nasa-no2-global-front

The Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), measures the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from high above Earth's surface. NO2 is released into the air by burning coal, gasoline, and biofuels, such as wood. Maps show annual mean observations of NO2 in 2005 and 2010. Notice the large increase in NO2 in China because of its rapidly growing economy. At the same time, there was a large decrease in the United States by 2010 due to federal and state regulations of NOx (NOx = NO + NO2) emissions from power plants and cars. NOx emissions are regulated because it is unhealthy to breathe and reacts with other gases to produce ozone, which is also unhealthy to breathe.