Scientists Find Cleanest Air On Earth & It’s Near Antarctica

In a study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, a set of atmospheric scientists from Colorado described the the bioaerosol composition of the Southern Ocean as “truly pristine” and the probably the cleanest air on Earth.

Colorado Scientists Find The Cleanest Air On Earth

In the first of its kind study by atmospheric scientists, it was found that the boundary layer air, which feeds the lower clouds over the Southern Ocean, was probably the cleanest air on Earth. The researchers came to this conclusion based on the following factor. The air was free from aerosol particles produced by human activity. Aerosol particles include particles that come from planting certain crops, burning fossil fuels, fertilizer production, and wastewater disposal.

Also read: Antarctica Is The Only Continent In The World That Hasn’t Reported Even A Single Coronavirus Case

Given the low density of human population in Antarctica and around the continent, it is almost impossible for aerosols to travel to the Southern Ocean.Scientists sampled the air the part of the atmosphere that has direct contact with the ocean which is also known as the marine boundary level.

Research scientist and co-author of the study Thomas Hill said that “the aerosols controlling the properties of SO (Southern Ocean) clouds are strongly linked to ocean biological processes, and that Antarctica appears to be isolated from southward dispersal of microorganisms and nutrient deposition from southern continents. Overall, it suggests that the SO is one of very few places on Earth that has been minimally affected by anthropogenic activities.”

Air Pollution Kills Over 7 Million People Annually

Did you know that air pollution is the 5th leading factor of mortality worldwide? World Health Organization recently released a report that showed 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. According to the World Air Quality Index, Bangladesh is the most polluted city in the world, followed by Pakistan, Mongolia, Afghanistan and India. Sitting at 5th place with an Air Quality Index of 58.08 average in 2019, India has a long way to go to improve AQI.