This special edition of Space explores how atmospheric pollution is measured – and forecast – by satellites.

You have probably used an app on your mobile phone to get the weather forecast. Now, thanks to a satellite network and ground-based stations, it is possible to get through an app on your phone information about pollution in your cities.

Earth's atmosphere is a complicated system, influenced by a large number of factors. Observation satellites orbiting around our planet constantly monitor the state of the air we breathe and how natural and man-made pollution are affecting the quality of the atmosphere.

Researchers at the University of Bremen have pioneered the measurement of atmospheric pollution.