Using Satellites to Track Indicators of Global Air Pollution and Climate Change Impacts: Lessons Learned From a NASA-Supported Science-Stakeholder Collaborative

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Susan C. Anenberg, George Washington University; Matilyn Bindl, University of Wisconsin; Michael Brauer, University of British Columbia; Juan J. Castillo, Clean Air Institute; Sandra Cavalieri, Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short‐Lived Climate Pollutants; Bryan N. Duncan, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Arlene M. Fiore, Columbia University; Richard Fuller, Pure Earth; Daniel L. Goldberg, George Washington University; Daven K. Henze, University of Colorado; Jeremy Hess, Emory University; Tracey Holloway, University of Wisconsin; Peter James, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Xiaomeng Jin, Columbia University; Iyad Kheirbek, C40 Cities; Patrick L. Kinney, Boston University; Yang Liu, Emory University; Arash Mohegh, George Washington University; Jonathan Patz, University of Wisconsin; Marcia P. Jimenez, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Ananya Roy, Environmental Defense Fund; Daniel Tong, George Mason University; Katy Walker, Health Effects Institute; Nick Watts, University College London; J. Jason West, University of North Carolina
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-07-01
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2020. The Authors.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2020GH000270
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: GeoHealth
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 7
• Start Page: e2020GH000270
• End Page: e2020GH000270
• Grant/Funding Information: We gratefully acknowledge support from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team (various grants).; In addition, N.W. was supported by a Wellcome Trust grant to the Lancet Countdown (209734/Z/17/Z) and P.J. was supported by NIH (R00 CA201542).
• Keywords: air pollution; Model; Nox; climate change; Dust; Trends; Environmental Sciences & Ecology; Burden; environmental surveillance; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Environmental Sciences; OMI Observations; Chemistry; Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; satellite remote sensing; Exposure; public health surveillance
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Environmental Sciences; Geotechnology; Biogeochemistry

Abstract

The 2018 NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Science Team (HAQAST) “Indicators” Tiger Team collaboration between NASA-supported scientists and civil society stakeholders aimed to develop satellite-derived global air pollution and climate indicators. This Commentary shares our experience and lessons learned. Together, the team developed methods to track wildfires, dust storms, pollen counts, urban green space, nitrogen dioxide concentrations and asthma burdens, tropospheric ozone concentrations, and urban particulate matter mortality. Participatory knowledge production can lead to more actionable information but requires time, flexibility, and continuous engagement. Ground measurements are still needed for ground truthing, and sustained collaboration over time remains a challenge.