Assessment of the distribution of aerosols in the area of Athens with the use of Landsat Thematic Mapper data

Landsat high resolution images, at the spectral interval 0.45-0.52 mu m, are used in an effort to qualitatively assess distribution of aerosols in the greater Athens area. It is found that the spatial distribution of aerosols in Athens can be described by calculating the differences in optical density between two images, the one referring a pollution-free day and the second reflecting a day with an atmospheric pollution episode. Results are supported by a positive correlation between the differences in optical densities for the 'polluted' and 'pollution free' images, and the measured levels of sulphur dioxide and smoke in various city areas. Finally according to the above methodology, aerosols exhibit their highest concentration mostly in the industrialized region of Athens, to the west of the city's centre, as well as in a limited area in the centre of Athens.