From January 20 to 24, 2025, over 100 scientists, researchers, and government officials gathered in Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia, for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Airbone and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA)- Air Quality (AQ) Project Science Team Meeting. This five-day event included presentations, workshops, and discussions aimed at enhancing the understanding of air quality in Asia, a region grappling with serious pollution challenges.

 

Key Highlights:

 

  1. Focus on the Rapid Science Synthesis Report (RSSR): The meeting highlighted the importance of the NASA-led 2024 ASIA-AQ campaign, which uses satellite data, airborne measurements, and modeling to study Asian air quality, identify pollution sources, assess health impacts, and inform policy.

 

  1. Integration of Ground-based and Satellite Data: The participants stressed the importance of combined ground-based and satellite data for effective air quality strategies and highlighted international cooperation as essential for tackling air pollution and protecting public health.

 

  1. Opening Remarks and Expert Contributions: The opening session featured remarks from expert figures, including Prof. Mohd Talib Latif (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), Dr. Barry Lefer (NASA), Jung-Min Park (National Institute of Environmental Research, South Korea), Dr. Pakorn Apaphant (Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), Thailand), Dr. George Lin (National Central University, Taiwan), and Engr. Chadbert Aquino (EMB-DENR). They emphasized the urgent need for international collaboration to combat air

 

  1. Research Presentations: Jim Crawford (NASA Langley Research Center) provided an overview of the ASIA-AQ project, followed by sessions on meteorological impacts, satellite comparisons, and greenhouse gas measurements.

 

  1. Regional Challenges and Findings: Discussions addressed Southeast Asia and Taiwan’s unique air quality challenges: urban heat islands, aerosol formation, and transboundary pollution- with key findings from Thai and Taiwanese studies revealing insights into aerosol and VOC interactions.

 

  1. Data from NASA DC-8 Aircraft: Significant presentations discussed data gathered from the NASA DC-8 aircraft, which conducted comprehensive airborne measurements during the ASIA-AQ mission, focusing on PM2.5 composition, VOCs, and ammonia levels in the atmosphere.

 

  1. Localized Pollution Sources: Researchers from Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, and South Korea presented findings on localized pollution sources (e.g., biomass burning, urban emissions), while Dr. Gregory Carmichael (University of Iowa) highlighted the complexity of regional air pollution with a presentation on Southeast Asia’s transboundary smoke haze.

 

  1. Health Impacts and Policy Development: Sessions addressed pollution’s health impacts and policy development, with discussions on Thailand’s air quality policies and South Korea’s winter pollution highlighting the need for actionable data to improve public health.

 

  1. Future Directions and Research Gaps: The meeting concluded with discussions on priority findings and research gaps for each country’s RSSR, with focused sessions on source attribution, health risk assessment, and model validation to inform future air quality policies.

 

The ASIA-AQ Project will continue its vital work, refining models, improving forecasting, and translating research into actionable policies, offering hope for a cleaner, healthier Asia as air pollution remains a critical environmental challenge.

 

For more information on the ASIA-AQ Project, visit their official website.