An Overview NASA Health and Air Quality Applications

摘要

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 focus area of the NASA Applied Sciences Program 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 14 years in these areas. This extended abstract lays out the background of the Health and Air Quality Applications program, recent accomplishments, and a plan for the future. There is an undeniable link between environment and health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) "environmental hazards are responsible for as much as a quarter of the total burden of disease worldwide". Recognizing such links, the 2007 report Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade (commonly referred to as the Decadal Survey) in its 'vision for the future' of Earth Science and applications, specifically called for 'a vision that includes advances in fundamental understanding of the Earth system and increased application of this understanding to serve the nation and the people of the world' and goes on to point out the use of satellite data for 'targeted interventions to reduce vulnerability to health risks, and enhanced knowledge of human health-environment interactions (NRC, 2007). Successfully providing predictions with the accuracy, latency, and specificity required by decision makers will require advancements over current capabilities in a number of interrelated areas. These areas include observations, modeling systems, forecast development, application integration, and the research to operations transition process.