The Smithsonian-led Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) Instrument, a geostationary satellite instrument monitoring air pollutants hourly over North America, provides a unique opportunity for young people in communities across the country to better understand their local air quality! The data tool below is an introduction to what can be seen in TEMPO Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) data. Use the tool below to begin to identify fires, NO2 production from rush hour, and point sources (such as oil and gas fields), as well as learn how air pollution changes over time.

To begin your investigation, start by finding your location. Zoom in, press the play button, and watch how pollution changes over time. 

Consider these questions:

Do you notice any patterns? Are there areas with consistent pollution? How about areas where NO2 pops up and then dissipates? What do you know about these areas -- are they areas with factories, high traffic, etc? 

To see more of the latest TEMPO data check out NASA Worldview, an interactive tool for visualizing more than 1000 layers of NASA satellite data.