NASA’s TEMPO satellite enables better monitoring of bad air days

Smoke from massive wildfires in Canada engulfed the New York City skyline, reducing visibility and casting an orange haze over the New York City, United States on July 16, 2026.

In early August, the skies above Portland, Oregon, took on an increasingly familiar sepia tint, as easterly winds wafted plumes of gas and smoke from wildfires into the air over the city. At one point, Portland’s air quality was ranked worst in the world, leading to the closure of summer camps and public pools and the cancellation of outdoor concerts. In a summer of intense heat and wildfires, similar scenarios played out in cities across North America — in New York, Denver, Chicago, Toledo.

Originally published on knowablemagazine.org, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

Recommended for you