Poor air quality isn't just unhealthy. It's expensive.

Air quality affects broad sectors of society, from human health to crop yields to enjoyment of our national parks. About 3.5 million people die each year due to outdoor air pollution (more than 110,000 people in the United States), and the annual cost to the nation is estimated at nearly $150 billion due to disease, missed work, and damage to crops and forests.

At NCAR, our scientists are working from many angles to advance understanding of the complex atmospheric chemistry that affects air quality as well as our ability to make detailed air quality predictions.