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Kor-US-Belgium Fine Dust preliminary investigation to take place in 2021

Date:
2020-12-13
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▷ The National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Belgium Space Center will be focusing all their ground, air, satellite resources over the Seosan area for 3 months for the preliminary investigation of fine dust.

▷ The 2nd Asia Air Quality Joint Investigation will be conducted from 2021 through to 2024, with an expanded investigation range including the whole Chung-nam and the Seoul metropolitan area.


The Ministry of Environment (Minister Cho Myung-rae) and NIER (President Jang Yoon-seok) announced that the Joint ROK-US-Belgium Preliminary Investigation  aimed at revealing the source of domestic fine dust in the ROK will begin from October to December this year for three months.


In addition, the 2nd Asia Air Quality Joint Investigation, in cooperation with research intitution from across many countries including Germany will last from 2021 to 2024.  


※ The 2nd Asia Air Quality Joint Investigation: An expansion of the 1st Korea-United States Air Quality (KORUS-AQ) study conducted in 2015~2016, making use of the world's first geostationary meteorological satellite successfully launched into orbit. NIER led researchers from Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Busan National University, and Pukyong National University in this study. Researchers from NASA, the Belgium Space Center, Max Planck Institute and the University of Bremen of Germany, and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology also joined in the study.   


The Joint KOR-US-Belgium Preliminary Investigation is a preliminary joint study conducted ahead of the 2nd Asia Air Quality Joint Investigation. It involves researchers from NIER and Korean universities as well as NASA, the Belgium Space Center. 


Chung-nam Seosan region is the target of investigation, and all air pollutant monitoring equipment including ground, air and satellite equipment will be mobilized.


The NIER Chungcheong Region Atmospheric Environment Research Center will serve as forward operations base for the study. Native air pollutant measurement networks will be used, as well as equipment from NASA and the Belgium Space Center for ground remote sensing, air observation and geostationary meterological satellite survey.


Survey items will include nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and aerosol, which are the same as survey items of geostationary meterological satellite survey. NO2 and O3 vertical distribution chart from the ground to the upper atmosphere will be created and observed.


The scope of the investigative study will be fit to the minimum observation area of the geostationary meterological satellite. It will include the Chungcheong Region Atmospheric Environment Research Center, the Seosan Municipal Building, and Daesan Petrochemical Complex. This study is being conducted smoothly with active cooperation from the Seosan municipality. 


When the preliminary study ends, the 2nd Asia Air Quality Joint Investigation will begin next year, and its scope of investigation will be expanded to include the entire Chungcheong and the Seoul metropolitan region. The study's outcome will be reported in late 2024. 


Chungcheong Region Atmospheric Environment Research Center  Air pollution observation aircraft  geostationary meterological satellite
 

Meanwhile, NIER President Jang Yoon-seok and Mayor of Seosan Maeng Jeong-Ho visited the Chungcheong Region Atmospheric Environment Research Center on December 14th, calling on the researchers for a well rounded and comprehensive investigation and promised cooperation.


It is expected that as a result of scientific study of wintertime fine dust and air pollution, tailored air pollution responses can be created and implemented.


NIER President Jang Yoon-seok said, "We will support the Chung-nam region's air quality improvement response through well rounded and comprehensive investigation of Seosan-si and the Chung-nam region's air quality. The collective wisdom of researchers from home and abroad as well as cutting edge equipment on the ground, air and satellite will be employed for this goal."


Mayor of Seosan Maeng Jeong-Ho said, "Seosan-si is home to exceedingly large emission sources, so air pollution response is a priority." He added, "We will actively cooperate with the Ministry of Environment to do our best to address the air pollution situation."