This summer two NASA research airplanes will fly over the Baltimore-Washington region and northeast Maryland as part of a mission to enhance the capability of satellites to measure ground-level air quality from space. The flights will be supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will aid the agency in monitoring pollutants that affect people’s health. The flight measurements will be taken in concert with satellite and ground measurements. EPA scientists will use ground-based instruments to measure oxides of nitrogen and ozone along portions of the flight path. Data from the project is expected to provide a greater understanding of how the existing ground-based air monitoring network funded by EPA and run by states and local agencies can be used to improve satellite observations. Read More