Image Gallery

Carvings on the exterior of an old limestone building are decaying due to acid rain.

Acid Rain Damage

This is a photo of Denver, Colorado on a day with good air quality with clear skies (top) and on a day with poor air quality with hazy skies (bottom).

Air Quality in Denver, Colorado

Carbon Dioxide molecule

Carbon Dioxide molecule

Carbon Monoxide molecule

Carbon Monoxide molecule

Chemical Composition of Earth's Atmosphere

Chemical Composition of the Atmosphere Diagram

Air pollution creates harmful yellow dust storms over the Korean Peninsula.

Dust storm

Earth Science Helped Make Frankenstein Frightening!

Earth Science Helped Make Frankenstein Frightening

Diagram illustrating relative abundances of gases in Earth's atmosphere

Earth's Atmospheric Composition Diagram

Smokestacks from an oil refinery in Commerce City, Colorado, are shown pumping black smoke into the atmosphere.

Factory Smoke

Smoke rising from a forest fire over the mountains of Idaho.

Forest Fires Create Air Pollution

Pie chart showing the gases that make up the atmosphere: Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), Inert Gases- mostly Argon (.96%), and Carbon Dioxide (0.04%).

Gases in Earth's Atmosphere

Air pollution in Mexico City causes hazy skies that block sunlight from reaching the ground.

Haze over Mexico City

A picture of a thermal inversion over Boulder, Colorado, appears as a brown layer in the sky.

Inversion over Boulder, Colorado

Methane molecule

Methane molecule

Nitric oxide molecule

Nitric Oxide molecule

These two maps show typical nitrogen dioxide levels over China from January 1-20, 2020, and then show decreased nitrogen dioxide levels over the same area from February 10-25, 2020.

Nitrogen Dioxide During Coronavirus Shutdown (2020)

Nitrogen Dioxide molecule

Nitrogen Dioxide molecule

Nitrogen molecule

Nitrogen molecule

Multiple smokestacks releasing pollutants into the air in the form of white smoke, burning natural gas, and black smoke.

Oil Refineries Create Air Pollution

Oxygen molecule

Oxygen molecule

Brown dots scattered across the surface of three green leaves of a potato plant.

Ozone damage to potato leaves

A view of the Earth showing the ozone hole as recorded in 2019.

Ozone Hole Over Antartica

Ozone molecule

Ozone molecule

Heavy traffic in Mexico City causes air pollution.

Pollution from Vehicles

Propane molecule - example hydrocarbon

Propane molecule - Hydrocarbon example

Sizes of Aerosols, Raindrop and Cloud Droplets

Sizes of Aerosols, Raindrop and Cloud Droplets

Smog over Denver, Colorado, appears as a hazy sky above the city.

Smog

Illustration of a thermal inversion, when cool air and pollutants from the surface are inhibited from rising by a layer of warm air.

Temperature Inversion

A graphic showing ways you can help to reduce air pollution: wind turbines as an example of renewable energy, driving low pollution vehicles, taking the bus or riding your bike, refuel at gas stations in the evening, compost yard waste instead of burning it, mow grass in the evening, avoid using the fireplace or wood stoves when air quality is poor, use low VOC cleaners and paints, and in general use less energy.

What You Can Do to Improve Air Quality