Air pollution is a serious environmental and public health concern in the HKH region of south-central Asia, as unhealthy to hazardous air quality is frequently observed across the region. The Kathmandu Valley in Nepal is especially vulnerable to poor air quality due to trapping of pollution by the surrounding mountains, which can lead to extreme smog events and visibility reductions that hamper the transportation sector. A sparse network of surface-based air-quality sensors is typically used to monitor air pollution in the HKH region. The goal of this project is to develop a suite of high-resolution satellite products in conjunction with accurate chemical transport modeling systems in an effort to advance pollution monitoring and forecasting in the region.

• Fuse information from state-of-the-art satellite sensors for developing comprehensive aerosol and trace gas products that advance real-time monitoring capabilities over the HKH region
• Assimilate satellite products into a tailored modeling framework for providing accurate pollution forecasts and air quality warnings at the local-scale
• Design a lagrangian trajectory model based on satellite observations to aid in the rapid response to hazardous air quality events such as smog
• Implement the satellite and model-derived products into applicable decision support systems for the HKH region, and develop customized end-user training

The outcome of this project is a real-time monitoring and forecasting toolkit (i.e., imagery, derived products, and model forecasts) to enhance the decision-making process of partnering air quality agencies in the HKH region, which can enable more timely air quality alerts and protect public health.