Forecasting air quality by integration of satellite data and hysplit trajectory model

This paper describes a case study of satellite data integrated with HYSPLIT forward-trajectory model to forecast air quality in regional scale. During mid-October 2009, a severe haze event occurs in eastern China. With the help of HYSPLIT Trajectory Model, a 24-hr, 48-hr and 72-hr forward trajectory from three regions with high aerosol optical depth (AOD) values were created. Forward trajectories were mapped on geospatial MODIS Terra AOD data to apply the integrate method. The spread direction described by trajectory lines matches the AOD maps quite well. Haze from Hebei province rapidly spread to Shangdong province, then spread to Bohai Bay. Haze from Hubei province rapidly spread to the Anhui province, then spread to Jiangsu province, and finally spread to Yellow Sea. Haze from Guangdong province spread to southwest just as the trajectory lines show. Results show that this integrated satellite data with forward trajectory analysis is a promising technique for improving air quality forecasts.