Remote sensing of aerosol properties during intense smog events over Lahore (Pakistan)

Authors

  • Salman Tariq Remote Sensing and GIS Climate Research Lab, Department of Space Science, University of the Punjab, New-Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Sumayia Mehmood Remote Sensing and GIS Climate Research Lab, Department of Space Science, University of the Punjab, New-Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Aiman Nisa Remote Sensing and GIS Climate Research Lab, Department of Space Science, University of the Punjab, New-Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Zia Ul-Haq Remote Sensing and GIS Climate Research Lab, Department of Space Science, University of the Punjab, New-Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.
  • Usman Mehmood University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48129/kjs.v48i4.10407

Keywords:

Smog, aerosol properties, Lahore

Abstract

In recent years, smog has been one of the main concerns in heavily populated urban areas like Lahore and Kanpur. Atmospheric pollutants like aerosols play an important role in smog. In this paper, aerosol types in smog episode are identified, based on AERONET data, for 4-year period i.e. 2015-2018. For winters we take four months January, October, November, December and May, June, July August for summer duration.  The data is then classified in different aerosol types on the basis of fine mode fraction (FMF) and single scattering albedo (SSA). One of the main aerosol types which is abundant in every smog episode is black carbon (BC) aerosol while other types such as dust, were present throughout the year. Black carbon is responsible for radiation imbalance, so considered as main component in climate changes at regional and global level. Furthermore, aerosol optical depth (AOD) time series in smog episodes is used to make sure the presence of smog as AOD evaluates total burden of aerosol in atmosphere.  Backward trajectories from HYSPLIT model are used to trace the origin of aerosols in maximum AOD days of smog episodes.

Author Biography

Salman Tariq, Remote Sensing and GIS Climate Research Lab, Department of Space Science, University of the Punjab, New-Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.

Dr. Salman Tariq did his B.S. and M.Phil. with distinction from the Department of Space Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore. He did his Ph.D. in Space Science in 2017 and earned a credit for being a first faculty member having PhD in Space Science. He joined Department of Space Science as Research Scholar in December 2010 and currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the department. His major research domains are climate change, atmospheric science, remote sensing and GIS. Twenty three (23) of his research papers have been published in foreign peer-reviewed impact factor journals during the last three years. He has also contributed a chapter in a book entitled “Land-Atmospheric Research Applications in South and Southeast Asia” published by Springer International. He was invited by the French Government on a fully sponsored official visit to France in the framework of its programme “Make Our Planet Great Again”. He is active reviewer of various international peer reviewed impact factor journals such as International Journal of Climatology, International Journal of Remote Sensing, and Environmental Pollution.

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Published

16-08-2021

Issue

Vol. 48 No. 4 (2021): Kuwait Journal of Science

Section

Physics