SPATIO-TEMPORAL MONITORING OF AIR QUALITY IN BAGHDAD USING SATELLITE DATA

Abstract

Air pollution is considered one of the most significant problems, resulting from the industrial revolution and the use of fossil fuels. This has led to the presence of particulate matter and chemical gases at levels that now affect human health and other living organisms. These gases and chemical substances react with the cells of organisms and affect them in various ways and to varying degrees, necessitating monitoring to determine their location and timing of release in order to reduce their emissions and health impacts. Traditional monitoring methods that rely on ground stations provide high reliability in measurement but have limited geographical coverage. In this research, remote sensing techniques were used to provide a comprehensive overview of air quality in Baghdad by monitoring Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂), and Ozone (O₃) data from the Sentinel-5P TROPOMI instrument to assess the distribution of major pollutants over the period (2020–2025) in Baghdad, and to assess PM_2.5 concentrations improved GEOS model was used. The results indicate distinct seasonal patterns, with higher PM_2.5 values during the dry summer months, associated with dust storms, and with continuous CO and NO₂ hotspots over the city center and key industrial zones in winter, reflecting human activity. In spring, ozone (O₃) was the most prevalent pollutant. The results show that satellite imagery may be an effective tool for managing air quality. This study offers a useful baseline for policymakers to identify pollution sources, evaluate population exposure, and develop viable mitigation methods for improving air quality in Baghdad.