Asst.Prof.Dr.Woranuch Deelaman, a faculty member of the Faculty of Science and Technology at Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon, has been selected to join a NASA mission for an in-depth study of air quality in Thailand as part of the Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA-AQ) project. This mission, conducted in collaboration with the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand and the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, took place from March 16 to 25, 2024.
The research involved flying with a McDonnell Douglas DC-8 aircraft to study chemical compositions in the atmosphere from central to northern Thailand, with four flights conducted over the region from U-Tapao Airport in Rayong to Chiang Mai Airport. Additionally, the Gulfstream III aircraft from Langley Research Center (G-III) surveyed air quality remotely over Bangkok using LiDAR equipment to measure ozone concentration and PM 2.5 dust levels. The project also mapped greenhouse gas emissions broadly over Bangkok and its surrounding areas with a total of five flights. The data collected is real-time and focuses on the planetary boundary layer (PBL) above Thailand’s atmosphere.
Asst.Prof.Dr.Woranuch Deelaman remarked, “This is a valuable opportunity to collaborate with NASA researchers. The results will enhance the understanding of Thai air quality issues and provide deep insights into the root causes of PM 2.5 and air pollution in Thailand, which is crucial for developing sustainable solutions.”
She further explained that the most important outcome of the project is that NASA will release the data for public use, setting a standard in the scientific community. This data will help atmospheric scientists better understand Thai dust problems and analyze atmospheric components to address issues accurately. This includes examining greenhouse gases, human-made pollution, aerosol reflectance, and direct in-situ air samples. Such data will reveal the sources of pollution and aid researchers globally in enhancing their studies.
Asst.Prof.Dr.Woranuch Deelaman emphasized that this research could confirm many hypotheses about air pollution origins and potentially uncover unexpected discoveries. “This is a promising start for a systematic understanding of dust issues in Thailand. I will use the collected data to investigate pollution sources and assess health risks for the public,” she concluded.
