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Global Estimates of Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations from Satellite-Based Aerosol Optical Depth: Development and Application van Donkelaar, Aaron; Martin, Randall V.; Brauer, Michael; Kahn, Ralph; Levy, Robert; Verduzco, Carolyn; Villeneuve, Paul J.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic and health impact studies of fine particulate matter with diameter < 2.5 μm (PM₂.₅) are limited by the lack of monitoring data, especially in developing countries. Satellite observations offer valuable global information about PM₂.₅ concentrations. Objective: In this study, we developed a technique for estimating surface PM₂.₅ concentrations from satellite observations. METHODS: We mapped global ground-level PM₂.₅ concentrations using total column aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and MISR (Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer) satellite instruments and coincident aerosol vertical profiles from the GEOS-Chem global chemical transport model. RESULTS: We determined that global estimates of long-term average (1 January 2001 to 31 December 2006) PM₂.₅ concentrations at approximately 10 km × 10 km resolution indicate a global population-weighted geometric mean PM₂.₅ concentration of 20 μg/m³. The World Health Organization Air Quality PM₂.₅ Interim Target-1 (35 μg/m³ annual average) is exceeded over central and eastern Asia for 38% and for 50% of the population, respectively. Annual mean PM₂.₅ concentrations exceed 80 μg/m3 over eastern China. Our evaluation of the satellite-derived estimate with ground-based in situ measurements indicates significant spatial agreement with North American measurements (r = 0.77; slope = 1.07; n = 1057) and with noncoincident measurements elsewhere (r = 0.83; slope = 0.86; n = 244). The 1 SD of uncertainty in the satellite-derived PM₂.₅ is 25%, which is inferred from the AOD retrieval and from aerosol vertical profile errors and sampling. The global population-weighted mean uncertainty is 6.7 μg/m³. CONCLUSIONS: Satellite-derived total-column AOD, when combined with a chemical transport model, provides estimates of global long-term average PM₂.₅ concentrations.

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Title
Global Estimates of Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations from Satellite-Based Aerosol Optical Depth: Development and Application
Creator
van Donkelaar, Aaron; Martin, Randall V.; Brauer, Michael; Kahn, Ralph; Levy, Robert; Verduzco, Carolyn; Villeneuve, Paul J.
Date Issued
2010-06
Description
BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic and health impact studies of fine particulate matter with diameter < 2.5 μm (PM₂.₅) are limited by the lack of monitoring data, especially in developing countries. Satellite observations offer valuable global information about PM₂.₅ concentrations. Objective: In this study, we developed a technique for estimating surface PM₂.₅ concentrations from satellite observations. METHODS: We mapped global ground-level PM₂.₅ concentrations using total column aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and MISR (Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer) satellite instruments and coincident aerosol vertical profiles from the GEOS-Chem global chemical transport model. RESULTS: We determined that global estimates of long-term average (1 January 2001 to 31 December 2006) PM₂.₅ concentrations at approximately 10 km × 10 km resolution indicate a global population-weighted geometric mean PM₂.₅ concentration of 20 μg/m³. The World Health Organization Air Quality PM₂.₅ Interim Target-1 (35 μg/m³ annual average) is exceeded over central and eastern Asia for 38% and for 50% of the population, respectively. Annual mean PM₂.₅ concentrations exceed 80 μg/m3 over eastern China. Our evaluation of the satellite-derived estimate with ground-based in situ measurements indicates significant spatial agreement with North American measurements (r = 0.77; slope = 1.07; n = 1057) and with noncoincident measurements elsewhere (r = 0.83; slope = 0.86; n = 244). The 1 SD of uncertainty in the satellite-derived PM₂.₅ is 25%, which is inferred from the AOD retrieval and from aerosol vertical profile errors and sampling. The global population-weighted mean uncertainty is 6.7 μg/m³. CONCLUSIONS: Satellite-derived total-column AOD, when combined with a chemical transport model, provides estimates of global long-term average PM₂.₅ concentrations.
Subject
aerosol; aerosol optical depth; AOD; particulate matter; PM₂.₅
Genre
Article
Type
Text
Language
eng
Date Available
2015-10-24
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada
DOI
10.14288/1.0103477
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/54884
Affiliation
Environmental Health (SOEH), School of; Medicine, Faculty of; Non UBC
Citation
van Donkelaar, Martin, Brauer, Kahn, Levy, Verduzco, & Villeneuve. (2010). Global estimates of ambient fine particulate matter concentrations from satellite-based aerosol optical depth: Development and application. Environmental Health Perspectives, 118(6), 847-855.
Publisher DOI
10.1289/ehp.0901623
Peer Review Status
Reviewed
Scholarly Level
Faculty
Copyright Holder
Environmental Health Perspectives
Rights URI
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada