Articles | Volume 26, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3783-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-3783-2026
Research article
 | 
17 Mar 2026
Research article |  | 17 Mar 2026

Global NO2 changes between 2019 and 2024 as observed by TROPOMI in urban areas and emerging hotspots

Daniel E. Huber, Gaige H. Kerr, M. Omar Nawaz, Sara Runkel, Susan C. Anenberg, and Daniel L. Goldberg

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Cited articles

Ahn, D. Y., Goldberg, D. L., Coombes, T., Kleiman, G., and Anenberg, S. C.: CO2 emissions from C40 cities: citywide emission inventories and comparisons with global gridded emission datasets, Environ. Res. Lett., 18, 034032, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ACBB91, 2023. 
Anenberg, S. C., Mohegh, A., Goldberg, D. L., Kerr, G. H., Brauer, M., Burkart, K., Hystad, P., Larkin, A., Wozniak, S., and Lamsal, L.: Long-term trends in urban NO2 concentrations and associated paediatric asthma incidence: estimates from global datasets, Lancet Planet Health, 6, e49–e58, https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00255-2, 2022. 
Bovensmann, H., Burrows, J. P., Buchwitz, M., Frerick, J., Noël, S., Rozanov, V. V., Chance, K. V., and Goede, A. P. H.: SCIAMACHY: Mission Objectives and Measurement Modes, J. Atmos. Sci., 56, 127–150, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1999)056<0127:SMOAMM>2.0.CO;2, 1999. 
Brett, N., Arnold, S. R., Law, K. S., Raut, J.-C., Onishi, T., Barret, B., Dieudonné, E., Cesler-Maloney, M., Simpson, W., Bekki, S., Savarino, J., Albertin, S., Gilliam, R., Fahey, K., Pouliot, G., Huff, D., and D'Anna, B.: Estimating Power Plant Contributions to Surface Pollution in a Wintertime Arctic Environment, ACS ES&T Air, 2, 943–956, https://doi.org/10.1021/ACSESTAIR.5C00030, 2025. 
Burrows, J. P., Weber, M., Buchwitz, M., Rozanov, V., Ladstätter-Weißenmayer, A., Richter, A., Debeek, R., Hoogen, R., Bramstedt, K., Eichmann, K. U., Eisinger, M., and Perner, D.: The Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME): Mission Concept and First Scientific Results, J. Atmos. Sci., 56, 151–175, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1999)056<0151:TGOMEG>2.0.CO;2, 1999. 
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Short summary
We used satellite data to track air pollution in over 11,000 cities worldwide from 2019 to 2024. Nitrogen dioxide levels fell in many cities in Asia, Europe, and North America, but rose in parts of Africa and the Middle East. We found signs of nitrogen dioxide changes from fossil fuel use, conflict and mining operations. These findings show how satellites can help track pollution and highlight where official data on emissions may be wrong or incomplete.
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