BBC Sky at Night - UK (2021-08)

OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) data showing mean

concentrations of NO 2 molecules in the troposphere, 2005-2013

Column density:

1016 molecules

per cm^2

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0

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Rob Banino
is a freelance
science writer
and journalist

Þ Data on nitrogen
oxide (NO 2 ) levels
gathered by
the TROPOMI
instrument

• on board the
  Copernicus
  Sentinel-5P
  satellite (inset)


• can be combined
  with CO 2 data to
  help differentiate
  between natural
  and anthropogenic
  emissions. The
  above data shows
  NO 2 levels in the
  troposphere – the
  lowest layer of
  Earth’s atmosphere


• as monitored
  by the OMI
  (Ozone Monitoring
  Instrument)
  on NASA’s
  Aura satellite

August 2021 BBC Sky at Night Magazine 41

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