Air Quality Research and Development

What We Do

We conduct world-class research and development in air quality measurement and monitoring and forecast and assessment modeling. Our products and services directly support air quality decision-makers, air quality forecasters, and the research community. The specific focus of our Air Quality program is on measuring and modeling air-surface exchange of pollutants and the development and application of air quality models.

Why It Is Important

Air pollution has significant health, ecological, and economic consequences. Poor air quality contributes to tens of thousands of premature deaths annually from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The Nation spends tens of billions of dollars each year to reduce air pollution in order to protect human health and the environment. Effective targeting of air pollution controls depends on having good scientific understanding of which types of sources and which regions are contributing to air quality issues.

Our Air Quality Research and Development protects human and ecosystem health through:

• Predictive models for ozone and fine particles which allow communities and individuals to mitigate the health impacts of poor air quality by reducing pollutant emissions and by taking personal protective measures.
• Research on air-surface exchange which helps support the development of effective air quality policies and plans and more accurate air quality models to protect human and environmental health.
• Mercury research which provides information about sources of atmospheric mercury that affect key ecosystems and human health so that effective air quality regulations and policies are developed.

For More Information:

• Atmospheric Mercury
• Air Quality Forecasting
• Atmospheric Integrated Research Monitoring Network (AIRMoN)
• Volcanic Ash Modeling
• Smoke Forecasting
• Air Quality Summary Handout (PDF, 365 KB)