2018

NASA Science Shows Human Impact of Clean Air Policies

Featuring HAQAST PI’s Jason West and Susan Anenberg

Jason West and Susan Anenberg’s work was recently profiled by NASA for their efforts to help air quality managers and policymakers solve clean air problems using NASA data and products.

 

Dust storming moving across Baja, California
November 2, 2018

Summer of Sand

Featuring HAQAST PI Daniel Tong

Daniel Tong’s commentary on the health impacts of massive dust storms in Arizona featured in Sierra magazine.

 

 

Global satellite image showing pollutant concentrations
October 24, 2018

NASA Satellites Help Scientists Determine the Global Burden of Asthma

Featuring HAQAST PI Susan Anenberg

Susan Anenberg’s work was recently profiled by NASA for its cutting-edge application of satellite data to asthma and global health.

 

Aerial view of a Hawaiian volcano emitting smoke into the atmosphere
October 23, 2018

On the road in Hawaii, Princeton team seeks clearer picture of volcanic air quality 

Featuring HAQAST PI Mark Zondlo

Mark Zondlo’s work documenting the impacts of the Kilauea eruptions on air quality

 

 

SO2 satellite imagery of the U.S.
August 8, 2018

HAQAST’s Work Included in the 2018 EPA Air Trends Report

Our team’s work, especially that of Bryan Duncan, is included the the 2018 EPA Air Trends Report. New this year are animations of SO2 from satellite data.

 

 

A thermometer with spiking temperatures placed against a city skyline
April 27, 2018

The Paris Agreement saves lives in China

Featuring HAQAST PI Jason West and Collaborator Jonathan Patz

Patz and West’s commentary, titled ‘The Paris Agreement Could Save Lives in China,’ was published in The Lancet

 

 

Headshot of Tracey Holloway
April 2, 2018

HOLLOWAY INTERVIEWED FOR ‘WOMEN BREAKING BARRIERS’ SERIES

Tracey Holloway was interviewed for OnlineEdcuation.com’s Women Breaking Barriers series. This series highlights many women that are trailblazers in their respective fields.

 

 

Screenshot of the NASA Giovanni video tutorial
March 27, 2018

NASA Giovanni Video Tutorial Now Available

Watch HAQAST’s NASA Giovanni video tutorial, produced by the NASA HAQAST Communications Team

 

 

 

YouTube Thumbnail of campsite with smoke in the distance
March 27, 2018

Smoke Tools and Information for use During Wildfires

Featuring HAQAST PI Susan O’Neill

Watch O’Neill’s video on tools and information for use during wildfires

 

 

Satellite view of globe
January 26, 2018

NASA Worldview Video Tutorial Now Available

Watch HAQAST’s NASA Worldview video tutorial, produced by the NASA HAQAST Communications Team

 

 

 

Jason West at his desk with papers in front of him
January 5, 2018

UNC podcast: Climate change and air pollution

Featuring HAQAST PI Jason West

‘Each year, millions of people die from exposure to air pollution. And if unaddressed, climate change could bring those numbers up even higher by the end of the century.’

Graphic of NASA's suite of satellites that orbit Earth
December 19, 2017

MILLER PUBLISHED A PIECE IN PHYSICS TODAY PROFILING HAQAST

Featuring HAQAST Member Daegan Miller

‘“Out of sight, out of mind” goes the common saying, yet what people can’t see can have an important impact on their well-being. Invisible gases including nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone negatively affect human health, and satellites offer the best means of tracking those atmospheric pollutants.’

 

Plumes of smoke rising above a foggy forest skyline
December 19, 2017

West Co-Authors Widely Featured paper on the benefits of greenhouse gas mitigation for U.S. air quality and human health

Featuring HAQAST PI Jason West

‘The USA will benefit from improved air quality in the future, through actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions both domestically and globally.’

 

Electric vehicle rigged with sensors to monitor urban air quality
December 18, 2017

ZONDLO’S RESEARCH GROUP AT PRINCETON DEVELOPS A MOBILE SENSING PLATFORM FOR AIR POLLUTANTS

Featuring HAQAST PI Mark Zondlo

‘Mark Zondlo and his research group have developed a mobile platform to measure critical greenhouse gases and air pollutants. They recently acquired an all-electric vehicle to house the suite of sensors, which they can use to monitor urban air quality, without altering their own measurements.’

 

Collage of photos of the LMOS team
December 8, 2017

Meet the Lake Michigan Ozone Study Scientists

Featuring HAQAST PI Brad Pierce

‘Dr. Betsy Stone compiled a presentation introducing the contributors to the summer 2017 LMOS data collection part of Pierce’s work on high-ozone events.’

 

 

Satellite data of NOx concentrations in the Eastern U.S., Europe, and Asia
November 7, 2017

Fiore and Jin’s Research Featured as NASA Image of the Day

Featuring HAQAST PI Arlene Fiore

‘Ozone pollution near Earth’s surface is one of the main ingredients of summertime smog and a primary cause of poor air quality. Yet it is not directly measurable from space because of the abundance of ozone higher in the atmosphere, which obscures measurements of surface ozone. Now NASA-funded researchers have devised a way to use satellites to measure the precursor gases that contribute to ozone formation.’

 

Massive dust storm blanketing an Arizona neighborhood
September 20, 2017

Why more dust storms and Valley fever are blanketing the Southwest

Featuring HAQAST PI Daniel Tong

‘Giant dust storms are sweeping the southwestern United States more frequently. Why? Rising sea temperatures, according to a study published in the journal of Geophysical Research Letters.’

 

NASA team members standing in front of a small aircraft
September 20, 2017

NASA Aids Study of Lake Michigan High-Ozone Events

Featuring HAQAST PI Brad Pierce

‘NASA researchers are conducting science flights along the Wisconsin-Illinois Lake Michigan shoreline to help better understand the formation and transport of ozone, a potent air pollutant in the region.’

 

Buildings in Beijing in a heavy haze
September 20, 2017

Air pollution deaths expected to rise because of climate change

Featuring HAQAST PI Jason West

‘New research predicts that air pollution worsened by climate change will cost tens of thousands of lives if changes are not made.’

 

 

Wisconsin Public Radio logo
August 10, 2017

Pierce Interviewed On WPR

Featuring HAQAST PI Brad Pierce

‘HAQAST Co-I Brad Pierce was invited to an on-air interview at the Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) studios in Madison, Wisconsin on August 10, 2017 to discuss the 2017 Lake Michigan Ozone Study (LMOS 2017) with the hosts of WPRs Central Times.’

 

Map of the midwestern U.S. showing ozone design values
July 26, 2017

Lake Michigan Ozone Study 2017: Collaborative field campaign will pursue sources and transport of ozone.

Featuring HAQAST PI Brad Pierce 

‘This online article was published in July, 2016, nearly a year before the NEI NOX project commenced, in the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) News Articles.’

 

Brad Pierce with a satellite image of the midwestern U.S. in the background
June 30, 2017

LMOS Project Featured in SSEC Biannual Publication

Featuring HAQAST PI Brad Pierce

‘This project was featured in the UW-Madison Space Science and Engineering (SSEC) “Through the Atmosphere” summer 2017 publication in print and online.’

 

small NASA aircraft
June 21, 2017

Lake Michigan Ozone Study 2017 Story on WPR Blog

Featuring HAQAST PI Brad Pierce

‘A Wisconsin Public Radio interview of some the 2017 Lake Michigan Ozone Study (LMOS 2017) science leads aired on June 22, 2017, which was also that last day of the LMOS 2017 field campaign.’

 

Screenshot of YouTube thumbnail of a satellite image of the globe
May 26, 2017

SOS NO2 Dataset Video

‘A 10-year (2006-2016) high-resolution (0.1×0.1 degree) monthly mean tropospheric NO2 column data set generated by the NASA OMI Science Team for NO2 was developed for display on NOAA Science On a Sphere (SOS) exhibits.’

 

 

busy street crowded with vehicles
May 22, 2017

Impacts and mitigation of excess diesel-related NOx emissions in 11 major vehicle markets

Featuring HAQAST PI Susan Anenberg

‘Diesels pollute more than lab tests detect. Excess emissions kill 38,000 annually.’

 

 

multiple air conditioning fans/units outside of a brick building
May 3rd, 2017

Scientific America Podcast: Pollution Peaks when Temperatures Top Out

Featuring HAQAST Team Lead Tracey Holloway

‘As Temperatures Rise, Energy Demands Peak, with a Corresponding Increase in Air Pollutants’

 

 

screenshot of LMOS YouTube Thumbnail with a wooden path through tall grass
April 7, 2017

LMOS Study 2017

Featuring HAQAST PI Brad Pierce

‘PI Brad Pierce gave a briefing on the 2017 Lake Michigan Ozone Study to the Business Advocacy Committee of the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce in Sheboygan, Wisconsin on April 7, 2017.’

 

 

plumes of smoke from power plants above a city skyline
March 3, 2017

NPR’s All Things Considered Podcast

Featuring HAQAST PI Arlene Fiore

‘The Culprit In Rising Western U.S. Smog Levels: Asia’

 

 

 

man driving a motorbike through a smog filled street with a child while shielding the child's face from the smog
February 16, 2017

The Guardian covers research on air pollution and premature birth

‘Air pollution could be a contributing factor in millions of premature births around the world each year’

 

 

 

screenshot of YouTube thumbnail showing John Haynes speaking
January 24, 2017

Update from our Program Manager

Featuring HAQAST Program Manager John Haynes

‘HAQAST has expanded its focus beyond just air quality policy and regulation information utilizing Earth observationing data to the environmental health realm’

 

 

Global map showing annual premature deaths avoided globally by 2050
January 23, 2017

Henze connects air quality research to local and global impacts

Featuring HAQAST Member Daven Henze

‘Targeting Cookstove Pollution Using Supercomputers and NASA Satellites’

satellite view of the curve of the Earth, with a galaxy of stars in the background
December 29, 2016

HAQAST Leader, Holloway quoted in NBC News article

Featuring HAQAST Team Lead Tracey Holloway

’11 Surprising Predictions for 2017 from some of The Biggest Names in Science’

 

 

Headshot of Jason West
September 8, 2016

West quoted from UNC communications

Featuring HAQAST PI Jason West

“I am excited by this opportunity, not only to conduct studies that will have an influence on environmental and public health policies, but also to better understand how to improve engagement with decision makers in future projects.”

 

satellite view of the U.S. showing NO2 levels
August 26, 2016

HAQAST is featured in Isthmus article

‘HAQAST is making NASA satellite data useful in monitoring air quality and pollution’