NO₂Pollution Map

The European Space Agency (ESA) produced a global air pollution map made using an absorption spectroscope aboard Envisat, its earth observation spacecraft, in 2006. The map shows a complete nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) map of pollution in the world. Yellow parts indicate higher pollution levels than green areas. Red indicates where pollution is the greatest. The map shows NO₂pollution is particularly serious in eastern parts of China and Seoul. Too much exposure to NO₂, an air pollutant, can cause lung and respiratory diseases. The map was unveiled at the 2007 ESA Envisat Symposium held in Montreux, Switzerland on April 23-27, 2007 to discuss global warming and the dangers of environmental pollution.