Infusing satellite Data into Environmental Applications (IDEA):

R. Bradley PierceNOAA/NESDIS/STAR

PM2.5 forecasting tool hosted at NOAA NESDIS using NASA MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), GOES derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) and US EPA AIRNow PM2.4 network.

IDEA is a NASA- EPA-NOAA partnership to improve air quality assessment, management, and prediction by infusing (NASA) satellite measurements into (EPA, NOAA) analyses for public benefit. The IDEA web-based analysis, forecast, and visualization system is hosted at the NOAA Center of Satellite Applications and Research (STAR)

Objective: Near-real-time product for State and Local Air Quality Forecasters

Goal: Improve accuracy of next day PM2.5 AQI forecast during large aerosol events

NASA MODIS - NOAA GOES- EPA AIRNow

Data Fusion Improving EPA Air Quality Index (PM 2.5) Forecasting

http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/smcd/spb/aq/index.php

September 5, 2003

September 10

Can satellite data be used in near-real-time to provide synoptic-scale features for air quality forecast?- PM2.5 levels reached Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups on Sept. 8th - 12th, 2003 in the Mid-west.

Operational Use of Satellite Data for Air Quality

Sensitive groups should avoid all physical activity outdoors; everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion

Sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion; everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion

Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion

Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion

None

Cautionary Statements

201-300

151-200

101-150

51-100

0-50

IndexValues

PM10

(ug/m3)

PM2.5

(ug/m3)

Category

355-424

255-354

155-254

55-154

0-54

150.5-250.4

65.5-150.4

40.5-65.4

15.5-40.4

0-15.4Good

Very Unhealthy

Unhealthy

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Moderate

Source: US EPA, 1997

MODIS AOD:color contours, WF_ABBA Fire pixels: purple dots

www.hpc.ncep.noaa.govMODIS Aerosol Optical Depth September 4, 2003

Clean air advection behind cold front

Visible image

Aerosol Optical Depth

Pacific NW Wildfires

MODIS AOD: color contours WF_ABBA Fire pixels: purple dots

www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov

MODIS AOD Trajectory Initialization, Sept. 7, 2003

Elongation of high AOD along trough axisInitialization of

Trajectories to predict movement of high AOD Merging high

pressure systems

MODIS AOD: color contoursWF_ABBA Fire pixels: purple dots

www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov24hr Trajectory Forecast with current MODIS AOD September 8, 2003

Development of high pressure systems over Canada and central US

MODIS AOD: color contours WF_ABBA Fire pixels: purple dots

www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov

Elevated AOD entrained into merged high pressure system

48hr Trajectory Forecast with current MODIS AODSeptember 9, 2003

MODIS AOD Sep. 08

http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/smcd/spb/aq/index.php?plot_type=tutorial

IDEA Tutorials

http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/smcd/spb/aq/

IDEA Homepage