Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Improved Estimation Of Pm2.5 Using Lagrangian Satellite-Measured Aerosol Optical Depth, Rolando Olivas Saunders

Theses and Dissertations

Suspended particulate matter (aerosols) with aerodynamic diameters less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) has negative effects on human health, plays an important role in climate change and also causes the corrosion of structures by acid deposition. Accurate estimates of PM2.5 concentrations are thus relevant in air quality, epidemiology, cloud microphysics and climate forcing studies. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) retrieved by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite instrument has been used as an empirical predictor to estimate ground-level concentrations of PM2.5. These estimates usually have large uncertainties and errors. The main objective of this work is to assess the value of …