In honor of Air Quality Awareness Week (May 6-10), the Office of Management Strategies and Solutions’ Greening Diplomacy Initiative (GDI) is excited to announce a new, machine learning-powered particulate air pollution forecast now available on the Zephyr web. Is. Version for all cities hosting US diplomatic missions around the world. The forecast was developed by NASA using machine learning, satellite data and data from the department’s air quality monitors at 75 embassies and consulates.
GDI partnered with NASA through the Health and Air Quality Applied Science Team (HAQAST), using funding from NASA’s Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences grant, with the ZephAir City and Air Quality Forecasting and Analysis System (CARES). The system leverages historical, satellite and model data outputs to develop three-day air quality forecasts for particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) (including daily averages and three-day -three-hour increments). It provides simple, easy to understand forecasts just like one gets the forecast from a weather app. This information can help users better plan for everything from building operation changes to outdoor vacations. The dashboard also allows users to analyze historical air quality data and compare data between posts. Users can access this new platform https://zephair.stategdi.cloud , Forecast functionality will be made available on the ZephAir mobile application in summer 2024.
The rollout of this forecast provides innovative information and expands the availability and accessibility of air quality data. This is the first time that government-developed air quality forecasts are available on such a global scale. The State Department and NASA are supporting data-informed decision making to protect people’s health and well-being and expanding data access for those who need it most.
Please note that like weather forecasts, these are just forecasts. We anticipate that predictions will improve over time as the dataset grows. The forecasts also do not yet include tropospheric ozone, which is the other main air quality concern along with PM2.5. If real-time ground-based data is available, users should follow it to take health precautions.
The State Department’s air quality mobile application, ZephAir, was launched in 2020. Since its release, ZephAir has been downloaded over 42,000 times and has been the leading source of air quality data for people around the world. Real-time data is available from about 80 air quality monitors in the state and more than 50 reference-grade monitors from other governments around the world. The app was created to provide Department employees, their families and the public easy access to science-based standardized, reliable and actionable information from reference-grade monitors that can help protect their health. Users can currently take advantage of customizable features like push notifications and favorite locations to receive air quality data relevant to their needs.
Please contact GDI for additional information [email protected] go www.state.gov/ecodiplomacy,
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