Intercomparison between MODIS 3km aerosol optical depth product and ground PM10 measurements over Athens, Greece

Satellite imagery has been considered as an add-on tool to air quality and pollution monitoring due to its extensive spatial and temporal coverage of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere. The most widely used satellite parameter is the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD). AOD has been extensively used to evaluate and enhance the satellite-based estimates of ground-level particulate matter (PM) as well as to reduce uncertainties in the studies of global health applications. This study attempts to identify correlations between AOD values retrieved from the new MODIS/Aqua high resolution 3km aerosol product and ground-based PM 10 measurements obtained within the period 2002-2012 in the area of Athens, Greece. In parallel, it attempts to assess the applicability of the so called mixed effects models which take into account both the spatial and temporal variability of the underlying uncertainties in the estimation of PM 10 levels from MODIS AOD measurements. The ground PM 10 recordings were acquired from the archive of the in-situ operational air quality monitoring network of Athens. Results indicated that the new AOD product of 3km estimated better PM 10 values against the AOD 10km product. Thus, the new 3km product may be better at characterizing aerosol distributions on local scale although bias was observed.