In our pursuit of the sky, are we missing the smog right under our noses?

• By AirScape
• October 2, 2023

In our pursuit of the sky, are we missing the smog right under our noses?

In our modern world, where industries, transportation, and burgeoning urban growth contribute to an invisible threat—air pollution—we find ourselves on the cusp of a revolution.

The statistics are deeply concerning. Air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of seven million people worldwide every year, according to the World Health Organization. The AQLI further reveals that particulate air pollution decreases the average life expectancy by approximately 2.2 years. This is greater than the impacts of smoking, substance abuse, contaminated water, and over a hundred times that of war and terrorism.

If this were any other health crisis, there would be global outrage, swift action, and a dedicated drive to find the most efficient solution. Yet, the current approach to air pollution is entangled in bureaucracy and high expenditures, overlooking innovative, cost-effective solutions available today.

The recent TEMPO mission is a flagship project representing the combined expertise and resources of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA, and 21 universities across three countries. Lauded as an investigation of “unprecedented scope, scale, and sophistication,” TEMPO seeks to take a comprehensive census of air pollution across North America. This satellite-based approach, a decade and $210 million in the making, aims to offer panoramic insights into air pollution across North America.

But with such a hefty investment equivalent to the GDP of some smaller nations and a decade spent in its inception, does TEMPO represent the zenith of our capabilities in air quality monitoring? Its panoramic view misses the granular insights that street-level air quality data can provide.

Consider the capabilities of TEMPO, which can monitor the density of Nitrogen Dioxide across areas up to 10 square kilometers, updating once every hour. Now, compare this with a dense, low-cost sensor network like AirScape. The network in the London Borough of Camden alone spans 22 square kilometers—that’s the equivalent of two TEMPO pixels but with 100 times the data density. Not only that, they update this data every minute, a 60-fold increase in temporal resolution. And while TEMPO provides an averaged view across the entire atmospheric column, AirScape delivers granular data on Nitrogen Dioxide, particulate matter, ozone, and CO2 right at street level—exactly where people actually breathe.

Best of all, it’s much cheaper. For the same investment directed into this satellite mission, we could have deployed real-time, street-level air quality monitoring systems in hundreds of US cities. Low-cost dense sensors provide granular insights into air quality. Such systems could monitor the air quality in places often neglected by satellites due to their limited spatial and temporal resolution.

Now, imagine the power of democratizing this air quality data at such a granular level. Communities, irrespective of their socioeconomic backgrounds, would have access to real-time data on the quality of the air they breathe. This is vital, especially when current monitoring often favours higher-income, predominantly white areas, leaving gaps in low-income and non-white neighbourhoods. Our approach goes beyond just scientific precision; it aims for fairness and inclusivity, giving every community the tools to take impactful actions to tackle air pollution hotspots.

This isn’t a call to negate the value of satellite missions. Such initiatives have their place in the grand tapestry of environmental science. TEMPO’s broad, atmospheric insights play a crucial role in understanding air pollution’s global implications, influencing international policies and climate models. However, lives are at stake. How does it help the child or adult on the street take a healthier route to school or work? How does it enable people to make informed decisions about outdoor activity without breathing in toxic air? When every breath can be a ticket to chronic health conditions, it becomes essential to question our strategies and embrace effective, timely solutions.

It’s time for a paradigm shift in how we manage our environment, aligning technology and innovation, where clean air isn’t a privilege but a human right. By leveraging both TEMPO’s capabilities and the adaptability of street-level monitoring, we can forge a path that ensures clean air isn’t just a scientific endeavor but a right accessible to all. It’s time to consider tools that offer swift, widespread, and democratic solutions, ensuring that every citizen, no matter where they live, can breathe a little easier.

In a world where innovation drives progress, our approach to air quality should be no different. The health of millions depends upon it; let’s ensure our solutions are as agile, cost-effective, and far-reaching as the challenges they aim to address.