Advanced Environmental Monitoring in Taiwan
The Taiwanese government is taking a significant step toward improving air quality monitoring. Minister of Environment, Peng Chi-ming, shared plans for new environmental monitoring satellites developed in partnership with the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA). These satellites aim to help identify the sources and causes of air pollution.
Currently, Taiwan has 78 monitoring stations to gather real-time data about air quality at ground level. However, there’s a gap in understanding how pollutants disperse in the atmosphere. The new satellites will fill this gap by providing detailed information on air quality and pollutant distributions from above.
In addition to monitoring, these satellites will support efforts to reduce carbon emissions by pinpointing areas with high greenhouse gas emissions. The Ministry of Environment has a plan to integrate satellite technology with next-generation assessment methods to better monitor air quality and greenhouse gases.
As part of this program, TASA will develop and launch satellites specifically designed to track and analyze the distribution of greenhouse gases and air pollutants over Earth. The ministry also plans to set up three to four next-generation air quality monitoring stations that will analyze ultrafine particulate matter (PM1) in real-time.
Information from the satellites will be combined with data from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This collaboration will assist public health experts in their research and help improve air quality forecasts, ultimately reducing health risks linked to air pollution. The program is expected to run for six years, from 2024 to 2031, with a budget of about NT$6.1 billion (US$186.15 million). It is currently awaiting review by the Executive Yuan.
Understanding air pollution and global warming requires careful monitoring of emissions from various sources. The ministry has noted that greenhouse gas monitoring in Taiwan currently relies on data from the US and South Korea, which don’t offer the granularity needed to distinguish between local emissions and those from neighboring countries.
The newly developed satellites will provide more reliable data. TASA’s first satellite launch is planned within three years, with a total of four satellites intended to be built. These satellites will carry advanced multispectral or hyperspectral instruments to measure a variety of substances, including PM2.5, carbon dioxide, and methane.
Moreover, while low Earth orbit satellites travel around the planet 14 to 15 times a day, the plan includes developing geosynchronous satellites that can monitor continuously. These satellites will remain in a fixed position relative to the Earth, allowing for consistent observation of air quality in Taiwan and the broader East Asian region.
Minister Peng anticipates that Taiwan’s environmental monitoring satellites will become the most advanced in Asia, providing crucial insights for combating air pollution and supporting climate action.
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Source link台北時報,The Taipei Times
