The Environment Ministry on Wednesday announced that it will launch Taiwan’s most extensive transnational and inter-departmental air quality monitoring initiative in February. Researchers will conduct intensive 3D air quality observations, particularly in the high-pollution areas of Kaohsiung and Pingtung.
The project which is being undertaken in collaboration with NASA, the Central Weather Administration (CWA), and research institutions including the National Central University, will utilize advanced instruments from NASA, drones, and satellite remote sensing to analyze the causes of pollution. The project will focus on central and southern Taiwan, which typically experiences worse air quality than northern regions due to seasonal winds and geographical factors.
Environment Minister Shieu Fuh-Sheng (薛富盛) says the project has the potential to identify the causes of air quality discrepancies between different parts of Taiwan. He adds that they hope to use the data collected to implement targeted measures to improve air quality.
Shieu says that air quality in the central and southern regions is greatly influenced by foreign pollutants. That’s why the research outcomes will be shared internationally to urge countries to pay attention to the impact of industrial development on neighboring countries' air quality.