M. Z. MatJafri

Investigation on the Carbon Monoxide Pollution over Peninsular Malaysia Caused by Indonesia Forest Fires from AIRS Daily Measurement

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an important pervasive atmospheric trace gas affecting climate and more than 50% of air pollution nationwide and worldwide, which also plays as a significant indirect greenhouse gases due to its influences on the budgets of hydroxyl radicals (OH) and ozone (O3). We present a study on Atmosphere Infrared Sounder (AIRS), onboard NASAs Aqua Satellite, detection of CO emission from large forest fire in the year 2005 in the Sumatra, Indonesia. AIRS daily coverage of 70% of the planet symbolizes an important evolutionary advance in satellite trace gas remote sensing. AIRS is one of several instruments onboard the Earth Observing System (EOS) launched on May 4, 2002, with its two companions microwave instruments the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) and the Humidity Sounder for Brazil (HSB) form the integrated atmospheric sounding system. AIRS providing new insights into weather and climate for the 21st century, as well as AIRS’ channels include spectral features of the key carbon trace gases CO2, methane(CH4), and CO. AIRS is an infrared spectrometer/radiometer that covers the 3.7– 15.4 m spectral range with 2378 spectral channels. Troposphere CO abundances are retrieved from AIRS 4.55 mm spectral region, and measure CO total column by 52 channels with the uncertainty, which is estimated approximately 15-20 % at 500mb. Results from the analysis of the retrieved CO daily Level 3 standard (AIR×3STD) and Monthly product (AIRX3STM) were utilized in order to study the impact of Indonesia forest fire on CO distribution, and the monthly CO distributions in Peninsular Malaysia. AIRS daily CO maps from 12 – 25 August 2005 for study area show large-scale, long-range transport of CO from anthropogenic and natural sources, most notably from forest fire biomass burning. The sequence of daily maps shows the CO advection from central Sumatra to Malaysia. AIRS can also capture the temporal variation in CO emission from forest fires through 6-day composites so it may offer a chance to enhance our knowledge of temporal fire emission over large areas. The result was compared with daily CO emission (13-24) August 2007. The daily measurements of CO concentration on August 2005 are higher than August 2007. The northern region (uppers the latitude 4) was more affected by forest fires than the rest area. Substantial seasonal variations demonstrate season-to-season changes in rainfall and drought patterns in different seasons. We see such seasonal variations in the biomass burning emissions in the late dry season, while industrial contributions are evident at

Assessment of ALOS PALSAR Data For Land Cover/Land Use Mapping In Malaysia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the original PALSAR radar, and radar texture, for land cover classification. The primary methodology was standard image processing, including spectral signature extraction and the application of a statistical decision rule to classify the surface features .Seven land covers were identified and the probability of correct classification of classes was assessed by using the Transformed Divergence (TD) separability measures. TD values were obtained for all original and texture derived bands along with various multiple band combinations. The radar texture bands greatly improved upon the TD values in comparison to the original radar values. Combination of original radar and radar texture bands consistently showed excellent Transformed Divergence (TD) separability. The use of texture was able to improve separability between different land cover/use classes.

Temporal and spatial air quality monitoring using internet surveillance camera and ALOS satellite image

Air pollution of fine particles with diameters less than 10 micrometers (PM10) is a major concern in many countries due to their ability to penetrate further into our lungs to cause adverse health effects. PM10 also have a significant influence on climate change and visibility. Due to the high cost to set-up air pollution monitoring stations, there are limited numbers of these stations in use. As a result, researchers do not have good temporal development and spatial distribution of the air pollutant readings over a city. This paper is to report upon the usage of an internet surveillance camera to record the temporal development and to map the spatial distribution of air quality concentration. An internet surveillance camera was used to quantify air quality with our own developed algorithm, which is based on the regression analysis of the relationship between measured reflectance components from a surface material and the atmosphere. A newly developed algorithm was applied to compute the temporal development of PM10 values. Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) images were used to map air quality concentration of the study area. The algorithm was developed based on the aerosol characteristics in the atmosphere to measure PM10 spatial distribution. These PM10 values were compared to other standard values measured by a DustTrak™ meter. The correlation results of both techniques showed that these newly developed algorithms produced a high degree of accuracy as indicated by high correlation coefficient (R2) and low root-mean-square-error (RMS) values.

Water quality assessment in Kelantan delta using remote sensing technique

This paper presents the utilities of remote sensing technique for water quality assessment in Kelantan Delta, Malaysia. Remote sensing is one of the effective methods for water quality monitoring through image analysis of study area. Spectral reflectance signatures of Kelantan Delta were measured from 20 stations using ASD Handheld spectroradiometer from regions with different turbidity level. Water samples collected from these stations were taken to the laboratory for measure turbidity in Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU). The objective of this study is to examine the potential of ALOS on Japanese Earth Observing Satellite (JEOS) for assessing water quality in Kelantan Delta. There is a large correlation between NTU and the in-situ reflectance at 500 - 620 nm (maximum spectra band between 300 and 1100 nm) is shown by multiple linier regression model, resulting from increasing of turbidity levels, was developed and applied to ALOS band 2 and band 3 (0.42-069 nm). A simple atmospheric correction, based on darkest pixel technique was performed in this study. The ALOS data provides accurate estimates of the mean water quality (R2 = 0.95 and RMSE = 2.26 NTU). The result acquired is reliable to estimate of water quality values for the Kelantan Delta and its implication for future operation.

Aerosol Optical Thickness data retrieval over Penang Island, Malaysia

In this study, we propose a new cost effective approach to retrieve Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) data in the visible spectrum by using sky transmittance measurements measured by a handheld spectroradiometer. The transmittance values were measured in spectral region from 350 nm to 1050 nm at the earths surface. The well known Beer-Lambert law was used in this study to retrieve AOT values from the measured transmittance value. The concentrations of particulate matter of less than 2.5 micron (PM2.5) were measured simultaneously with the measurements of the transmittance data. The station locations of the PM2.5 measurements were detemined using a handheld GPS. Three interpolation techniques, namely Kriging Interpolation, Inverse Distance Interpolation and Natural Neighbour Interpolation, were used for mapping the PM2.5 concentration in this study. The accuracies of the three interpolation techniques were determined in this study in order to select the most suitable technique for mapping the air pollution concentration over Penang Island, Malaysia. The results of the analysis indicated that the AOT values were linearly correlated with the PM2.5 readings. AOT and PM10 maps were generated using an interpolation technique (Kriging) based on the measured data. Basically, both PM2.5 and AOT maps agree reasonably well over Penang Island, Malaysia. The highest PM2.5 concentrations were found in densely populated and industrialized areas.

Chlorophyll measurement from Landsat TM imagery

Water quality is an important factor for human health and quality of life. This has been recognized many years ago. Remote sensing can be used for various purposes. Environmental monitoring through the method of traditional ship sampling is time consuming and requires a high survey cost. This study uses an empirical model, based on actual water quality of chlorophyll measurements from the Penang Strait, Malaysia to predict chlorophyll based on optical properties of satellite digital imagery. The feasibility of using remote sensing technique for estimating the concentration of chlorophyll using Landsat satellite imagery in Penang Island, Malaysia was investigated in this study. The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of using Landsat TM image to provide useful data for the chlorophyll mapping studies. The chlorophyll measurements were collected simultaneously with the satellite image acquisition through a field work. The in-situ locations were determined using a handheld Global Positioning Systems (GPS). The surface reflectance values were retrieved using ATCOR2 in the PCI Geomatica 10.1.3 image processing software. And then the digital numbers for each band corresponding to the sea-truth locations were extracted and then converted into radiance values and reflectance values. The reflectance values were used for calibration of the water quality algorithm. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm was investigated based on the observations of correlation coefficient (R) and root-mean-square deviations (RMS) with the sea-truth data. Finally the chlorophyll map was color-coded and geometrically corrected for visual in terpretation. This study shows that the Landsat satellite imagery has the potential to supply useful data for chlorophyll studies by using the developed algorithm. This study indicates that the chlorophyll mapping can be carried out using remote sensing technique by using Landsat imagery and the previously developed algorithm over Penang, Malaysia.

Satellite observation distribution of atmospheric ozone over Peninsular Malaysia from SCIAMACHY

Long-term observations of atmospheric ozone can quantify ozone variability and trends, whereas it is a key component to understanding past changes and validating model used to predict future evolution of global ozone. Variations of ozone concentrations in Peninsular Malaysia were observed and investigated using the data retrieved from Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY). The aim of this study was to determine the monthly and seasonal variations of ozone concentrations in Peninsular Malaysia from January 2003 to December 2008 using level-2 of total ozone column WFMD version 1.0 with spatial resolution 1° × 1.25°. Analysis for trend of five selected sites exhibit strong seasonal variation in the atmospheric ozone concentrations, where there is a significant difference between northeast monsoon and southwest monsoon. Monthly ozone maps were generated over Peninsular Malaysia using Multiquadratic Spline Interpolation technique through PCI Geomatica 10.1 image processing software, in order to study the distribution of ozone over Peninsular Malaysia for 2008. The concentration changes within boundary layer at all altitude levels are equally sensitive through the SCIAMACHY near-infrared nadir observations. Hence, we can make observation of ozone at surface source region. The results successfully identify the area with highest and lowest concentration of ozone at Peninsular Malaysia using SCIAMACHY data. Therefore, the study is suitable to examine the distribution of ozone at tropical region.

Total ozone column distribution over peninsular Malaysia from scanning imaging absorption spectrometer for atmospheric cartography (SCIAMACHY)

Increasing of atmospheric ozone concentrations have received great attention around the whole because of its characteristic, in order to degrade air quality and brings hazard to human health and ecosystems. Ozone, one of the most pollutants source and brings a variety of adverse effects on plant life and human being. Continuous monitoring on ozone concentrations at atmosphere provide information and precautions for the high ozone level, which we need to be established. Satellite observation of ozone has been identified that it can provide the precise and accurate data globally, which sensitive to the small regional biases. We present measurements from Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Cartography (SCIAMACHY) included on the European environmental satellite ENVISAT, launched on 1st of March 2002. Main objective of this study is to examine the ozone distribution over Peninsular Malaysia using SCIAMACHY level-2 of total ozone column WFMD version 1.0 with spatial resolution 1° x 1.25°. Maps of time averaged (yearly, tri-monthly) ozone was generated and analyzed over Peninsular Malaysia for the year 2003 using PCI Geomatica 10.3 image processing software. It was retrieved using the interpolation technique. The concentration changes within boundary layer at all altitude levels are equally sensitive through the SCIAMACHY nearinfrared nadir observations. Hence, we can make observation of ozone at surface source region. The results successfully identify the area with highest and lowest concentration of ozone at Peninsular Malaysia using SCIAMACHY data. Therefore, the study is suitable to examine the distribution of ozone at tropical region.

Analysis of Ozone column burden in Peninsular Malaysia retrieved from Atmosphere Infrared Sounder (AIRS) data: 2003–2009

Ozone (O3) is a radiatively active trace gas that plies important role in atmosphere heating rates because of its good ability to absorb the infrared radiation and occur both at the ground level and naturally in the earths upper atmosphere. Results from the analysis of the retrieved monthly (AIRX3STM) 1°×1° spatial resolution Atmosphere infrared sounder (AIRS) data were utilized to analyze the distribution of O3 column burden in Peninsular Malaysia for the period 2003–2009. AIRS is one of the several instruments onboard the Earth Observing System (EOS), onboard NASAs Aqua Satellite, launched on May 4, 2002. The analysis of O3 above five dispersed stations in study area shows the seasonal variation in the O3 values fluctuated considerably between wet and dry periods, and O3 values strongly correlated with weather conditions. The lowest O3 observed during rainy months, low temperature and low sunshine hours, vice versa. The highest O3 values occurred over Industrial and congested urban zones. The monthly O3 maps were generated, to study O3 distribution over peninsular Malaysia for 2009, using Kriging Interpolation technique. The AIRS data and the Satellite measurements are able to measure the increase of the atmosphere O3 concentrations over different regions.

Climate affected by dust aerosol over arid region of Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Aerosols play an important role in the global climate balance, and therefore they could be important in climate change. Natural variations of aerosols, especially due to dust storm are recognized as a significant climate forcing, that is, a factor that alters the Earths radiation balance and thus tends to cause a global temperature change. Aerosol optical depth, τ(λ) is the most comprehensive variable to characterize aerosol due to atmospheric pollution. The aerosol optical properties in Makkah observed during dust period (March-May) from 2006 to 2009 had been presented in this study. Aerosol optical depths at all wavelengths showed a sharp increase during major dust outbreak in spring when compared with the average for the season. For example at Makkah, aerosol optical depths increase from the spring average value of 0.43±0.02 at 550 nm to values >0.70 during major dust event days in 2006. These tend to increasingly of temperature during this period as results of absorbing aerosol effect. In this paper, we used AOD data from Terra MODIS to evaluate the trend of dust aerosol events in Makkah throughout 4 years dataset with supported data of subtype of aerosol and air temperature from CALIPSO and MERRA respectively. The higher values of AOD are corresponding to the low visibility due to presents of high concentration of dust.