1

Expert Group Meeting on Space-derived Data for Air

Pollution Monitoring

Implementation on Urban Air Pollution and

Transboundary Haze Pollution in Myanmar

7 August 2020 Virtual Meeting

Kyu Kyu SeinDepartment of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH)

Ministry of Transport and Communications, Myanmar

DMH MOTC

DMH MOTC

Outlines

ӂ Introduction

ӂ Problem and Current Situation

ӂ Satellite data usage to monitor hotspot

ӂ Current Efforts for National Level

ӂ Limitation

ӂ Conclusion

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Introduction

▪ Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) is started theacid deposition monitoring in rain water since 2003 with 9stations.

▪ In 2005, DMH has joined Acid Deposition Monitoring Networkin East Asia (EANET), and became the National Center ofEANET.

▪ Monitoring stations increased up to 25 stations until March,2019.

▪ Due to the transboundary haze pollution, 16 rain sample

collection stations increased on April 2019, near border areas to

monitor acid deposition.

▪ Total of 41 rain sample collection stations are operation to

monitor acid deposition across Myanmar.

Source: Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, Myanmar

DMH MOTC

Introduction

▪ In 2006, Yangon (Kaba-Aye) was chosen as anUrban site for wet and dry deposition monitoring.

▪ Monitoring parameters:• pH & EC• Gaseous : SO2, NH3, HNO3, HCl• Cations : NH4+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+

Anions : SO4 2 -, NO3-, CL-

▪ PM2.5 monitoring was installed at Yangon, in 2018with financial and technical supported by AsiaCenter for Atmospheric Research (ACAP) .

▪ In 2019, Atmospheric Mercury Sampler was

installed at Yangon with financial and technical

supported by Ministry of Environment Japan

(MOEJ).

Wet only SamplerFilter Pack Sampler

PM2.5 Monitor (March, 2018) Mercury Monitor ( August, 2019)

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Problem and Current Situation

Causes of Fire in Myanmar:

▪Forest Fire

▪Agricultural Fire

▪Open Burning

▪Shifting Cultivation

▪Waste Dumping Site

▪Accidental Fire

Annual Fire Cases

Year Times

2015 170

2016 239

2017 120

2018 61

2019 (January to April) 90

Fire at Htain Pin Waste

Dumping Site, Yangon

Source: Environmental Conservation Department & Fire Services Department, Myanmar

DMH MOTC

Problem and Current Situation

Haze Pollution at Myanmar and

Thailand Boundary Areas:

▪Tachileik District

▪Monitoring from 13 March 2019 to

present

▪Ambient Air quality (PM2.5 & PM10)

worsening continuously

▪Government conducted the

immediate actions to reduce haze

pollution

Source: Environmental Conservation Department, Myanmar

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Satellite data usage to monitor hotspot

Year Hotspot Count of Myanmar

2013 60,959

2014 59,788

2015 51,681

2016 48,180

2017 43,672

2018 39,805

2019 51,623

2020 55,338

▪ Highest amount in annual hot spot count compared to other ASEAN countries

▪ Preventive measures are needed.

▪ Not only Forest Fire and other types of Fires, but also transboundary haze are needed.

Source: ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) Assess on: 6 August 2020

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Frequency of Acid Rain during 2012-2018

0

5

10

15

20

25

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o

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Fre

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ency

Stations

Frequency of pH value < 5.6 ( Acid Rian) 2012-2018

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PM2.5 concentration at Yangon site

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

801.

4.20

18

15.4

.201

8

29.4

.201

8

13.5

.201

8

27.5

.201

8

10.6

.201

8

24.6

.201

8

8.7.

2018

22.7

.201

8

5.8.

2018

19.8

.201

8

2.9.

2018

16.9

.201

8

30.9

.201

8

14.1

0.20

18

28.1

0.20

18

11.1

1.20

18

25.1

1.20

18

9.12

.201

8

23.1

2.20

18

6.1.

2019

20.1

.201

9

3.2.

2019

17.2

.201

9

3.3.

2019

17.3

.201

9

31.3

.201

9

14.4

.201

9

28.4

.201

9

12.5

.201

9

26.5

.201

9

9.6.

2019

23.6

.201

9

7.7.

2019

21.7

.201

9

4.8.

2019

18.8

.201

9

1.9.

2019

15.9

.201

9

29.9

.201

9

13.1

0.20

19

27.1

0.20

19

10.1

1.20

19

24.1

1.20

19

8.12

.201

9

22.1

2.20

19

5.1.

2020

19.1

.202

0

2.2.

2020

16.2

.202

0

1.3.

2020

15.3

.202

0

29.3

.202

0

PM

2.5

(μg

/m3)

Days

Daily mean of PM2.5 concentration (μg/m3)

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Current Efforts for National Level

Implementing Departments and Organizations for Action Plan

for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control

▪ General Administrative Department

▪ Fire Services Department

▪Department of Agriculture

▪Department of Agriculture Land Management and Statistics

▪Department of Meteorology and Hydrology

▪Department of Disaster Management

▪Department of Public Health

▪Department of ASEAN Affairs

▪ Forest Department

▪Dry Zone Greening Department

▪City Development Committees

▪Environmental Conservation DepartmentSource: Environmental Conservation Department, Myanmar

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Action Planned To Implement Transboundary Haze Pollution

▪ “Integrated National Strategic Action Plan on Fire Management in Myanmar” (April 2019 to

December 2019) - Cooperation with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) aiming to

develop Integrated Strategy and Action Plan on Fire Management in Myanmar.

▪ “Sustainable Management of Peat Land Ecosystems in Mekong Countries” (2019-2022) –

Cooperation with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) aiming to develop

policy, framework, strategies and action plans for sustainable peat land management.

▪ Proposed Project for Ambient Air Quality Assessment along Mekong River Area in Shan State

(2020-2022) – Aiming to monitor the Transboundary Haze Pollution.

▪ Proposed Project for Improvement of Capability of Air Quality Monitoring in Myanmar –

Proposed to Japan Government for Financial and Technical Assistance.

Source: Environmental Conservation Department, Myanmar

Myanmar signed ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) with ASEAN memberstates in June 2002, thus completing the legal process of fully enacting this agreement.

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Limitations

▪ Real Time Monitoring Station is limited.

▪ Public awareness and driving action on

to combat air pollution in long term

plan is limited.

▪ Technology and capacity building is

limited to monitor accurate forest fires

and others fires hot spots using satellite

images.

▪ Information dissemination of forest fire.

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Conclusion

▪ DMH is mainly focus on the Early warning to the public, therefore, it is necessary tomonitor/forecast air quality.

▪ Due to the limitation of ground data in nation-wide, utilizing satellite information couldbe the best way to monitor air quality.

▪ Validation of satellite data with ground monitoring , the accurate outcomes couldprovide forecasting and warning service as well as the decision makers to implementenvironmental policy that national priorities need.

▪ Climate change and air quality are closely related, however necessary to establish toolsfor rapid translation of research findings for decision-making that connects air pollutionand climate change responses to health and environmental outcomes from national toregional level.

▪ Reducing and eliminating various sources of air pollution is key to protect public health –as well as helping to fight climate change.

DMH MOTC