Title of Project:
International Collaboration and Operational Maintenance Project for the Mt. Lulin and Remote Island Background Monitoring Stations in 2024
Duration:
Jan 4st, 2024 – Dec 31th, 2024

Name of Principle Investigator:
Professor Lin Neng-Huei, Department of Atmospheric Sciences,
College of Earth Sciences, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan (ROC)

Abstract of Project:
To concretely implement environmental quality monitoring in the South China Sea, the Ministry of Environment (MOENV) conducts air quality monitoring on Dongsha Island and Taiping Island. This aims to expand Taiwan's environmental monitoring spatial scale and acquire environmental quality monitoring data in the South China Sea region.
This project includes implementing air pollution monitoring at stations such as Dongsha and Taiping Islands, ensuring data quality through Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) procedures, and maintaining instrument operations. These efforts are crucial for guaranteeing data accuracy. Additionally, the project aims to facilitate collabora-tion with global atmospheric monitoring networks, exchange data, and conduct analyses to enhance the understanding of environmental quality in the South China Sea region.

Outcomes and Milestones:
Monitoring the Impact of Transboundary Pollutants on Taiwan's Environment:
•Joining international monitoring networks such as the United States NOAA Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gases (CCGG) and NASA AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERO-NET) to align Taiwan's environmental monitoring data with international standards. This involves collaboration on relevant technologies, personnel exchange, and sharing of data and information.

•Collaborating with the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administra-tion (NASA) on Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) monitoring. This includes technical collaboration, personnel exchange, and data sharing to enhance Taiwan's envi-ronmental monitoring in alignment with global standards.

•Collaborating with the United States NOAA to join the Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gases (CCGG) network for greenhouse gas observation in the Dongsha and Nansha regions.

Greenhouse Gases:
•Carbon Dioxide (CO2) shows seasonal variations based on photosynthesis intensity, with concentrations steadily increasing. Average concentrations in 2024 were 427.6 ppm on Dongsha Island and 424.0 ppm on Taiping Island.
 
•Methane (CH4) decreases in summer due to increased hydroxyl radicals, with con-centrations gradually rising. Average concentrations in 2024 were 1984.5 ppb on Dongsha Island and 1942.0 ppb on Taiping Island.

•Nitrous Oxide (N2O) primarily comes from agricultural activities such as fertilization, with concentrations accumulating in the atmosphere. Average concentrations in 2024 were 338.9 ppb on Dongsha Island and 338.4  ppb on Taiping Island.

•Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) contributes less than 0.2% to the total greenhouse gas ra-tio but shows a continuous increase. Average concentrations in 2024 were 12.3 ppt on Dongsha Island and 11.9 ppt on Taiping Island, with seasonal variations at-tributed to different air mass sources.

Aerosol Optical Depth:
•Dongsha Island: Aerosol Optical Depth (2009-2024, the left vertical axis corre-sponded) averages 0.27, with high values in spring and autumn, mainly from fine particulate matter (high angstrom exponent, the right vertical axis corresponded).
•Taiping Island: Aerosol Optical Depth (2012-2024, the left vertical axis corresponded) averages 0.16, with insignificant seasonal variations, consistently lower than Dongsha Island, indicating a marine background value.