Remote Sensing of Particle Pollution over Baltimore

Elastic light detection and ranging (lidar) measurements allows to monitor long-range transport of particulates, such as dust and smoke, that impact local and regional air quality. Lidar measurements enhance current knowledge and understanding on how vertical layering and long range transport of natural and anthropogenic particle pollution may alter the relationship between column aerosol optical depth and surface particle pollution concentrations. The frequency and impact of transport of Canadian and Alaskan wildfire smoke to the Mid-Atlantic is analyzed by merging ground based air quality monitors, lidar and satellite remote sensing retrievals (GOES-16, VIIRS, and MODIS) to yield of a three dimensional assessment of particle pollution over the Baltimore Washington metropolitan area. These efforts by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Atmospheric Lidar Group (https://alg.umbc.edu) contribute to the NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST) Earth Observing Network. Sustained remote-sensing observations by NOAA CESSRST at local, regional, and global scales are critical to a scientific understanding of the current and future state of Weather. Atmospheric measurements coupled to satellite remote sensing and surface observations of gases and aerosols allows to improve and validate numerical forecasts for weather and air quality that will minimize the impact of extreme events on public health and property.