Characterizing Smoke Haze Events in Australia Using a Hybrid Approach of Satellite-Based Aerosol Optical Depth and Chemical Transport Modeling

Abstract

Smoke haze events have increasingly affected Australia’s environmental quality, having demonstrable effects on air quality, climate, and public health. This study employs a hybrid methodology, merging satellite-based aerosol optical depth (AOD) data with Chemical Transport Model (CTM) simulations to comprehensively characterize these events. The AOD data are sourced from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), and they are statistically evaluated using mean, standard deviation, and root mean square error (RMSE) metrics. Our analysis indicates that the combined dataset provides a more robust representation of smoke haze events than individual datasets. Additionally, the study investigates aerosol distribution patterns and data correlation across the blended dataset and discusses possible improvements such as data imputation and aerosol plume scaling. The outcomes of this investigation contribute to enhancing our understanding of the impacts of smoke haze on various environmental factors and can assist in developing targeted mitigation and management strategies.