Project title
Air Pollution Monitoring From Space In Cyprus
Funding Program
Ίδρυμα Προώθησης Έρευνας
Award URL
http://www.cyprusremotesensing.com/research-grants/air-pollution-monitoring-from-space-in-cyprus
Funding code
AIRSPACE
AEIΦΟΡΙΑ/ΑΣΤΙ/0609(ΒΕ)/12
Start date
December 1, 2010
Expected Completion
2012-11-30
Description
Air quality has traditionally been monitored at the surface through ground-based monitors. These monitors are used to characterize air quality and to determine compliance with ambient air quality standards. Research has been focused recently on the study of regional and intercontinental transport of air pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM10, 2.5). However, it was proved that there is need for additional data sources to monitor air pollution as it moves in multiple dimensions, both spatially and temporally. On the latter, satellite data (in terms of aerosol optical thickness) provide synoptic information and visualization to ground-based air quality data modelling. This proposal aims at developing a novel methodology based on in-situ experimental observations in order to use satellite retrievals as a tool for monitoring air particulate pollution. This methodology is applied in Cyprus, which is one of the most polluted zones over Europe, enclosing both urban and industrial sites. Within this project, observations from Lidar, sun-photometer, satellite AOT retrievals and PM10, PM2.5 concentrations at site located as well close to as far from pollution sources (both urban and industrial) will be considered.