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New Generation Sensors and Applications: Digital Camera
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Determination of Aerosol Optical Thickness from Spectral Sky Transmittance
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study is to test the feasibility of the proposed technique for retrieving spectral
aerosol optical thickness (AOT) from the spectral transmittance measurements. The measurements
have been acquired around Penang Island, Malaysia. Ground-based measurements were made with
a handheld spectroradiometer. The measured spectral transmittance data were then converted to
AOT values 6 spectral bands between 400 and 900 nm. Spectral AOT maps were generated using
Kriging interpolation method for the 6 spectral bands. Air quality map was produced using this
technique.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Knowledge of the parameters that are related to the optical properties of atmospheric aerosols is
essential for the determination of their climatic effects, development of techniques for remote
sensing of aerosol from space or the necessary correction of atmospheric effects in satellite imagery
(Sanchez, et al., 1998). Particulate matter (PM), or aerosol, is the general term used for a mixture of
the solid particles and the liquid droplets were found in the atmosphere (Wang and Christopher,
2003). AOT, t, is a measure of aerosol loading in the atmosphere (Christopher, et al., 2002).
Generally, a higher AOT value indicates higher column of aerosol loading and therefore low
visibility (Wang and Christopher, 2003). The Penang atmosphere is often affected by large plumes
of dust especially from the industrial areas.
many researchers have conducted satellite monitoring of the AOT [Husar, et al., (1997),
Sanchez Oliveros, et al., (1998) and Liu, et al., (2002)]. In this study, we present results from
ground-based measurements. Our purpose is to generated spectral AOT map over Penang. The well
knows Beer-Lambert law was used in this study to retrieve AOT values from the measured
transmittance value. Finally, AOT maps were generated using Kriging interpolation technique. Ung
et al., (2001) and Patil et al., (2003) also applied interpolation technique in their studies (air quality
mapping).
2.0 STUDY AREA
The study area is the Penang Island, Malaysia, located within latitudes 5 o 12’ N to 5 o 30’ N and
longitudes 100 o 09’ E to 100 o 26’ E (Figure 1). The corresponding PM10 measurements were
collected at several selected locations.
Figure 1 Study area
3.0 DATA ANALYSISI AND RESULTS
The data that have been used in this study were collected at 40 locations in Penang, Malaysia. The
measured data were transmittance values. The AOT is related to the transmission by the expression
The transmittance values were measured using a handheld spectraradiometer. The sensitivity
of this type of spectroradiometer is between the spectral wavelengths from 350 nm to 1050 nm. We
selected 6 spectral wavelengths in this study centred at 400.5 nm, 500.5 nm, 600.5 nm, 700 nm, 800
nm and 900 nm. These selected 6 bands are based on the Wehrli 1985 AM0 Spectrum. Then the
transmittance values were used to derive the AOT values using Equation (1). AOT maps were
created using Kriging interpolation technique for estimating aerosol values to be associated to their
distribution patterns (Figure 2).
Figure 2 AOT map for (a) 400.5 nm, (b) 500.5 nm, (c) 600.5 nm, (d) 700 nm,
(e) 800 nm and (f) 900 nm
In this study, we used PM10 as air quality parameter measurements over Penang Island. The
relationship between AOT and PM10 was investigated in this study and we discovered that there
was a linear relationship between PM10 and AOT. The linear correlation coefficient (R) was greater
than 0.8 (Figure 3). Several studies have indicated linear relationship between these parameter
[Christopher and Wang, (2003) and Wang and Christopher, (2003)]. We can clearly see from Figure
3 that PM10 values was increasing as the AOT values increasing. Therefore AOT is a useful
information for retrieval of PM 10 values.
Figure 3 A linear correlation between AOT and PM10 (mg/m 3 ) values for (a) 400.5 nm, (b) 500.5 nm, (c) 600.5 nm,
(d) 700 nm, (e) 800 nm and (f) 900 nm
4.0 CONCLUSION
This study produced a promising result for AOT mapping. This indicates that the air quality can be
retrieved from the spectroradiometer transmittance measurements. This preliminary analysis
showed that this technique could be applied to generate an air quality map of a study area.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project was carried out using the Malaysia Government IRPA grant no.08-02-05-6011 and
USM short term grant FPP2001/130. We would like to thank the technical staff who participated in
this project. Thanks are extended to USM for support and encouragement.
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