Spatiotemporal Assessment of So2, SO4 and AOD from over MENA Domain from 2006 to 2016 Using multiple satellite Data and Reanalysis MERRA2 Data

TL;DR

This study analyzes the spatial distribution and temporal trends of sulfur pollutants SO2 and SO4, along with aerosol optical depth (AOD), over the MENA region from 2006 to 2016 using multiple satellite datasets and MERRA2 reanalysis data.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive spatiotemporal assessment of sulfur pollutants and AOD in MENA using multiple satellite sources and reanalysis data over a decade.

Findings

Identified spatial distribution patterns of SO2, SO4, and AOD in MENA.

Detected temporal trends indicating changes in pollution levels over the decade.

Compared different satellite datasets for consistency in AOD measurement.

Abstract

The sulfur pollutants are the source of a sizeable portion of the air pollution. In this work, the spatial distribution and temporal trend of the mass concentration of two of the critical sulfur pollutants, SO2 and SO4, in addition to the aerosol optical properties (AOD) were analyzed over the region of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) from multiple satellite resources and Modern Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA2) reanalysis data. The So2 and So4 data used in these analyses are obtained from (MERRA2) with a resolution of 0.5 x 0.625 deg throughout a period of 10 years (2005 to 2015). On the other hand, the temporal trend and spatial distribution of AOD was identified from four different satellite data. (1) moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) Level 3 AOD data at 550 nm wavelengths from Collection 6 algorithm (combined dark target and deep blue algorithms) are used for 10 years temporal analysis (2006 to 2015). Data were obtained for the period 2006 to 2015 (2) Multi angle imaging spectroradiometer (MISR) with 0.5 deg spatial resolution for the same 10 years (2006 to 2015). (3) Sea Viewing Wide Field of View Sensor (SeaWIFS) with 0.5 deg for the period (2005 to 2010). (4) Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) AOD at 500 nm wavelength with resolution 1 degree.