NASA and NOAA Take to the Air to Chase Smoke

The video discusses how smoke from fires can travel vast distances, impacting air quality and weather. NASA, along with partners, is conducting the Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality (Fire XAQ) mission to study smoke across North America. The mission involves taking air samples from various altitudes and locations, including Boise, ID, and Salina, KS. The collected data is analyzed to improve forecasts of smoke travel and its effects. This research is part of NASA's broader efforts to understand fires and their impact on our planet.

How does smoke from fires impact the environment beyond its immediate vicinity?

• It remains stationary and does not affect the atmosphere.

• It only affects the area where the fire is burning.

• It only impacts the local wildlife.

• It can travel across continents and oceans, altering air quality and weather patterns.

What is the primary goal of the FIREX-AQ mission?

• To extinguish wildfires across North America.

• To track smoke as it crosses North America and analyze its impact on air quality.

• To develop new firefighting techniques.

• To study the effects of smoke on marine life.

Which organization is leading the FIREX-AQ mission?

• The World Health Organization

• The United Nations

• The European Space Agency

• NASA

What is the focus of the FIREX-AQ team's research in Salina, KS?

• Studying smoke from industrial fires.

• Examining smoke from urban pollution.

• Analyzing smoke from agricultural fires and their chemical composition.

• Investigating smoke from volcanic eruptions.

How does the data collected by the FIREX-AQ team contribute to our understanding of smoke?

• It is stored without analysis for future use.

• It is primarily used for educational purposes in schools.

• It is used to create new types of smoke detectors.

• It helps improve forecasts of smoke travel and its contents.