A research team of Atsushi Matsuki, Keisuke Fukushi, Noriko Hasebe, and PhD candidate (Chultem Batbold), in collaboration with National University of Mongolia, Kyushu University, Nagoya University, Hokkaido University and AIST, successfully detected the dispersion of anthropogenic dust emitted from the Erdenet Mine in Mongolia, the largest copper and molybdenum mine in the East Asia.

By the combination of the ground based in-situ observation and retrieval from HIMAWARI-8 geostationary satellite, they found that the dispersion of so-called white dust from the mine tailings pond can travel longer and affect larger areas than it was previously predicted. Such research approach is highly compatible with remote areas of Mongolia, and it is expected to contribute further to the environmental research through the detection of previously unknown source of air pollution.

https://doi.org/10.2151/sola.2022-036