Satellite tools for air quality management with focus on particulate matter

Satellite remote sensing provides information about regional air quality and long-distance transport of pollutants, which complements available ground-based data. While ground-based monitors provide the most accurate measurements of air quality at a specific location in the vicinity of the monitor, satellite sensors provide data with global, consistent coverage; these measurements are combined with science-based algorithms for observation of regional pollutant concentrations. Satellite sensor data are particularly relevant to regions in Asia with few monitors or where transport of pollutants may occur across oceans or remote regions. Satellite datasets are typically available at minimal or no cost to end users, making them a cost-effective resource for understanding air pollution at regional, country, and administrative levels. This chapter presents an overview of satellite sensors relevant to air quality, more detailed data for the measurement of particulate matter (PM), and case studies of quantitative and qualitative applications in Asia.