Comprehensive Assessment of Air Quality Dynamics Around Yosemite National Park Using Remote Sensing, GIS, and Computational Analysis During Wildfire Events
Journal Title: International Journal of Innovations in Science and Technology - Year 2024, Vol 6, Issue 3
Abstract
In recent years, Mariposa County has experienced several significant wildfires, including the catastrophic Rim Fire of 2013. On July 22, 2022, Yosemite National Park faced one of its most devastating wildfires, profoundly affecting Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and overall air quality. This study employs an integrated approach using remote sensing, GIS, and advanced computational tools to investigate the impact of these wildfires on air quality, focusing specifically on aerosol pollution dynamics and key atmospheric pollutants. The research leverages satellite data from TROPOMI, MODIS AQUA, and Suomi NPP/VIIRS, along with meteorological inputs from GDAS. Data processing and analysis were performed using Python, MATLAB, and R, with spatial mapping and visualization achieved through ArcMap and Google Earth Engine. The study utilized the MODIS MAIAC algorithm to conduct a detailed examination of AOD fluctuations in the Yosemite region, spanning from July 21 to August 1, 2022. Our comprehensive analysis reveals significant temporal and spatial variations in aerosol pollution during the wildfire. Initial findings indicate a marked increase in AOD with the onset of the wildfire, reflecting severe impacts on atmospheric composition. Pre-fire AOD levels were relatively low at 0.12, but surged to 0.20 at the wildfire's peak, demonstrating a substantial rise in atmospheric aerosol loading. The average AOD throughout the study period was recorded at 0.16, highlighting the wildfire's prolonged effect on air quality. Furthermore, the study identifies elevated concentrations of key pollutants, including NO₂, SO₂, CO, HCHO, and O₃, during the wildfire event. The integration of data from various satellite sources and the application of machine learning models provided a more nuanced understanding of pollution patterns. The HYSPLIT model was also employed to track the distribution of air masses and contaminants, revealing significant northwestward transport. This research advances our understanding of the intricate relationships between wildfires, aerosol pollution, and air quality in Yosemite National Park. The findings offer critical insights for public health preparedness, the development of resilience strategies against wildfires, and the formulation of effective mitigation measures in fire-prone regions like Yosemite.
Authors and Affiliations
Ambreena Javaid, Syeda Haddia Abbas
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP760431
- DOI -
- Views 4
- Downloads 0
AI-Driven Control and Processing System for Smart Homes with Solar Energy
In recent years, the utilization of solar energy has grabbed attention in the industrial and domestic zones. The existing systems to use the services of solar cells are conventional. These systems require parameters (...
Digital Twins and Engineering Education: Current Status
This paper presents a comprehensive review of the use of Digital twins in engineering education among various disciplines. A total of 83 research papers were analyzed, spanning the last decade from 2012 to 2022. Almost...
New Bovid (Artiodactyla) Fossils from the Siwaliks of Pakistan: Reviving a Lost World
This study investigates newly discovered fossil specimens of bovids (Artiodactyla) from the Siwalik Group of Pakistan, with the aim of enhancing the understanding of South Asia's paleoecology and evolutionary history....
A Critical Evaluation for the Energy EfficientRouting Protocols in Wireless Body Area Sensor Networks (WBAN)
Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) is a promising technology for providing intelligent healthcare services in remote locations. A review of the literature shows that researchers have primarily focused on Quality of Serv...
Energy-BasedCluster Head Selection in WSN
Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are the collection of sensor nodes, deployed in an ad hoc fashion and mostly powered by batteries. Therefore, efficient energy utilization has remained a vital parameter in designing and...