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ARB and NASA team up . 

Release 08-54
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2008
	  	  	
Leo Kay
(916) 849-9843
www.arb.ca.gov

Air Board working with NASA to examine California's air
pollution

World's most advanced technology studying state's smog,
greenhouse gas emissions

SACRAMENTO: At the request of scientists at the Air Resources
Board, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will
perform a series of flights between June 18 and June 25 to
examine the atmosphere over the state to better understand the
chemical dynamics of smog and greenhouse gases.

NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory is flying a series of flights
originating at the Dryden Flight Research Center in Palmdale
over southern California, the San Joaquin Valley, the San
Francisco Bay Area and over the Pacific. The DC-8 is configured
for atmospheric composition measurements as part of a large
environmental science campaign to study the impact of air
pollution on the Arctic's atmospheric chemistry and changing
climate. NASA is also sending a specially outfitted P3 aircraft
from its Ames Research Center in Mountain View to fly over
northern California for additional sampling during the same time
period.

The flights will gather samples aimed at helping ARB to:

    * Obtain a better picture of greenhouse gas emission sources
throughout the state;
    * Characterize the types of pollution into the state from
off-shore; and
    * Distinguish the differences in air mass chemistry between
urban and rural areas. 

"This collaboration will give us information on how pollution is
created, transported and even destroyed," said Bart Croes, chief
of the ARB's Research Division. "The use of highly sophisticated
technology to gather data at heights far beyond our normal reach
and collaboration with NASA's very knowledgeable science and
flight teams combine to create a rare opportunity."

The Air Resources Board has been a world leader in developing
and implementing aggressive, cutting edge pollution control
measures to combat smog and particulate matter for 40 years. The
agency is also now working to reduce the state's greenhouse gas
emissions by 25 percent by 2020 as required by the AB32, the
Global Warming Solutions Act that Governor Schwarzenegger signed
in 2006.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.

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