As we go about our daily lives here in sunny South Georgia, driving through our beautiful countryside of cotton fields, grazing cattle, big oaks and pine forests, we probably don’t dwell too much on the issue of pollution.

Even though we have those moments when a relatively small item requires government oversight and/or restrictions, the matter of pollution is likely once removed from our thought processes.

But occasionally we are reminded that pollution in its many forms affects us all, directly or indirectly. And those who make the prevention and correction of such dangers often demand that we look at the “big picture.” In other words, imagine yourself standing off and looking at our planet from a distance, and then connecting the dots.

Well it just so happens that we don’t have to imagine this.

Our scientists are now developing satellite technology that actually produce images of pollution worldwide.  

Images taken by a new European satellite show the levels and distribution of air pollutants around the world, including ash spewing from a volcano in Indonesia.

Associated Press noted that the European Space Agency released images Friday made by its Sentinel-5P satellite that show high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in parts of Europe on Nov. 22.

Nitrogen dioxide is mainly caused by vehicle emissions and in industrial processes.

Another image shows high levels of carbon monoxide, commonly produce by fires, in Asia, Africa and South America.

A series of images also show sulfur dioxide, ash and smoke from the Mount Agung volcano in Bali last month.

Sentinel-5P, launched Oct. 13, can map levels of nitrogen dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide and other pollutants that can be hazardous to human health or contribute to global warming.

It’s said that a picture can paint a thousand words. If that’s the case, we would do well to read these photos and realize that we all have a stake in the stewardship of our planet … our air is not restricted to state lines or national borders.

We should also embrace a notion that if our stewardship responsibilities are diminished by obtuse political agendas and religious fanaticisms, our children and grandchildren may one day be asking with much dismay, “What were they thinking?”