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The atmospheric trace gas monoxide (CO) is released when something is burned, such as in the combustion of fossil fuels or biomass. Outdoor levels are rarely high enough to cause issues. When the gas does reach dangerous levels, however, it can affect people with certain types of heart disease. CO is an excellent tracer of pollution transport because it is long-lived in the atmosphere. It is also helpful for identifying the source of air masses.

Carbon monoxide from fuel use can be a major disruptor of atmospheric chemistry, inhibiting natural processes that help clean the atmosphere of pollutants. When combined with sunlight and other pollutants, carbon monoxide can also contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and urban smog.

NASA instruments such as the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES), Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI), and Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) monitor carbon monoxide levels from Earth-observing satellites. Our carbon monoxide datasets include near real-time data as well as historical carbon monoxide levels, helping researchers conduct robust studies of air quality, pollution, and atmospheric composition. 

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MLS instrument data
Access MLS data from GES DISC via OPeNDAP
Learn how to visualize Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) data, including atmospheric carbon monoxide data, through OPeNDAP.
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Access AIRS data from GES DISC via OPeNDAP
Learn how to access and visualize Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) grid data from NASA's Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) in Python.
Discover and Visualize Atmospheric Carbon Monoxide Data
NASA data help us understand Earth's changing systems in more detail than ever before, and visualizations bring these data to life, making Earth science concepts accessible, beautiful, and impactful.
Data visualization is a powerful tool for analysis, trend and pattern recognition, and communication. Our resources help you find world-class data visualizations to complement and enhance your research. We also have tools and tutorials to help you translate atmospheric carbon monoxide data into compelling visuals.
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Map of Africa with green area across center of continent; red/yellow/orange spots are within the green area indicating higher CO concentrations.
An image of carbon monoxide concentration measurements over Africa acquired by the Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument aboard the Aura platform on March 4, 2021. Red/orange/yellow areas have higher concentrations of carbon monoxide. Credit: NASA Worldview.

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