Early warning system for air quality based on geostationary satellite observations

Deterioration of air quality affects human health and socioeconomic conditions. An air quality early warning system (EWS) providing timely information prior to hazardous events is essential for minimizing associated damage and adverse impacts on human health. This study presents an air quality EWS that enables air quality nowcasting using high-resolution observations from Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS). This system is delivered through a mobile application to facilitate wider dissemination of EWS. Southeast Asia is selected as the research region for early warning of trace gases (i.e., aerosol, NO2, and O3) where air quality deteriorates during the dry season. The results are generated using satellite-based observations and are presented through an intuitive mobile application interface. A direct satellite-to-mobile dissemination framework is implemented, allowing rapid transmission of alerts via Cell Broadcast Service (CBS), Short Message Service (SMS), and push notifications. The developed EWS is expected to contribute to disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Moreover, this system is scalable to a global extent in regions where Geo-Ring satellite data are available, supporting enhanced response capacities in air quality vulnerable regions.