Estimation of air pollution concentration over Jharia coalfield based on satellite imagery of atmospheric aerosol

Air pollution concentration over Jharia coalfield was estimated based on satellite imagery of the atmospheric aerosol. The imagery was acquired by the earth observation satellite Landsat-5 during December 2009. In the process, radiation data from the earth surface stored in the imagery in the form of digital number were converted into surface reflectance values which were then used to estimate concentration of particular matters of radius less than 10 μm (PM₁₀) as indicators of air pollution concentration. The calculated data on PM₁₀ were also compared with ground PM₁₀ data estimated from different locations of the Jharia coalfield and a linear relationship was established between them having correlation coefficient of 0.8423. The derived equation was used to determine air pollution concentration in those places where air pollution survey was not carried out.