NASA Satellite photo of the Korean peninsula

Air Quality

A compilation of educational resources and activities about air, air quality, and pollution.

NISE Network Activities about Air

Exploring Size - Moving Molecules

In this activity, learners use an air cannon toy to spin pinwheels to explore what makes up air.

Two learners and a caregiver smile as they observe a small toy in a vacuum chamber

Molecules in Motion

In this activity, learners experiment with putting various objects in a small vacuum chamber and explore how the materials behave and change when the air in the chamber is removed.

A family of three crafts their rockets out of paper, stickers and tape

Exploring the Solar System: Stomp Rockets

In this activity, learners will build and launch their own air rockets to help imagine the challenges and triumphs of engineering spacecraft.

Family using thermometer to take temperature of their arm for the Heat Map activity

Exploring Earth: Temperature Mapping

In this activity, learners model the way Landsat satellites use a thermal infrared sensor to measure land surface temperatures.

A group of learners observing a cloud that was made in a plastic bottle

Exploring Earth: Investigating Clouds

In this activity, learners create a cloud in a bottle and explore it with laser light.

Climate Change

A compilation of climate change and weather public engagement and professional learning resources for informal science educators.

Air pollution cloud of smoke emissions from chimney stack

Air Quality Resources

Air Quality Data

EPA Air Now Interactive Map - Get air quality data where you live by entering your zip code: https://www.airnow.gov
NOAA AerosolWatch
https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/smcd/spb/aq/AerosolWatch/
PurpleAir - view real-time PM2.5 data on a worldwide map
https://www.purpleair.com/map
NASA Worldview satellite imagery organized by data type and event type
https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov
Wildfire Smoke impacts in the the National Climate Assessment
https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/chapter/focus-on-2/

Air Quality Index and Alerts

EPA Air Quality Index: https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/
EPA Air Quality Flag program: https://www.airnow.gov/air-quality-flag-program/
NOAA Weather Service air quality alerts: https://www.weather.gov/safety/airquality

Educational Resources and Activities

EPA Air Now: https://www.airnow.gov/education/
EPA Air Quality Awareness Week: https://www.epa.gov/air-quality/air-quality-awareness-week
Howtosmile.org air activities for informal science audiences: https://www.howtosmile.org/resource-search/air
UCAR Center for Science Education: https://scied.ucar.edu/teaching-box/air-quality
CIRES Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation (CEEE) resources
EPA Indoor Air Quality tools for schools action kit:
https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/indoor-air-quality-tools-schools-action-kit
EPA Air Quality and Energy Choice STEM Activities for Educators:
https://www.epa.gov/air-research/air-quality-and-energy-choice-stem-activities-educators
GLOBE air quality initiative activities:
https://www.globe.gov/web/mission-earth/overview/air-quality-initiative/learning-activities
CLEAN collection of climate literacy materials: https://cleanet.org
Climate change resources: https://www.nisenet.org/climatechange
NASA Air Quality lessons and activities: https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/phenomenon/air-quality

GLOBE MissionEarth Air Quality 2021 flyer showing map of US with dots and images of air pollution

Citizen and Community Science Projects

Community Science Opportunity:
You can participate in the GLOBE Mission Earth Air Quality program
- Engage in authentic air quality investigations in your community.
- Get support from NASA scientists and educators.
- Access extensive educational resources.
  https://www.globe.gov/web/mission-earth/overview/air-quality-initiative
SciStarter Air Quality Projects
- https://scistarter.org/finder?phrase=air

NASA Air Quality Missions

NASA has a fleet of Earth-observing satellites whose instruments observe our planet's oceans, biosphere, and atmosphere. Several of these satellites have instruments that observe air pollutants around the world. The data collected are used by air quality managers and researchers studying the impact of air pollution on human health and agriculture.

https://airquality.gsfc.nasa.gov

https://www.globe.gov/web/mission-earth/overview/air-quality-initiative/air-quality-nasa-science-missions

Upcoming Missions

MAIA: The Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols instrument (MAIA) is scheduled to launch in 2022. MAIA will study the effects of particulate matter on human health in both the short term and the long term, and will also collect data on naturally occurring and anthropogenic air quality events.
https://maia.jpl.nasa.gov/
PACE: The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite, scheduled to launch in 2022, will continue NASA’s efforts to observe the Earth’s oceans. PACE will carry two primary instruments. The first, an ocean color instrument, will collect data on global ocean biology. The second, multi-angle polarimeters, will measure how sunlight changes as it passes through clouds, aerosols and the ocean, providing detailed information about the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans.
https://pace.gsfc.nasa.gov/
TEMPO: The Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) instrument is scheduled to launch in 2022. TEMPO will use a spectrometer to make hourly measurements of ozone, nitrogen dioxide and other air pollutants across North America.
http://tempo.si.edu/

Working with STEM Experts Guide cover including an image of expert puring a liquid and using a strainer with a girl and her family at a museum public event

Finding STEM Experts

See the "Space and Earth Science" and "Environmental Science" sections sections of Working with STEM Experts: A Guide for Educators in Museums and Other Informal Learning Settings