Watch Cheollian 2B Atmospheric Quality Observation Video Online

Environmental Satellite Center to Launch Service on Homepage Starting the 22nd

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 21st that starting from the 22nd, it will begin providing public service of Asia air quality observation videos from the environmental monitoring satellite Cheollian Satellite 2B through the website of the Environmental Satellite Center at the National Institute of Environmental Research.

This time, a total of seven types of videos with high verification levels will be provided in real-time, including nitrogen dioxide, aerosol optical depth, ozone, effective cloud amount, and three ultraviolet-related products (plant response index, vitamin D synthesis index, DNA impact index). In the event of disasters such as volcanic eruptions, sulfur dioxide videos will also be provided, making a total of eight types of product videos.

One of the representative products, the nitrogen dioxide concentration video, mainly originates from internal combustion processes in automobiles, thermal power plants, etc. It is a pollutant that causes bronchial diseases upon long-term exposure and contributes to the formation of ozone and aerosols.

Currently, the videos can only be viewed on PC screens, but from the second half of the year, they will also be accessible via mobile devices. Through continuous research, concentration videos of formaldehyde (HCHO) and glyoxal (C2H2O2), which affect ozone and photochemical smog formation, will also be sequentially released.

Cheollian Satellite 2B was launched on February 19 last year and underwent status checks in orbit. Since November 2020, the Environmental Satellite Center has been leading efforts to verify air quality observation videos and establish a video release service system.

After the government first released air quality observation videos on November 18, 2020, the Environmental Satellite Center has improved the accuracy of air quality observation data through a four-month international joint investigation of Asia's air quality during the winter of 2020 (November to December 2020) and international verification of observation videos (August 2020, cooperation with 20 domestic and international teams).

These data are expected to actively contribute to the systematic establishment of national air environment policies, including their use in analyzing the characteristics of air pollutants in the Asian region in the future.

Lee Chang-yoon, Director of the Mega Public Research Policy Division at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, “With the public service of Cheollian 2B's air quality observation videos, we have completed the development and regular operation launch of the geostationary satellites 2A (weather and space weather observation) and 2B (ocean and air quality observation).” He added, “We will ensure that follow-up satellites of Cheollian 2A/2B, including Cheollian 3, which began development this year, are developed and launched on schedule to be effectively utilized in national policies.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.