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Chapter 8: Daily Analysis of Air Quality in Central America: the “Blog de Calidad del Aire”. 3:15 – 4:00. History of the “Blog de Calidad del Aire ”. www.servir.net/aire/blog.
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Chapter 8: Daily Analysis of Air Quality in Central America: the “Blog de Calidad del Aire” 3:15 – 4:00
History of the “Blog de Calidad del Aire” www.servir.net/aire/blog • Weblog analysis of current air quality conditions in Central America and the Caribbean using satellite and model data – ground-based measurements are coming soon! • Posts are made 4 times per week • Founded in 2008 • Based on the very successful U.S. “Smog Blog,” founded in 2003 (http://alg.umbc.edu/usaq/) • Current “bloggers” are staff of CATHALAC and the University of Panama – we are looking for participants from Costa Rica!
Recommended Methodology for Reviewing Air Quality Data Sources for Central America With so many air quality data sources available, it helps to have a standard methodology for reviewing them, especially for beginning “bloggers.” • Read the most recent posts on the Blog de Calidad del Aire.Recent posts will orient you to the latest air quality conditions and alert you to air quality events that may still be occurring.
Check ground-based monitor values.Real-time monitor measurements of pollutants indicate current air quality conditions at the surface. • Review AOD images.Near real-time GASP and MODIS Terra/Aqua AOD images indicate areas of elevated particulate concentrations due to smoke, dust, and/or haze. • Review the NOAA/CATHALAC Hazard Mapping System (HMS) Fire and Smoke Product.The HMS map shows active fire locations (red dots) and major smoke plumes.
Review true color images.Images on the NASA MODIS Rapid Response website provide visual confirmation of smoke, haze, and dust. • Review the NOAA OMI SO2 images.Check to see if there are any significant SO2 plumes from volcanoes or anthropogenic sources. • Review the KNMI OMI tropospheric NO2 images.Be sure to focus on the tropospheric NO2 plot, not total column NO2. • Review the NAAPS aerosol model forecast.The NAAPS forecast plots of smoke, dust, and sulfate aerosol show the expected distribution of particulates for the current day and the next 5 days.
Steps for Creating an Entry for the “Blog de Calidad del Aire” Once you have reviewed the main data sources, select 2-4 images that illustrate current air quality conditions, and save them on your computer. Decide on the main theme(s) of your post – what is the big air quality story today? Create a title for your post – one that is short and descriptive, such as “Fires Degrade Air Quality throughout Central America.”
Steps for Creating an Entry for the “Blog de Calidad del Aire” Write 1-2 paragraphs of text that explain current air quality conditions in the context of the images you selected. Be sure to acknowledge the sources of the images in your post. Insert the images you selected into the text you have written, and you have just created an entry for the “Blog de Calidad del Aire”!
Activity 6: Create an Entry for the “Blog de Calidad del Aire” • Participants should break into groups of 2. • Each group should prepare a Blog entry for their country or region for a day in the past week. • Include images and text analysis. • Participants should use the worksheet and the Internet Resources Guide to help them with their analysis. • The instructors will be available during the activity to help participants and answer questions.
Activity 6: Create an Entry for the “Blog de Calidad del Aire” • After everyone is finished, each group will present their entry to all the participants and instructors. • All entries will be reviewed for correctness, and then uploaded to the MAC Smog Blog as official posts! • Goal: practice analyzing air quality in your region from start to finish.
Next Steps for using Satellite Data in Central America and the Caribbean • How do you think air quality satellite data would be most useful in your country? • What first steps could you take to apply satellite data? • What types of satellite data would be most applicable? • Are you interested in contributing to the Blog de Calidad del Aire on a regular basis?