satellite remote sensing

Identifying pollution source hence facilitating effective monitoring and control policies

 

Remote sensing facilities - the HRPT (High Resolution Picture Transmission) station for the reception of SeaWiFS (Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor) ocean color data - were installed at HKUST in 1994. Since then, transmission data from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)-12, -14 satellites and the SeaStar satellite has been received for numerous environmental research purposes.

Coupling with advanced weather prediction models and simulation-/observation-based models, remote sensing technology has been demonstrating as a powerful tool to retrieve large scale spatiotemporal air pollution distribution patterns. It also empowers decision-makers with solid evidence to design effective and robust air pollution control policy frameworks.

FRONTIER RESEARCH

Source Identification & Re-accessing Policy Effectiveness

1999

RESEARCH

  • Local/Regional air pollution hot spots identifications
  • Regional pollution episodes
    transportation and dissipation patterns

FINDINGS / IMPACT

In 1999, very high Air Pollution Index (API) was recorded in Hong Kong due to wild fires events in Ching Ming Festival both in Hong Kong and Guangdong. In the later months of the same year, another ever-recorded high API events also occured in western part of Hong Kong. By combining remote sensing technology and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) system results, air pollution hot spots in the region, as well as the movement and dissipation of the smoke and haze were also identified.

2003

RESEARCH

Spatiotemporal distribution of
PM2.5 in Mainland China and
Hong Kong

FINDINGS / IMPACT

Since 2003, satellite remote sensing technology has been deployed to investigate large scale PM2.5 distribution across the region. The results are so important to improve our understanding about the
sources of air pollution, hence enhancing the design of effective monitoring and control policies.

2017

RESEARCH

High-resolution satellite remote sensing of provincial PM2.5 trends in China over 15-year time span

FINDINGS / IMPACT

Advanced studies were conducted to fill the data gap of the lacking of long-term PM2.5 measurement from 2001 to 2005. The results provided evidence to justify the effectivenes of cooresponding air pollution prevention and control policies in different major city clusters in the Greater China.