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High‐resolution MODIS aerosol retrieval during wildfire events in California for use in exposure assessment
Author(s) -
Raffuse Sean M.,
McCarthy Michael C.,
Craig Kenneth J.,
DeWinter Jennifer L.,
Jumbam Loayeh K.,
Fruin Scott,
James Gauderman W.,
Lurmann Frederick W.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1002/jgrd.50862
Subject(s) - aerosol , environmental science , moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer , remote sensing , spectroradiometer , atmospheric sciences , particulates , meteorology , reflectivity , geology , satellite , geography , ecology , physics , optics , engineering , biology , aerospace engineering
Retrieval of aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) using the Collection 5 (C005) algorithm provides large‐scale (10 × 10 km) estimates that can be used to predict surface layer concentrations of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ). However, these large‐scale estimates are not suitable for identifying intraurban variability of surface PM 2.5 concentrations during wildfire events when individual plumes impact populated areas. We demonstrate a method for providing high‐resolution (2.5 km) kernel‐smoothed estimates of AOD over California during the 2008 northern California fires. The method uses high‐resolution surface reflectance ratios of the 0.66 and 2.12 µm channels, a locally derived aerosol optical model characteristic of fresh wildfire plumes, and a relaxed cloud filter. Results show that the AOD derived for the 2008 northern California fires outperformed the standard product in matching observed aerosol optical thickness at three coastal Aerosol Robotic Network sites and routinely explained more than 50% of the variance in hourly surface PM 2.5 concentrations observed during the wildfires.