Asri Indrawati, Amalia Nurlatifah, Risyanto, Dyah Aries Tanti, Novita Ambarsari, Muhammad Gilang Eka Hermawan, Moch Syarif Romadhon
Indonesia frequently experiences forest fires, posing significant environmental, public health, and economic challenges. Effectively monitoring these events is crucial for early warning systems and disaster management. Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) measurements provide critical data for assessing aerosol concentrations from such fires. This study compares two satellite-based AOT products: AOT-GEMS (Geostationary Environmental Monitoring Spectrometer) and AOT-Himawari (Himawari-8). Both offer real-time, high-temporal-resolution data essential for tracking aerosol dispersal. Data from Sumatra and Kalimantan during forest fire events in August and September 2023 were analyzed. Results indicate higher AOT values in September, correlating with increased hotspot activity. HIMAWARI consistently recorded higher AOT values than GEMS, despite a weak correlation (r = 0.14), suggesting differences in sensitivity and measurement techniques. GEMS showed semi-diurnal peaks that were not observed in HIMAWARI data. These findings highlight the strengths and limitations of each system, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches to enhance monitoring accuracy during forest fires. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.
Reserach Center for Climate and Atmosphere, BRIN, Bandung, Indonesia; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
