PH, NASA TO STUDY AIR QUALITY

THE Philippines will be part of an international collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to study and address air quality issues in the Asian region, Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia YuloLoyzaga said on Sunday.

Yulo-Loyzaga said that NASA will conduct scientific research flights that are specifically designed to study the atmosphere of Metro Manila and its surrounding regions, with engineers and air quality specialists of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR boarding the flights and learning from the NASA scientists on board.

“This collaboration with NASA and other respected partners will lead to significant advances in our understanding of air pollution and our ability to tackle this pressing issue,” Yulo-Loyzaga said.

“The data gathered from the research flights will be used in our programs to mitigate air quality issues that affect public health and to address climate change,” she added.

The partnership, called Airborne and Satellite Investigation of Asian Air Quality (ASIA–AQ), brings together experts from NASA, the DENR, South Korea’s National Institute of Environmental Research, the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and Thailand’s GeoInformatics and Space Technology Development Agency.

Yulo-Loyzaga said the NASA mission will use advanced satellite technology, ground-based observations, and airborne missions to gain a better understanding of the air quality problems specific to Metro Manila.

“The collaboration will help to improve air quality models, provide accurate forecasts, and develop effective policies to ensure better air quality in the future,” she added.

In the Philippines, this collaboration also involves the Philippine Space Agency, Manila Observatory, Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines.