Huge air-and-sea study aims to track origins and destination of Calif. pollution

Huge study aims to find origin of Calif. pollution

LOS ANGELES — A huge study of air quality and climate is under way in the skies and off the coast of California.

A slew of instrument-laden aircraft and a research ship are involved in the state and federal project.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the goal is to understand the origin of pollutants and greenhouse gases, where they go and what becomes of them.

Scientists showed off the NOAA research vessel Atlantis on Friday in Los Angeles harbor. The ship has been gathering data about the exhaust from cargo ships and will move on to spend 10 days off the Northern California coast and San Francisco Bay.