Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland College Park, 4321 Hartwick Road, College Park, MD 20740, USA. Electronic address: krisvkp@umd.edu
  • 2 Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland College Park, 4321 Hartwick Road, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Environ Pollut, 2014 Dec;195:245-56.
PMID: 25087199 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.06.017

Abstract

In this study, we assess the intense pollution episode of June 2013, in Riau province, Indonesia from land clearing. We relied on satellite retrievals of aerosols and Carbon monoxide (CO) due to lack of ground measurements. We used both the yearly and daily data for aerosol optical depth (AOD), fine mode fraction (FMF), aerosol absorption optical depth (AAOD) and UV aerosol index (UVAI) for characterizing variations. We found significant enhancement in aerosols and CO during the pollution episode. Compared to mean (2008-2012) June AOD of 0.40, FMF-0.39, AAOD-0.45, UVAI-1.77 and CO of 200 ppbv, June 2013 values reached 0.8, 0.573, 0.672, 1.77 and 978 ppbv respectively. Correlations of fire counts with AAOD and UVAI were stronger compared to AOD and FMF. Results from a trajectory model suggested transport of air masses from Indonesia towards Malaysia, Singapore and southern Thailand. Our results highlight satellite-based mapping and monitoring of pollution episodes in Southeast Asia.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.