NASA Mission Studies Air Pollution Over Ethiopia
A NASA-funded study using the MAIA project has provided detailed data on air pollution in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, highlighting high levels of black carbon. The findings serve as a baseline for the city's ongoing efforts to improve air quality through vehicle regulations.
Why it matters
The study provides critical data on PM2.5 exposure in rapidly growing urban environments, which has significant implications for global public health policy.
A NASA-funded air pollution monitoring network has provided one of the most detailed long-term views yet of the role of black carbon, or soot produced by fires, diesel vehicles, and other combustion sources, in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. The detailed measurements show how pollution changes by time of day and season, including increases associated with rush-hour traffic and holiday celebrations. The findings are relevant to cities around the world, including in the United States.
In a new paper published in ES&T: Air , scientists analyzed data collected throughout Addis Ababa between 2022 and 2025 from 10 air-quality monitoring sites deployed by NASA's Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols ( MAIA ) project.
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