satellite observations Archives - National Centre for Earth Observation

Coal pollution is cutting solar power generation worldwide

Posted on: 11 June, 2026 Last updated on: 11 June, 2026 Written by: fp86 Categorized in: News

Researchers from the UK National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO), the University of Oxford, University College London (UCL), and the University of Leicester have published a new study in Nature Sustainability showing that air pollution from coal fired power plants is significantly reducing the performance of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems worldwide.

Canadian Wildfires Campaign

Posted on: 24 January, 2024 Last updated on: 28 January, 2025 Written by: fp86 Categorized in: Research Insights

Earth observation is vital in air quality modelling and assessments, particularly in regions where substantial and reliable ground networks are unavailable. The King’s NCEO team have produced algorithms that utilise satellite observations of active fires to estimate emissions of fire-sourced particulate matter.

Thermal Hotspots & Haze over Northern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam on April 6th, 2023 (Source: NASA Worldview)

Air Quality Research in Southeast Asia

Posted on: 23 January, 2024 Last updated on: 28 January, 2025 Written by: fp86 Categorized in: Research Insights

Global and regional atmospheric models suggest that every spring, air quality in parts of Northern Southeast Asia is amongst the worst in the world, apparently due to smoke from biomass burning.

Air quality impacts from fires

Posted on: 23 January, 2024 Last updated on: 28 January, 2025 Written by: fp86 Categorized in: Research Insights

Earth observation is vital in air quality modelling and assessments, particularly in regions where substantial and reliable ground networks are unavailable.