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Title: East African Megacity Air Quality: Rationale and Framework for a Measurement and Modeling Program
Abstract

Air pollution in Africa is a significant public health issue responsible for 1.1 million premature deaths annually. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of population growth and urbanization of any region in the world, with substantial potential for future emission growth and worsening air quality. Accurate and extensive observations of meteorology and atmospheric composition have underpinned successful air pollution mitigation strategies in the Global North, yet Africa in general and East Africa in particular remain among the most sparsely observed regions in the world. This paper is based on the discussion of these issues during two international workshops, one held virtually in the United States in July 2021 and one in Kigali, Rwanda, in January 2023. The workshops were designed to develop a measurement, capacity building, and collaboration strategy to improve air quality-relevant measurements, modeling, and data availability in East Africa. This paper frames the relevant scientific needs and describes the requirements for training and infrastructure development for an integrated observing and modeling strategy that includes partnerships between East African scientists and organizations and their counterparts in the developed world.

 
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Award ID(s):
2332417 2020677
PAR ID:
10555231
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
American Meteorological Society
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
Volume:
105
Issue:
8
ISSN:
0003-0007
Page Range / eLocation ID:
E1584 to E1602
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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