To better calculate the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere NASA is launching a new satellite tomorrow. The precise measurements of the Orbital Carbon Observatory will help scientists better understand the natural processes as well as the human impact of carbon dioxide levels. This should provide more reliable predictions of how green house gases are distributed through the atmosphere as well as their effect on global warming

Current data on carbon dioxide levels in the Earth’s atmosphere has become much easier for anyone to check now since last week Purdue University released a carbon dioxide map for Google Earth. It reveals pollution from factories, highways, buildings, etc. for the U.S. by state, county or population.

This is all part of Purdue’s Project Vulcan which is intending to expand the details of the map and expanding it to Canada and Mexico.