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NASA to Assist again on Kao-Ping 3D Air Quality Research

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With the goal of observing real-time variations of air pollutants in conjunction with the MOENV's 7-SEAS Project/Kao-Ping 3D air quality research, the Ministry of Environment (MOENV) requested that NASA's DC-8 and GIII aircraft fly to Taiwan again today (March 13). During the previous two intensive observation periods, more than 550 air samples containing O3, PM2.5, metals, HAPs, PFAS, microplastics, and POPs were collected.

 

On this flight, GIII will maintain flying at 28,000 feet ,the DC-8 will maintain a low altitude, flying at 2,000 feet (610 meters) over the Tainan and Kao-Ping area, and approach the Tainan and Chiayi Airport at as low as 46 feet (15 meters) to closely monitor the influences of atmospheric circulation, emission sources, and topography on air quality. It is likely that a regional easterly wind will prevail today (March 13), leading to the accumulation of air pollutants in the central and southern regions of Taiwan. NASA will once again team up with Taiwan's inter-ministerial agencies, domestic scholars and students to conduct this international atmospheric research.

Previously the NASA DC-8 flew to Taiwan on February 15, and a NASA GIII flew to Taiwan on February 28 to take four hours of airborne measurements. On February 28, due to temporary engine issues with the DC-8, only NASA’s GIII aircraft flew to Taiwan to help monitor regional air quality. During the flight, it was observed that the combined impact of overseas and local pollution affected air quality to the point of an orange alert level.  

The NASA DC-8 and GIII will fly over Taiwan today (March 13) in cooperation with more than 200 participants from the Central Weather Administration and the Civil Aviation Administration of the MOTC, the Air Force Weather Wing, the Air Force Institute of Technology, Environmental Protection Bureaus of individual cities and counties, and 45 professors from domestic academies. Additionally, for a third time ground-based measurements will be taken over a period of 48 hours. The international joint observation of 3D terrain, atmospheric circulation and air pollutant changes will provide useful data to investigate the causes of air pollution in the Kao-Ping area and for satellite validation, model evaluation, and for developing control strategies to improve Taiwan’s air quality.

Source: 
Ministry of Environment
Updated: 
2024-03-13
Hit: 
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