Using MODIS derived aerosol optical depth to estimate ground-level PM2.5 concentrations over Turkey

Özet

Satellite based particulate matter (PM) pollution monitoring on a regional basis is of importance due in part tothe adverse health effects of PM. In this study, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) derivedaerosol optical depth (AOD) data at 3 km and 10 km resolutions from both Terra and Aqua satellites were used,in conjunction with the surface in situ data, to improve the regional distribution of ground-level PM2.5 overTurkey. Five years (2011–2015) of heating season's (15th October to 14th May) in situ PM2.5 measurements from7 monitoring stations in Ankara and 3 years (2013–2015) of the same data from 13 monitoring stations inMarmara Region were used. Linear and non-linear regression models were used to find the relationship betweenPM2.5 and AOD data. To improve the correlations between PM2.5 and AOD, the data points affected by freetropospheric long-range transport were removed from the analysis via back trajectory modeling analysis sincelong-range transport affects AOD more readily than surface PM2.5 data. Using non-linear models with the additionof meteorological parameters such as height of planetary boundary layer, surface temperature and surfacewind speed improved the correlations significantly. The best non-linear model can explain 61% (n=37,R2=0.61, p < 0.001, RMSE=0.337 μg/m3) of PM2.5 variations at the Edirne Keşan site. It was found thatTerra worked better than Aqua. Furthermore, 10-km aerosol products gave better correlations with PM2.5 ascompared to the 3-km products. With the aid of spatiotemporal model, PM2.5 distribution maps are created forthe first time for Turkey.