Citizens Scientists Helping NASA Use Inexpensive Devices

A groundbreaking project from Colorado State University has found an inexpensive but effective way to help NASA track air pollution.

The project called CEAMS for Citizens Enabled Aerosol Measurements for Satellites has people around Fort Collins using small devices with photometers to measure light intensity in their own backyards.The levels of light vary with the amount of aerosols - liquid or solid particles suspended in air.They include smoke, bacteria, salt, pollen, dust, various pollutants, and droplets of water.

Project lead Professor John Volckens says the pilot project, funded by NASA, may receive a second round of funding to expand into other cities including Denver and Los Angeles.

and parts of Montana, Washington and Idaho to look at effects of wildfire.

The measurements on the ground will be used inconjunction with NASA satellite images to better understand regional air quality and how it changes over time. The researchers also hope that the information learned will then give us all a better understanding of air quality globally.