The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) is the first institution to have access to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrum (GEMS) satellite, which is used to continuously monitor the quality of the air.
NUST has the distinction of being the first institution in the entire region to join NASA’s GEMS satellite, which is stationed in orbit. According to Dr. Muhammad Fahim Khokhar, Head of the Department at the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (IESE), NUST became the first institution in the area to have access to satellites in geostationary orbit after purchasing the necessary tools for monitoring, compiling, and assessing live air quality.
He further added by saying, “ Air quality has become a global issue with its impact on the society, economy, industry, diplomacy, public health and natural resources in addition to environmental science.”
He added that Asia is the primary source region for emissions on a global scale due to its rapid industrialization and population growth. Therefore, it is essential to track the concentration of relevant gases and aerosols over Asia using a geostationary orbit satellite to provide high temporal and spatial precision.
It is to be mentioned that GEMS is one of the three artificial satellites that led scientists to look into air quality over large parts of the Northern hemisphere.
GEMS maintains a constant orbit over the equator from which it continuously tracks the atmospheric gases over Asia, allowing scientists to track air pollution from space.
It is noteworthy that Air quality affects the health of people as public health experts report that 9 out of 10 people breathe in polluted air that intoxicates a person in a similar way when someone inhales toxin.
Air quality is low mostly in low-income, middle-income, and underdeveloped countries. It is unfortunate to state that Pakistan is among the countries with the worst Air quality index.
