WWNO skyline header graphic
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Local Newscast
Hear the latest from the WWNO/WRKF Newsroom.

Weather Balloons Collect Air Pollution, Climate Data

SLU students Joseph Wilkins, Patrick Walsh, Jackie Ringhausen and Tim Barbeau (standing, from left to right), and Valparaiso Univ. trainers Alex Kotsakis and Mark Spychala (crouching, left to right) stabilize the balloon as it fills with helium. (Art Chimes/St. Louis Public Radio)
SLU students Joseph Wilkins, Patrick Walsh, Jackie Ringhausen and Tim Barbeau (standing, from left to right), and Valparaiso Univ. trainers Alex Kotsakis and Mark Spychala (crouching, left to right) stabilize the balloon as it fills with helium. (Art Chimes/St. Louis Public Radio)

Ozone is an essential part of the Earth’s upper atmosphere where it prevents damaging ultraviolet light from reaching the Earth’s surface.

Down near the ground, though, ozone emissions from industrial plants and cars can cause health problems.

Students at Saint Louis University are launching weather balloons as part of a nationwide study funded by NASA to improve our understanding of how ozone affects air pollution and the climate.

From the Here & Now Contributors Network, Véronique LaCapra of St. Louis Public Radio reports.

Reporter

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

👋 Looks like you could use more news. Sign up for our newsletters.

* indicates required
New Orleans Public Radio News
New Orleans Public Radio Info