About the training We are collaborating with the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) to organize a training on air quality products derived from advanced remote sensing and numerical model forecasts. The training is organized within the framework of ICIMOD’s SERVIR Hindu Kush Himalaya (SERVIR-HKH) Initiative and Atmospheric Watch Initiative (AWI), and as part of the NASA SERVIR Applied Sciences Team’s (AST) institutional capacity building approach. Through this training, the participants will learn how advanced satellite remote sensing technology and modelling techniques can be used to significantly improve air quality monitoring and forecasting capabilities over the highly-polluted Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. The training will cover a wide range of topics, including the fundamentals of remote sensing for monitoring fires, trace gases, and aerosols, an overview of data products, new value-added products, forecast information from trajectory and chemical transport models, and data visualization. The training will consist of online lectures that will demonstrate the complementary benefits of assessing air quality information from satellite observations and forecast models for characterizing the diurnal evolution of pollutant concentrations in the troposphere. Objectives This training aims to provide theoretical and practical knowledge to professionals in using remote sensing and model data for air quality monitoring and forecasting applications. Outcomes Upon completion of the training, participants will have a better understanding of the concepts of remote sensing and model data for both air quality monitoring and forecasting applications, which will build knowledge and promote the effective use of air quality products and tools. Participants will also understand the benefits and limitations of air quality products and tools for unique air pollution issues that impact the HKH region. Expected participants Professionals from ICIMOD and the HKH region will be participating in this training. Participants will require a basic knowledge of aerosols and atmospheric composition. Resource persons and facilitators UAH: Aaron Naeger, Research Scientist ICIMOD: Bhupesh Adhikary, Senior Air Quality Specialist; Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, Senior Remote Sensing & Geoinformation Specialist Resources Satellite Remote Sensing: Red-Green-Blue (RGB) & Fire Detection Products Remote Sensing of Trace Gases and Value-Added Products Operational Forecasting of Pollution for Improving Air Quality Alerts Background Air pollution is a serious environmental and public health concern in the HKH region due to strong and abundant emission sources and high levels of transported pollution across the region. The Kathmandu Valley, Nepal is especially vulnerable to poor air quality due to the trapping of pollution by the surrounding mountains leading to high levels of exposure and impact on human health. A network of ground-based air quality sensors is typically used to monitor air pollution across the HKH region, but the sensors are unable to characterize sharp and important gradients in pollutant concentrations due to large gaps in coverage and do not provide early-warning information for informing decision-making. Space-borne remote sensing from low Earth orbit (LEO) and geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) satellites can provide high spatiotemporal information on trace gases and aerosols for advancing capabilities to monitor air quality across the HKH region. The high-resolution satellite observations can also be used to inform model simulations and improve air quality forecasts to better alert the public of impending pollution episodes. Tentative agenda All timestamps are in Nepal Standard Time (NST) Day 1 – Monday, 4 April 2022 Satellite remote sensing, RGB products, and aerosols Time Topic 09:30–12:30 Morning session (S1): Remote sensing of aerosols and red-green-blue (RGB) products Training overview and introduction of the participants – Rajesh Bahadur Thapa, ICIMOD Satellite remote sensing of aerosols – Aaron Naeger, UAH Introduction to satellite remote sensing of aerosols Standard aerosol data products Aerosol composites and particulate matter products Overview of dust and nighttime microphysics RGB products Demonstration of dust and nighttime microphysics RGB products 12:30–13:30 Lunch Day 2 - Tuesday, 5 April 2022 Satellite remote sensing, trace gases, and value-added products Time Topic 09:30–12:30 Morning session (S2): Remote sensing of trace gases and value-added pollution products Satellite remote sensing of trace gases – Aaron Naeger, UAH Introduction to satellite remote sensing of trace gases Offline and near real-time trace gas data products Blended satellite and model air quality products Hands-on exercises – Aaron Naeger, UAH Creating and inspecting trace gas concentration maps using Python 12:30–13:30 Lunch Day 3 – Wednesday, 6 April 2022 Monitoring and forecasting extreme pollution episodes Time Topic 09:30–12:30 Morning session (S3): Forecasting of extreme pollution events and air quality alerts Air quality forecasting and WRF-Chem model – Aaron Naeger, UAH Introduction to air quality forecasting with WRF-Chem model WRF-Chem forecast demonstrations and tailored data products Using satellite data to constrain model emissions Trajectory forecasts for extreme events Framework for HYSPLIT trajectory forecasts Demonstration using HYSPLIT for predicting dust storm transport and surface-layer concentrations Closing discussion 12:30–13:30 Lunch Day 4 – Thursday, 7 April 2022 Time Topic 09:00–12:00 Site visit to Dhulikhel Air Quality Monitoring Observatory 12:00–13:00 Lunch at Dhulikhel 13:00–17:00 Visit to Air Quality Monitoring Server and System of Department of Environment, Nepal 17:00 Return back to hotel