Title

Spatial scales of pollution from variable resolution satellite imaging

Authors

Alexandra A. Chudnovsky, Harvard School of Public Health
Alexander Kostinski, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Alexei Lyapustin, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Petros Koutrakis, Harvard School of Public Health

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2013

Abstract

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) provides daily global coverage, but the 10 km resolution of its aerosol optical depth (AOD) product is not adequate for studying spatial variability of aerosols in urban areas. Recently, a new Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) algorithm was developed for MODIS which provides AOD at 1 km resolution. Using MAIAC data, the relationship between MAIAC AOD and PM_2.5 as measured by the EPA ground monitoring stations was investigated at varying spatial scales. Our analysis suggested that the correlation between PM_2.5 and AOD decreased significantly as AOD resolution was degraded. This is so despite the intrinsic mismatch between PM_2.5 ground level measurements and AOD vertically integrated measurements. Furthermore, the fine resolution results indicated spatial variability in particle concentration at a sub-10 km scale. Finally, this spatial variability of AOD within the urban domain was shown to depend on PM_2.5 levels and wind speed.

Publisher's Statement

Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Publisher's version of record: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2012.08.016

Publication Title

Environmental Pollution

Recommended Citation

Chudnovsky, A. A., Kostinski, A., Lyapustin, A., & Koutrakis, P. (2013). Spatial scales of pollution from variable resolution satellite imaging. Environmental Pollution, 172, 131-138. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2012.08.016
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/physics-fp/188