Connections Between Extreme Events and NASA Health and Air Quality Applications

There is a growing body of evidence that the environment can affect human health in ways that are both complex and global in scope. To address some of these complexities, NASA maintains a diverse constellation of Earth observing research satellites, and sponsors research in developing satellite data applications across a wide spectrum of areas. These include environmental health; infectious disease; air quality standards, policies, and regulations; and the impact of climate change on health and air quality in a number of interrelated efforts. The Health and Air Quality Applications Program of the NASA Applied Sciences Program (http://appliedsciences.nasa.gov/) fosters the use of observations, modeling systems, forecast development, application integration, and the research to operations transition process to address environmental air quality and health effects.  NASA has been a primary partner with Federal operational agencies over the past 15 years in these areas.

The Program has undertaken applied research on multiple types of extreme weather events, including excessive heat events in metropolitan areas and wildfires.  The Program has also conducted projects investigating links between extreme weather events and water-borne disease. In all cases, strong relationships with federal, state, local, and international partners were required to identify unique applications of NASA satellite observations and realize their operational use.  Results have provided critical components for integration with various forecasts, models, and decision support systems.  NASA’s participation in health and air quality applications research and related transition to operations activities currently performed with EPA, NOAA, CDC, and others fills a significant niche in national capabilities and is a vital component in current and future domestic and international programs and plans.