Air pollution mapping with nitrogen and sulfur dioxides in the south-eastern part of Ukraine using satellite data

Abstract

Atmospheric pollution in Ukraine has become a significant environmental problem, especially in the eastern part where heavy industries are located, and it is particularly severe in industrial centers such as; Zaporizhia, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovs’k and Dniprodzerzhyns’k. The main emission sources are ferrous metallurgical plants and the coal industry. The purpose of this project is to estimate the degree of pollution from dioxides of nitrogen and sulfur in the south-eastern part of Ukraine using satellite data. An assessment of atmospheric pollution by NO2 is carried out using the data from satellite spectrometer EOS/OMI, and information products Level 3 from Goddard Earth Sciences Data, (GES DISC) NASA for 2009-2014. According to the results study, the largest area of propagation of SO2 aerosol was observed in the industrial agglomerations of Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovs’k and Vilnohirs’k.However, a somewhat smaller content of NO2 in the air recorded near the town of Kryvyi Rih and the cities of Vilnohirs’k and Zaporizhia.The results obtained from this research will aid the creation of awareness among Ukraine’s policy makers about the need for air pollution abatement, and also serve as a stepping stone towards addressing the negative impacts of acid rains.