Modelling October 2013 Bushfire Pollution Episode in New South Wales, Australia

From mid-October 2013 to the beginning of November 2013, New South Wales (NSW) experienced a significant sustained bushfire spring period in the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and the Southern Highland causing property damages in those areas, and high pollution (particle and ozone) episodes over the metropolitan areas of Sydney. This paper studied the extent of the air pollution due to the October 2013 bushfire using data from various sources as well as meteorological modelling to understand the course of bushfire and its effect on air quality in Sydney. Satellite images of smokes and burned areas obtained from MODIS Terra/Aqua satellites together with predicted wind from the WRF (Weather Research Forecast) model at different height levels and the measured meteorological and air quality data collected from the monitoring stations in the Sydney region will be used to give a complete picture of the extent of the effect of bushfire on air quality in the Sydney and surrounding areas.