Study on long-term aerosol distribution over central plains economic region using MODIS data

Abstract

The long-term (2000-2013) Moderate Resolution Imaging (MODIS) level 2 aerosol products were used to study the spatial and temporal distributions of both aerosol optical depths (AOD) over Central Plains Economic Region (CPER), which is critical for a thorough understanding of its formation, transport and accumulation in the atmosphere. The results indicate that the spatial distribution of AOD with higher values locate in Xinxiang city, Kaifeng city, Zhengzhou city and Jiaozuo city. The lower ones locate in the south of Shanxi province and the west of Henan province, which are all mountainous regions. Spring and summer are the two seasons with the lowest AOD in a year. The minimum AOD in CPER occurred in winter. In the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration (CPUA), Kaifeng city, Xinxiang city and Zhengzhou city are the areas with the worst air pollution of particulate matter. The AOD over CPER significantly reduce during the period from 2011 to 2013. In the long term, however, the condition of particulate matter pollution has not been improved.