NASA Earth Observations Monitor Aerosols over Eastern China

EarthzineDEVELOP Virtual Poster Session, Earth Observation, Original

Thermal image of China

DEVELOP Langley students present their spring 2011 research results to Langley Science Directorate staff.

DEVELOP Langley students present their spring 2011 research results to Langley Science Directorate staff. Photo Credit: Karen Allsbrook.

Team location: Langley Research Center

Authors:

Peter Johnson

Ngoc Nguyen

Kathryn Morel

Chelsea Brown

Samantha Gough

Dr. Richard Ferrare, NASA Langley Research Center (Science Advisor)

Abstract: Eastern China is home to a population of approximately one billion people, concentrated in large metropolitan areas with abundant supporting infrastructure. Coal provides energy resources to most of that population, but is accompanied by large amounts of aerosol emissions. Numerous cities in eastern China are established as having poor air quality, prominently Beijing, Linfen, and Shanghai. Prevailing winds from this industrialized region may affect other countries including the Koreas, Japan, and even the western United States. With such far-reaching impacts, an understanding of aerosols on a worldwide scale is necessary. NASA EOS satellites can assist in this endeavor by locating and attempting to classify aerosols over relatively large regions every few days. Two major goals were defined for this project. First, an evaluation of methods by which aerosols could be monitored by end users was undertaken. Related to this is an attempt to

MODIS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) measurements displaying elevated aerosol levels in Eastern China with HYSPLIT trajectories overlaid in Google Earth.

MODIS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) measurements displaying elevated aerosol levels in Eastern China with HYSPLIT trajectories overlaid in Google Earth.

determine the uses to which the data might be put, and who might be interested in these applications. Second, a case study wherein these methods were actually applied was attempted, pertaining to differences in air quality related to Chinese attempts to reduce pollution in the two years preceding the 2008 summer Olympic Games. By combining MODIS-based images from the NASA GIOVANNI server with NOAA HYSPLIT models and data from the CALIPSO satellite, a three-dimensional view and characterization of regional-scale aerosols and where they might go was created. However, several attempted methods were not successful due to difficulties in obtaining and using data and models. Local-scale end-users may be unable to meet their needs with currently available products.

Download the poster PDF here.

Video transcript available here.