How does COBRA work?

COBRA contains detailed emission estimates of PM_2.5, SO₂, NO_X, VOCs for the year 2016, and emissions projections for 2023 and 2028 developed by the U.S. EPA. Users create their own scenario by specifying increases or decreases to one of the three baseline emission estimates: 2016, 2023, or 2028. Users enter emission changes at the county, state, or national levels, and the model returns results for the contiguous United States. The user can filter the model outputs and view results for smaller geographic areas.

COBRA uses a reduced form air quality model, the Source-Receptor (S–R) Matrix, to estimate the effects of emission changes on ambient PM_2.5 and Ozone (O₃).

Using an approach to estimating avoided health impacts and monetized benefits that is generally consistent with EPA practice, the model translates the ambient PM_2.5 and O₃ changes into human health effects and monetizes them.

Users can view the results in tabular or geographic form.