Determination of urban pollution islands by using remote sensing technology in Moscow, Russia

Abstract

Pollution of the atmosphere with harmful substances is currently the most dangerous form of degradation of the natural environment in Russia. The peculiarities of the environmental situation and the emerging environmental problems in some areas of the Russian Federation are caused by local natural conditions and the nature of the impacts from industries, transport, utilities, and agriculture (the specifics of enterprises, their capacity, location, technologies used). As a rule, the magnitude of air pollution depends on the degree of urbanization and anthropogenic transformation of the territory and climatic conditions that determine the potential for atmospheric pollution. During high-temperature technological processes, the smallest aerosol particles (0.5..0.10 μm) formed, poorly captured by gas purification plants, and can migrate in the atmosphere for considerable distances. Larger particles (2.5 μm and above) are formed due to the mechanical decomposition of solid particles and enter the atmosphere due to wind erosion, the dusting of dirt roads, the erasure of vehicle tires. The particles suspended with a diameter of not more than 2.5 μm (PMX) are the most destructive to health since they penetrate and get deposited deep into human lungs. These microns, present in a suspended state in the air, consist of a complex mixture of large and small, solid and liquid particles, of both inorganic and organic substances. The boundary between the two fractions is usually particles with a diameter of 2.5 μm (PM2.5). This study sought to build a model for determining fine dust PM2.5 in the Moscow air environment using Landsat 8 OLI satellite image channels and data on the concentrations of fine dust PM2.5 obtained by weather stations in the city. In addition, a correlation analysis was carried out to determine a regression model for studying the dispersion of fine dust in the city. The results obtained are presented on a map of the concentration of fine dust PM2.5 in Moscow, supporting management decisions and decision-making on environmental policy in urban planning.