WP 2 AOD, SO₂ and NO₂ retrieval from satellite data
WP 2 leader: Assoc. Prof. Dr. M. Dimitrova

Results from WP 2

AOD, SO₂ and NO₂ retrieval from satellite data

For the needs of the project, it is necessary to have satellite data for atmospheric composition with proper spatial and temporal resolution. The Space Research and Technology Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (SRTI-BAS) collects and archives data from the following satellites and corresponding periods – Table 1. Some of the collected data are prepared in a form suitable for assimilation in the Bulgarian Chemical Weather Forecast System (BgCWFS).

Satellite data are also used for study of temporal variations of several pollution ingredients and their spatial distribution for different time periods:

• Detection and study of sand storms from Africa as the main global dust pollution source over the Balkans. As example, the temporal distribution of days with sand storms over Bulgaria is shown in Figure 1
• Investigation of regional, temporal and seasonal distribution of pollutants over Bulgaria. Example of monthly  variations of Aerosol Absorbtion Index (AAI) and NO₂ over Plovdiv, registered from satellite data (Metop A) are shown in Figures 2 and 3

Table 1

Fig. 1. The temporal distribution of days with sand storms

Fig. 2. Monthly variations of Aerosol Absorbtion Index (AAI)

Fig. 3. Monthly variations of NO₂