Nexus Standards · Climate and Earth Systems · Nexus domains
Area · proposed
Air pollution is among the largest environmental causes of premature death, and atmospheric hazards such as smoke, dust and volcanic ash cross borders and disrupt aviation and health systems. This area of the Climate and Earth Systems programme sets records for air-quality observations, sensor calibration, forecasts and exposure so that agencies and communities can combine reference monitors, low-cost sensors and model products with stated calibration and uncertainty. Each artifact of the area carries a UNI (Unique Nexus Identifier).
Nexus Standards (2026). Atmosphere and air quality risk standards: area brief, Climate and Earth Systems programme. Proposed. https://nexustandards.com/climate/atmosphere-and-air-quality-risk-standards/. Last reviewed 17 October 2026.
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An area of the Climate and Earth Systems programme (nexus domains). The area profile sets out 5 matters in scope and 3 matters addressed by other areas.
In scope 5
Out of scope 3
Jurisdictions Application in each jurisdiction is a national decision, taken by the National Standards Council (NSC) with the competent national authorities.
The map frames South Asia as an example geography for atmosphere and air quality risk; the frame gives context and is not a statement of where the standards apply. Shown at first: aerosol optical depth, daily (VIIRS NOAA-20 Deep Blue AOD, NASA LANCE) and land surface temperature, day, 8-day composite (VIIRS NOAA-20 Level 3, 8-day, NASA LANCE). The layer drawer adds nitrogen dioxide, lower atmosphere column (OMI Aura); surface dust PM2.5, monthly mean (MERRA-2); land surface temperature, night, 8-day composite (VIIRS NOAA-20 Level 3, 8-day); population density, 2020 (Gridded Population of the World v4.11); active fires and thermal anomalies, last day (VIIRS NOAA-20 375 m, FIRMS); and flood water, 3-day composite (VIIRS Global Flood Product). NASA products are served through NASA GIBS under NASA's open data policy, with acknowledgement; population density is GPW v4.11 by CIESIN, Columbia University, under CC BY 4.0; coastlines, boundaries and place names come from NASA GIBS reference layers (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL) and Natural Earth (public domain). Each layer shows its own observation date; full credits are given under the map. Live events from NASA FIRMS active fire detections are drawn over the imagery; events are indicative and are not official warnings. Other sources of the profile, such as OpenAQ air quality measurements API and CAMS global atmospheric composition forecasts and reanalysis, are listed for reference.
The interactive map needs JavaScript; the layer list and sources are below.
Layers 2
Environmental exposure
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Latest available
NASA GIBS / EOSDIS · ASTER GDEM (METI, NASA) · Blue Marble (NASA) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Natural Earth
Loading the latest NASA imagery.
Drag to move. Ctrl or ⌘ and scroll, pinch or the buttons to zoom; hover for the values under the pointer; reset returns to the region.
Environmental exposure, framed on South Asia. Layers as NASA publishes them, each with its own date.Satellite and model products as NASA publishes them, each with its own date; indicators, not assessments of any place.
Layers and dates
A shock such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is observed through CAMS global atmospheric composition forecasts and reanalysis; its effect on atmosphere and air quality is recorded and propagated to Health risk standards and Wildfire and vegetation fire standards through recorded couplings; cascade obligations are evaluated as clauses; indicators such as SDG 11.6.2 are computed from the records. 7 operations in 5 phases, built from the area profile: the cards carry its own data sources, indicators, open standards, couplings and, where listed, hazards, and each operation names the Nexus rules it implements (11). Records and artifacts are cited by UNI (Unique Nexus Identifier) and version.
Shock observed start · Shock
Hazards and threats in scope: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), Ozone episodes, Wildfire smoke, Sand and dust storms and Volcanic ash.
System state record · System
In scope: Reference and low-cost sensor observation records with calibration history, Air-quality forecast and reanalysis records and Population exposure estimates with method.
Impact model model · System
Uncertainty is shown where it exists.
Coupled system step · Coupling
Couplings of this area: Health risk standards, Wildfire and vegetation fire standards, Climate risk standards and Geophysical hazard standards.
Second system step · Coupling
Each step of the cascade cites the records it rests on.
Cascade clauses gate · Obligations
Nexus Standards of this area: NS-0, NS-1, NS-3, NS-3b, NS-9, NS-11.
SDG 11.6.2 end · Indicators
Indicators of this area: SDG 11.6.2 (Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter in cities (population weighted)) and SDG 3.9.1 (Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution).
Fig.Phases read left to right; each card names the operation, its actor and the record it leaves, and each edge label names the hand-over. Play, step or scrub; the detail panel gives the full text of the selected operation. Sources: WHO global air quality guidelines (2021) · OGC SensorThings API · NS-0: Constitution and principles · NS-1: The UNI and the artifact catalog.
The systemic couplings recorded for this context, grouped by transmission mechanism. The bar summarises each mechanism (select one to filter); each entry names the connected area or programme and describes the mechanism.
The interactive view requires JavaScript; the sections below present the same records.
4 couplings link this area to other areas and programmes, each with the mechanism of the link. Select a card on the diagram to trace a coupling.
Fig.The area at the left; coupled areas in the same programme, coupled areas in other programmes and the programmes reached to the right.
A system model of this area built from the registry: 18 hazards, 5 systems, 4 sectors, 12 controls, 4 feeds, 2 indicators. Select the components to include, choose an initiating hazard and run the scenario. Stress propagates through the hazard relations of the Nexus Hazard Standard (NHS-1), the exposure of each system, the recorded couplings and the sectors that carry the loss; adopted standards dampen transmission and live data sources support detection. All parameters are stated assumptions that the reader can adjust; results are illustrative scenario outputs for exercises and training, not forecasts or risk assessments. The Map view places the same run on an example geography, Pacific Island states, the region of the programme's context map, with open data: Natural Earth boundaries, an H3 hexagon grid and NASA satellite layers for the initiating hazard. The geography serves exercises and training and is not an assessment of that place.
Hazards
Systems and couplings
Controls
NS-0 Constitution and principlesNS-1 The UNI and the artifact catalog (grammar v0.2: domain, sector, region and environment segments)NS-3 Risk record UNIs (grammar, legacy crosswalk, allocation authority)NS-3b Dataset and product metadata profile (STAC, DCAT, PROV-O)NS-9 Contextual UNIs (deployments, instances, programme instances)NS-11 Verification and monitoring (evidence, attestations, zero-trust conformance observation)NRS-H29 Hazard family: Air pollution episodes (NHS-1 poll.air-quality)NRS-T4 Sensing and measurement networks riskNRS-H46 Hazard family: Environmental and product harm to people (NHS-1 health.harm)NRS-H6 Hazard family: Airborne particles and low visibility (NHS-1 atmo.particles)NRS-H73 Hazard family: Indoor environment hazards (NHS-1 poll.indoor)NRS-S11 System profile: NXS-OPS (Instruments, sensors and calibration)Observation
Example geography
Hazards and threats 5
Sectors 4
5 open standards, each with its relation as recorded in the register under NS-14. Hover over or focus a relation for its definition.
adopt4
OGC SensorThings APIOpen Geospatial Consortiumlisted in the register · ogc-sensorthings-apiSemantic Sensor Network Ontology (SSN/SOSA)W3C and OGCproposed for the registerCommon Alerting Protocol Version 1.2OASIS Emergency Management TClisted in the register · oasis-cap-1-2CF Metadata ConventionsCF Conventions communityproposed for the register4 data sources named in the area profile, each with provider, licence, update frequency and delivery path.
Data sources are listed for reference; live data is displayed once licence review is complete.
CAMS global reanalysis (EAC4) and atmospheric composition forecastsfor reference
Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (ECMWF on behalf of the European Union) · daily forecasts; reanalysis updated periodically
CC BY 4.0 (Copernicus Atmosphere Data Store dataset licence); credit: Generated using Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information [year]
listed for referencelisted in the data register
NASA FIRMS active fire detections (MODIS, VIIRS)for reference
NASA LANCE / FIRMS · near real time
NASA Earth science data and information policy (open)
governed data servicelisted in the data register
CAMS global atmospheric composition forecasts and reanalysisfor reference
Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (ECMWF) · twice daily
Copernicus licence (free, full and open; attribution)
build-time snapshotproposed for the data register
OpenAQ air quality measurements APIfor reference
OpenAQ · hourly
Per-provider licences recorded by OpenAQ; platform terms of use
listed for referenceproposed for the data register
The area profile names 2 indicators, each with its framework and code.
Indicator names and codes are given as published by their stewards.
The area profile lists 6 Nexus Standards. Each is a proposed standard under development.
Status: proposed · 12 requirements stated. Read NS-0
Status: proposed · 10 requirements stated. Read NS-1
Status: proposed · 0 requirements stated. Read NS-3
Status: proposed · 0 requirements stated. Read NS-3b
Status: proposed · 5 requirements stated. Read NS-9
Status: proposed · 6 requirements stated. Read NS-11
Standards whose text is not openly available are named and linked only. Any compatibility profile is kept on protected pages until an arrangement with the issuing body is in place.
The working group may identify restricted standards relevant to this area; they are listed here by name and link.
What each institution of the ecosystem draws from this area: GCRI Canada, as Secretariat, for evidence; The Global Risks Forum (GRF) for recognition; and The Global Risks Alliance (GRA) for capital.
GCRI Canada may accept air-quality records that carry sensor type, calibration and correction lineage as research evidence; the decision rests with GCRI Canada under its own evidence and research rules.
GRF may record cities and agencies that publish calibrated sensor networks on the shared records as a dialogue item; the decision rests with GRF under its own recognition rules.
GRA may read exposure records when it considers clean-air and health investments; the decision rests with GRA under its own capital-readiness rules.
Each institution determines under its own rules what it accepts as evidence; a pathway reading is neither an approval nor investment advice.
Version and source status for each standard, as published by the issuing bodies.
Available · from the registryTest suites, conformance statements and attestations for each standard, as recorded in the registry.
Available · runs in the browserSelect a sector, hazard family, capability and artifact type; the registry identifies the applicable standards and states the reasons.
Each console computes from the registry and states its reasoning; decisions remain with the competent bodies.
A proposed charter for this area, open to institutions and experts.
Records for air-quality observation, sensor calibration and exposure that combine reference and low-cost data with transparent quality flags.
Institutions and experts are invited to charter this working group under NS-13 by filing a public change record. National Working Groups (NWGs) contribute national inputs and field exercises through their National Nexus Consortium (NNC).
The area profile identifies 4 user communities.
3 questions identified as priorities for the working group.
4 references from peer-reviewed and official publications cited in the area profile, linked at the publishers' own sites.
Recent peer-reviewed articles, preprints, datasets and reports on the subject of this area, retrieved at the time of reading from open scholarly metadata services (OpenAlex, Crossref, DataCite, Zenodo, arXiv, Europe PMC, OpenAIRE Graph) with search terms composed from the registry. Each work is listed with its authors, venue, year, type, open-access status and licence, and links to its DOI or landing page. Sources not yet enabled for live display on this site are listed for reference and are not queried.
Search termsfine particulate matter; ozone episodes; wildfire smoke; dust storms; sand storms; volcanic ash; WHO global air quality guidelines; OGC SensorThings APIcombined with: risk; hazard; early warning; resilience; vulnerability; impact; exposureDerived from the title of the area and the hazards in its profile, the NHS-1 hazards it names and the open standards it lists.
No source is enabled for live display on this site yet: the sources are listed for reference and none is queried. Once the publisher of record enables a source after its terms are reviewed, recent works are listed here. Metadata and links only: title, authors, venue, year, type, open-access status and licence as each source records them; works are listed for orientation, not reviewed or endorsed.
2 courses and 3 disciplines of Risk Academy (risksacademy.com) that teach the knowledge and methods of this area. Each course lists its level, stream and learning hours.
The correspondence between courses, disciplines and the Nexus Standards is maintained with Risk Academy and is subject to its academic review.
GCRI Canada, The Global Risks Forum (GRF), The Global Risks Alliance (GRA) and Risk Academy work on the subject of this area in distinct roles (research and evidence; governance, policy and convening; capital, finance and markets; education and training). Each entry states why it corresponds and the step it offers; each institution sets its own terms of participation.
Research and evidence
GCRI Canada
Research programmes that produce the observations, models and assessments these records describe.
Health NexusStudies environmental health, including the health burden of air pollution, smoke and dust.Apply to this programme Space and Earth ObservationDevelops Earth observation sensors and spatial-temporal evidence used to monitor atmospheric hazards.Apply to this programme therisk.globalAll programmes of GCRI CanadaGovernance, policy and convening
The Global Risks Forum (GRF)
Tracks that convene public authorities, researchers and institutions on the governance of shared risks.
Climate and Nature GovernanceCompares the institutions responsible for transboundary environmental priorities, among them air quality.Join this track globalriskforum.comAll tracks of The Global Risks ForumCapital, finance and markets
The Global Risks Alliance (GRA)
Industry programmes in which financial institutions build a shared understanding of systemic risk.
Climate and Nature Financial RiskExamines how physical, transition and nature risks reach banks, insurers and investors, and the scenario methods used to assess them.Join this programme Reinsurance and CatastropheWorks on how climate-driven hazards become insured losses and where protection is missing.Join this programme globalriskalliance.comAll programmes of The Global Risks AllianceEducation and training
Risk Academy
Courses and disciplines that teach the knowledge and methods practitioners need to apply these standards.
Earth Observation and GIS for RiskRAT-201 · Introductory · 22 learning hoursMaps, satellites, terrain and open data for hazard and exposure analysis, with four hands-on labsTake this course Health NexusRAN-305 · Intermediate · 25 learning hoursEpidemics, One Health, climate and health systems as connected risksTake this course All courses and disciplinesListed in the education and training section of this pagePeer-reviewed articles, preprints, reports and datasets on the subject of this area, retrieved at the time of reading from open scholarly metadata services (OpenAlex and Crossref) and listed with authors, venue, year, type and access status, with a link to each work. Curated references and related standards are listed first; recent works matched by subject follow and are listed for orientation.
Search terms, derived from the title of the area and the hazards in its profile: fine particulate matter; ozone episodes; wildfire smoke; dust storms; sand storms; volcanic ash; combined with: risk; hazard; early warning; resilience; vulnerability; impact; exposure. With JavaScript enabled, recent works matching these terms are listed from OpenAlex and Crossref.
Nexus Reports is the Consortium's quarterly publication. What you know about this subject can become evidence, a case or a correction in the next edition, credited to you and published under CC BY 4.0 where it is your own work.
Never send personal data, sensitive infrastructure detail or anything you have no right to share. A contribution is reviewed before use; sending it confers no authorship or editorial rights, and sponsorship never buys a finding.
Institutions and experts are invited to propose amendments, join the working group or propose data sources. National participation is organised through each country's National Nexus Consortium (NNC) and its National Working Groups (NWGs); competent national authorities are engaged through official channels.
Status and use. The Nexus Standards are proposed standards developed through an open process under NS-13 and published for voluntary use; they do not constitute certification, accreditation or regulatory approval, and adoption remains a decision of the Global Standards Council and, in each country, of its National Standards Council. A UNI (Unique Nexus Identifier) identifies an artifact; it does not certify it. Names of standards bodies and their standards belong to their stewards and are used only to identify the documents; no text of an external standard is reproduced here. Nexus Standards is not affiliated with, endorsed by or certified by any standards body named here.
Licences: CC BY 4.0 for standards text, registries, schemas and data; Apache-2.0 for reference code. External standards are cited by name, number and link under their own licences. Third-party data, libraries and fonts keep their own licences: see Third-party notices.