Quantifying the airshed for fine particles: Using geographic information system (GIS), remote sensing data, and in situ monitoring

Abstract

The advances in remote sensing and the need for air pollution data in remote areas highlighted the need to examine the current capabilities to fill gaps in ambient air monitoring. This paper describes delineating the boundaries of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) nonattainment areas by integrating PM ambient data and satellite aerosol optical depth (AOD) with geostatistical kriging. Correlation between the ground and satellites for the three year average was adequate in the upper Midwest and northeast (greater than r =.57) and typically very poor in the rest of the country (less than r =.20). To improve the geospatial prediction of the extent of aerosols, satellite AOD data from the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor was used. This addition of daily air quality data aids prediction of air pollution extent, making the approximation of fine particle airsheds possible. © 2009 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.