Expert Group Meeting on Space-derived Data for Air

Pollution Monitoring DMH MOTC

Implementation on Urban Air Pollution and Transboundary Haze Pollution in Myanmar

Kyu Kyu Sein Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) Ministry of Transport and Communications, Myanmar

7 August 2020 Virtual Meeting 1 Outlines DMH MOTC

ӂ Introduction

ӂ Problem and Current Situation

ӂ Satellite data usage to monitor hotspot

ӂ Current Efforts for National Level

ӂ Limitation

ӂ Conclusion Introduction DMH MOTC ▪ Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) is started the acid deposition monitoring in rain water since 2003 with 9 stations. ▪ In 2005, DMH has joined Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET), and became the National Center of EANET. ▪ 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 Introduction DMH MOTC ▪ In 2006, Yangon (Kaba-Aye) was chosen as an Urban site for wet and dry deposition monitoring. ▪ Monitoring parameters: • pH & EC Filter Pack Sampler Wet only Sampler • Gaseous : SO2, NH3, HNO3, HCl • Cations : NH4+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ Anions : SO4 2 -, NO3-, CL- ▪ PM2.5 monitoring was installed at Yangon, in 2018 with financial and technical supported by Asia Center for Atmospheric Research (ACAP) .

▪ In 2019, Atmospheric Mercury Sampler was installed at Yangon with financial and technical supported by Ministry of Environment Japan (MOEJ).

PM2.5 Monitor (March, 2018) Mercury Monitor ( August, 2019) Problem and Current Situation DMH MOTC

Causes of Fire in Myanmar: Annual Fire Cases ▪Forest Fire Year Times Fire at Htain Pin Waste Dumping Site, Yangon ▪Agricultural Fire 2015 170 ▪Open Burning 2016 239 2017 120 ▪Shifting Cultivation 2018 61 ▪Waste Dumping Site 2019 (January to April) 90 ▪Accidental Fire

Source: Environmental Conservation Department & Fire Services Department, Myanmar Problem and Current Situation DMH MOTC 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 Satellite data usage to monitor hotspot DMH MOTC 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 Frequency of Acid Rain during 2012-2018 DMH MOTC

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

25 20 15 10

5 Frequency

0

Bago

Pyay

Katha

Sittwe

Dawei

Lashio

Hpa-an

Pathein

Sagaing

Magway

Kalaywa

Taungoo

Monywa

Hinthada

Taunggyi

Kentaung

Mandalay…

Pyinmana

Myitkyina

Pyinoolwin

Nyaung Oo Nyaung

Kyaukphyu Mawlamyine

Mandalay (Main… Mandalay Stations Yangon (Kaba-aye) Yangon PM2.5 concentration at Yangon site DMH MOTC

Daily mean of PM2.5 concentration (μg/m3) 80

70

60

g/m3) 50 μ

40 PM2.5 ( PM2.5 30

20

10

0

1.4.2018 8.7.2018 5.8.2018 2.9.2018 6.1.2019 3.2.2019 3.3.2019 9.6.2019 7.7.2019 4.8.2019 1.9.2019 5.1.2020 2.2.2020 1.3.2020

15.4.2018 29.4.2018 13.5.2018 27.5.2018 10.6.2018 24.6.2018 22.7.2018 19.8.2018 16.9.2018 30.9.2018 9.12.2018 20.1.2019 17.2.2019 17.3.2019 31.3.2019 14.4.2019 28.4.2019 12.5.2019 26.5.2019 23.6.2019 21.7.2019 18.8.2019 15.9.2019 29.9.2019 8.12.2019 19.1.2020 16.2.2020 15.3.2020 29.3.2020

14.10.2018 28.10.2018 11.11.2018 25.11.2018 23.12.2018 13.10.2019 27.10.2019 10.11.2019 24.11.2019 22.12.2019

Days Current Efforts for National Level DMH MOTC 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 Source: Environmental Conservation ▪ Environmental Conservation Department Department, Myanmar Action Planned To Implement Transboundary Haze Pollution DMH MOTC

▪ “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.

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

Source: Environmental Conservation Department, Myanmar Limitations DMH MOTC

▪ 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. Conclusion DMH MOTC ▪ DMH is mainly focus on the Early warning to the public, therefore, it is necessary to monitor/forecast air quality. ▪ Due to the limitation of ground data in nation-wide, utilizing satellite information could be the best way to monitor air quality. ▪ Validation of satellite data with ground monitoring , the accurate outcomes could provide forecasting and warning service as well as the decision makers to implement environmental policy that national priorities need. ▪ Climate change and air quality are closely related, however necessary to establish tools for rapid translation of research findings for decision-making that connects air pollution and climate change responses to health and environmental outcomes from national to regional 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