The Atmospheric Science Research Unit of NARIT (ARUN) is a multidisciplinary research team dedicated to advancing our understanding of the complex interactions between air pollution, meteorology, and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. Our group's mission is to address critical environmental and public health challenges by conducting cutting-edge research in atmospheric science. 

          Alongside ARUN is the Space Weather Alerts and Science (SWAS) in collaboration with Chiang Mai University’s Space Weather War Room, which is a specialized center for tracking and predicting space weather using space, ground, and underground detectors. It collects data on solar phenomena and cosmic radiation to understand their impacts on Earth.

This overview provides an in-depth look at our research group's objectives and methodologies.

The primary objectives of ARUN are as follows:

Characterizing the Atmosphere above Thai Astronomical Observatories: To systematically collect, analyze, and interpret data from astronomical observatories across Thailand, with the aim of gaining a comprehensive understanding of the regional atmospheric conditions, their impact on astronomical observations, and their seasonal variations.

Air Pollution-Meteorology Interactions: To investigate the intricate relationships between meteorological conditions (e.g., temperature, wind patterns, and atmospheric stability) and air pollution, with a focus on understanding how meteorology influences the dispersion and concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere, and vice versa.

Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation: To study the mechanisms behind the formation of secondary organic aerosols, which are a significant component of fine particulate matter in the atmosphere, and explore their impacts on air quality and human health.

The primary objectives of SWAS are as follows:

Space Weather: To study the effect of solar activities on space weather using diverse detectors to monitor the Sun, solar wind, Earth's magnetosphere, atmosphere, and cosmic rays. This approach is key for precise space weather forecasts and safeguarding satellites, power grids, and communication systems from solar storms and similar phenomena.

Latitude Survey: To measure cosmic rays at various latitudes to study the change of primary cosmic ray spectrum using Changvan. Changvan is an insulated container, installed with 2 standard neutron monitors and 1 semi-leaded neutron monitor. Changvan traveled to Antarctica in 2018-2020 with Xue-Long, the ice-breaker of the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC). For 2023-2025, Changvan will travel to Antarctica with Araon, the ice-breaker of the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI).

Research team

Advisers / Consultants

1) Siwatt Pongpiachan This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2) Saran Poshyachinda This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
3) Wiphu Rujopakarn This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Characterizing the Atmosphere above Thai Astronomical Observatories

• Astronomical seeing forecasting, turbulence and atmospheric extinction measurements
• Atmospheric forecasting system for astronomy (http://weather.narit.or.th/tno_observer) 

Air Pollution-Meteorology Interactions / Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation

• Planet Boundary Layer (PBL) and particle type/aerosol phase (https://ronmcdo4.wixsite.com/atmos-predict/near-real-time-validation) 
• Atmospheric extinction coefficient, aerosol optical depth and LiDAR ratio measurements
• Sources and chemical mechanisms of PM2.5 formation
• Anthropogenic Volatile Organic Compound (AVOC) and Biogenic Volatile Organic Compound (BVOC) study for air quality management
• Eddy covariance measurements for greenhouse gas (GHG) and short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) fluxes
• Atmospheric LiDAR prototype development
• Air quality data monitoring network with low-cost sensors
• Atmospheric forecasting system for health and air quality applications (https://ronmcdo4.wixsite.com/atmos-predict)

Space weather

• Detectors to monitor the Sun, solar wind, Earth's magnetosphere, atmosphere, and cosmic rays.
• Measure cosmic rays at various latitudes to study the change of primary cosmic ray spectrum

Publication

Supasri, T., Gheewala, S.H., Macatangay, R. et al. Association between ambient air particulate matter and human health impacts in northern Thailand. Sci Rep 13, 12753 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39930-9 

Uttamang P, Janta R, Bran SH, Macatangay R, Surapipith V, Tala W and Chantara S (2023) Effects of biogenic volatile organic compounds and anthropogenic NOx emissions on O3 and PM2.5 formation over the northern region of Thailand. Front. Environ. Sci. 11:1146437. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1146437

Bran, Sherin Hassan, Macatangay, Ronald, et al. "Surface PM2. 5 mass concentrations during the dry season over northern Thailand: Sensitivity to model aerosol chemical schemes and the effects on regional meteorology." Atmospheric Research 277 (2022): 106303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2022.106303

Solanki R, Macatangay R, Sakulsupich V, Sonkaew T and Mahapatra PS (2019) Mixing Layer Height Retrievals From MiniMPL Measurements in the Chiang Mai Valley: Implications for Particulate Matter Pollution. Front. Earth Sci. 7:308. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2019.00308

Facilities

Mini Micropulse LiDAR in Chiang Mai (operational; Sigma Space now Droplet Measurement Technologies) and Songkhla (needs instrument support funding; Micropulse LiDAR company former Sigma Space now Droplet Measurement Technologies)- part of NASA MPLNet

Optical Particle Sizer (OPS) and Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) in Chiang Mai (measured over Lampang and Phayao as well; TSI)

Eddy Covariance System currently deployed in Phayao (measured over Chiang Mai as well; LiCOR)

Thermal-Diffusion-Gas-Chromatograph-Mass-Spectrometer (TD-GC-MS) for VOC analysis

Ion-Chromatograph (IC) for ionic component analysis

Collaborators

University of Phayao 

University of Cambridge (U.K.)

Hydro-Informatics Institute (HII) 

Mahasarakham University 

Lampang Rajabhat University (LPRU) 

King Mongkhut Institute of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) 

National Astronomical and Space Administration (NASA), USA

National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), USA

University of California Irvine, USA

National Central University (NCU), Taiwan

Air Gradient, Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai University 

Mahidol University 

Chulalongkorn University 

Kasetsart University 

Ramkamhang University 

Panyapiwat Institute of Management 

University of Delaware, USA

University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA