Analysis of Ozone column burden in Peninsular Malaysia retrieved from Atmosphere Infrared Sounder (AIRS) data: 2003–2009

Ozone (O 3 ) is a radiatively active trace gas that plies important role in atmosphere heating rates because of its good ability to absorb the infrared radiation and occur both at the ground level and naturally in the earth's upper atmosphere. Results from the analysis of the retrieved monthly (AIRX3STM) 1°×1° spatial resolution Atmosphere infrared sounder (AIRS) data were utilized to analyze the distribution of O 3 column burden in Peninsular Malaysia for the period 2003–2009. AIRS is one of the several instruments onboard the Earth Observing System (EOS), onboard NASA's Aqua Satellite, launched on May 4, 2002. The analysis of O 3 above five dispersed stations in study area shows the seasonal variation in the O 3 values fluctuated considerably between wet and dry periods, and O 3 values strongly correlated with weather conditions. The lowest O 3 observed during rainy months, low temperature and low sunshine hours, vice versa. The highest O 3 values occurred over Industrial and congested urban zones. The monthly O 3 maps were generated, to study O 3 distribution over peninsular Malaysia for 2009, using Kriging Interpolation technique. The AIRS data and the Satellite measurements are able to measure the increase of the atmosphere O 3 concentrations over different regions.