KOTA BHARU, April 1 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), through the Department of Natural Resources and Sustainability at its Faculty of Earth Sciences (FSB), is boosting its research capacity in meteorology and climate science with the with the adoption of Air Monitoring Station (AQM-09) technology.
Associate Professor Dr Norrimi Rosaida Awang, a senior lecturer at the department, said the high-tech device enables accurate detection of air quality changes and continuous monitoring of environmental pollution, not only for scientific research but also to provide updates on current atmospheric conditions.
She said the system monitors air quality comprehensively by measuring the presence of various pollutant gases, including carbon monoxide, ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide.
“This monitoring also covers airborne particles, including dust and fine particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10, which can have a direct impact on human health.
“The AQM-09 system also records key meteorological parameters such as ultraviolet radiation, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, air pressure, rainfall, and environmental noise levels, providing a comprehensive picture of weather conditions in the area,” she said in a statement today.
Norrimi Rosaida said the RM85,000 system was acquired through allocations under Rolling Plan 4 of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) and was fully installed on Jan 21, 2025.
She said the facility is currently serving as a teaching and learning resource for students in the Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Analytics), Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Sustainability Science), and Bachelor of Applied Science (Natural Resource Science) programmes.
Norrimi Rosaida said that since it began operating, the system has been recording and analysing air quality data and meteorological parameters in real time.
“This valuable data supports the analysis of daily and seasonal patterns, while also allowing comparisons with existing records to assess trends in local environmental changes.
“The initiative is very useful in enhancing understanding of air quality issues and has the potential to serve as an alternative reference centre for the community,” she said.
Through the system, Norrimi Rosaida said the public can access authentic and up-to-date information, particularly on air pollution levels, temperature, and current atmospheric conditions in Kelantan.
-- BERNAMA
