Dutch satellite instrument produces global fine particulate map
The Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON) has released a detailed global map of fine particulate pollution, produced using data from the Dutch satellite instrument SPEXone. The instrument, developed by a consortium including SRON and Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands, was launched on NASA’s climate satellite PACE on February 8, 2024. The release marks the first worldwide fine particulate pollution map in a decade.
The map, compiled from data collected between March and December 2024, provides insight into aerosol distribution across the Earth’s atmosphere. Aerosols, which include fine particulates such as soot, ash, and desert dust, influence climate through the absorption and reflection of sunlight. These effects can either contribute to global warming or have a cooling impact, depending on the particle composition.
“This is a major step forward in understanding air quality and its impact on climate,” said Aaldert van Amerongen of SRON’s Earth Observation Program. “The ability to measure fine particulate pollution on a global scale with such precision is a remarkable achievement, and we are proud that it was accomplished entirely with Dutch expertise.”
Fine particulates play a significant role in climate and air quality, with direct consequences for human health. The data from SPEXone is expected to improve climate models by halving their margin of error, according to SRON scientists. The instrument detects both fine and coarse aerosols, as well as their capacity to reflect or absorb sunlight.
The released maps consist of three layers: the total aerosol distribution, the proportion of fine aerosols relative to total aerosols, and the amount of reflective aerosols that contribute to cooling effects. Regions with high fine particulate pollution include India, Central Africa, and South America, where high concentrations are linked to industrial emissions and widespread wildfires.
The climate impact of aerosols extends beyond direct sunlight interactions. Particulates serve as nuclei for cloud formation, influencing weather patterns and precipitation.
“The next phase of our research will focus on integrating these findings into climate models to better understand the indirect effects of aerosols on cloud formation,” said Otto Hasekamp, leader of the SPEXone team at SRON. “By refining our models, we can more accurately determine the total impact of aerosols on global warming.”
The research has drawn the attention of the Dutch government. Minister of Science Eppo Bruins praised the project’s contributions to climate science. “The atmosphere is a complex system, and we still lack sufficient knowledge about how climate change functions,” Bruins said. “These data can be applied immediately to improve climate models, allowing for more accurate predictions and better-informed policy decisions.”
The findings are set to be published in the scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters. SPEXone was developed as a public-private initiative, supported by the Netherlands Space Office (NSO) and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW). Additional funding was provided by SRON/NWO-I and Airbus Netherlands B.V.
Despite the success of SPEXone, concerns have been raised about the future of scientific research funding in the Netherlands. The Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) has warned that planned government budget cuts of 1 billion euros for university research could hinder innovation and slow scientific progress. The cuts, set to take effect over the next few years, may reportedly impact future projects similar to SPEXone.
