Mesoamerican and Caribbean (MAC) Smog Blog Initial Training Global Air Quality Case Studies September 11-12, 2008 CATHALAC, Panama MODIS 15 May 2007 Data from NASA GSFC
Global Air Quality Case Studies 1.India - haze along Himalayas due to agricultural burning and megacities 2.China- haze from the Bo Hai Bay coastline in the east to the mountains in the west Sources: RGB Images & Analysis: NASA Earth Observatory AOD Images: NASA Level 1 and Atmosphere Archive and Distribution Center, processed by Battelle
MODIS True Color Image of Northern India, Nepal, Bangladesh – 2/5/06
lInsert AOD jpg MODIS Image, Processed by Battelle
Northern India True Color vs. AOD - 2/5/06
MODIS True Color Image of Eastern China- 9/10/05
MODIS Image, Processed by Battelle
Eastern China True Color vs. AOD - 9/10/05
Advantages and Limitations of Satellites for Air Pollution Advantages Greater detail over regions especially those with no ground monitors Synoptic and transboundary view (time and space) Adds value when combined with other data and models Visual appeal
Advantages and Limitations of Satellites for Air Pollution Limitations Lack of specificity about some pollutants Resolution and temporal scales sometimes too large Vertical layer sometimes not clear (sum over column of air), need lidar Large complex datasets difficult to acquire and use New satellite sensors will help address some of the limitations
International Applications lHemispheric, regional, country, and urban scales lImproved qualitative and quantitative air quality monitoring Remote areas without monitors Ground-based network supplementation & validation Characterization of large-scale sources and intercontinental & regional transport lAir quality visualization Eye-catching for policymakers
Sources- Listed at Sensor Site Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Data Sites NASA Goddard Space Flight Center DAAChttp://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/ NASA Langley Atmospheric Sciences Data Center NASA Level 1 and Atmosphere Archive and Distribution Center Imagery Sites UMBC-SERVIR AOD site NASA Earth Observatory NASA Visible Earthhttp://visibleearth.nasa.gov/ NOAA Operational Significant Event Imagery U.S. Air Quality (“Smog Blog”)