Assessing the Impact of the Mount Marapi 2023 Eruption on Air Quality Using Integrated Ground Observations, WRF–HYSPLIT Modeling, and Sentinel-5P Data

This study investigates the atmospheric impact of the 3 December 2023 eruption of Mount Marapi, West Sumatra, Indonesia, by integrating ground-based observations, numerical modeling, and satellite analysis. Surface measurements from the GAW Bukit Kototabang station were analyzed alongside WRF–HYSPLIT simulations and Sentinel-5P TROPOMI data to assess the dispersion and transport of volcanic emissions. The concentrations of SO₂, PM₂.₅, and PM₁₀ remained below national and WHO air quality standards, with no significant enhancement during or after the eruption period. Statistical evaluation of the WRF model indicated strong performance (correlation up to 0.89, RMSE < 11), confirming its suitability for tropical meteorological simulations. Forward and backward trajectory analyses using HYSPLIT revealed that the volcanic plume was transported northeastward, away from Bukit Kototabang, while the air masses reaching the site originated from the southwest. These results were consistent with satellite-derived Aerosol Absorbing Index (AAI) patterns, which showed elevated values northeast of Mount Marapi but none over the observation site. The combined results demonstrate that the eruption had no direct influence on local air quality. This study highlights the effectiveness of coupling high-resolution WRF–HYSPLIT modeling with TROPOMI satellite data to evaluate volcanic plume dispersion and validate emission transport pathways in complex tropical environments