NASA-backed sensors reveal high soot levels and daily spikes in Addis Ababa
A NASA-funded network of ground sensors has produced the first multi-year record of black carbon and PM2.5 pollution in Ethiopia’s capital, showing sharp daily and seasonal variations.
Researchers analyzing measurements from NASA’s Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA) project have documented detailed patterns of fine particulate matter in Addis Ababa over a three-year span. The average PM2.5 level of 30 µg/m³ surpasses the U.S. EPA’s annual health limit by more than threefold, while black carbon concentrations are four to nine times higher than those recorded in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Boston. The sensor network captured spikes during morning and evening traffic peaks and during major holidays that feature bonfires, as well as persistent emissions from nighttime charcoal burning.
These findings arrive as Ethiopia becomes the first nation to prohibit imports of internal-combustion vehicles and to invest in bike lanes and electric-vehicle infrastructure. The MAIA effort, which also includes a space-borne camera slated for launch after 2027, will enable city-wide mapping of aerosol types and support public-health studies linking particle composition to health outcomes.
Why it matters
Understanding soot and fine-particle trends helps cities design policies to protect public health as urban populations grow.
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