Title
The added value of a proposed satellite imager for ground level particulate matter analyses and forecasts
Author
Timmermans, R.M.A.
Segers, A.J.
Builtjes, P.J.H.
Vautard, R.
Siddans, R.
Elbern, H.
Tjemkes, S.A.T.
Schaap, M.
TNO Bouw en Ondergrond
Publication year
2009
Abstract
Monitoring aerosols over wide areas is important for the assessment of the population's exposure to health relevant particulate matter (PM). Satellite observations of aerosol optical depth (AOD) can contribute to the improvement of highly needed analyzed and forecasted distributions of PM when combined with a model and ground-based observations. In this paper, we evaluate the contribution of column AOD observations from a future imager on a geostationary satellite by performing an Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE). In the OSSE simulated imager, AOD observations and ground-based PM observations are assimilated in the chemistry transport model LOTOS-EUROS to assess the added value of the satellite observations relative to the value of ground-based observations. Results show that in highly polluted situations, the imager AOD observations improve analyzed and forecasted PM2.5 concentrations even in the vicinity of simultaneously incorporated ground-based PM observations. The added value of the proposed imager is small when considering monthly averaged PM distributions. This is attributed to relatively large errors in the imager AODs in case of background aerosol loads coupled to the fact that the imager AODs are column values and an indirect estimate of PM. In the future, model improvements and optimization of the assimilation system should be achieved for better handling of situations with aerosol plumes above the boundary layer and satellite observations containing aerosol profile information. With the suggested improvements, the developed OSSE will form a powerful tool for determining the added value of future missions and defining requirements for planned satellite observations. © 2009 IEEE.
Subject
Environment
Aerosols
Forecasting
Observing system simulation experiment
Particulate matter
Satellites
Added values
Aerosol optical depths
Aerosol plume
Aerosol profiles
Assimilation system
Background aerosol
Chemistry transport model
Future mission
Ground based
Ground level
Ground-based observations
Observing system simulation experiments
Particulate Matter
PM2.5 concentration
Satellite imager
Satellite observations
Wide area
Electric load forecasting
Experiments
Geostationary satellites
Temperature measurement
Atmospheric aerosols
aerosol
computer simulation
forecasting method
geostationary satellite
ground-based measurement
observational method
optical depth
optimization
particulate matter
satellite data
satellite imagery
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:5da61a5d-8c35-4855-b001-0051ce42b28f
TNO identifier
347476
Source
IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 2 (4), 1-26
Article number
No.: 5338012
Document type
article