Seasonal and interannual variability of the atmospheric aerosol in the ABCD region

• Grant number: 24/01390-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Meteorology
• Principal Investigator: Elisa Thome Sena
• Grantee: João Vitor de Carvalho
• Host Institution: Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Osasco. Osasco , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The ABCD region is located in the southeastern portion of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP), and englobes industrial complexes, intense vehicle traffic and high population density. This region is close to environmental preservation areas, with remnants of the Atlantic Forest. This combination of diverse sources of atmospheric aerosols and trace gases, of anthropogenic and biogenic origin, results in the occurrence of complex physical and chemical interactions. Its atmospheric circulation is strongly influenced by sea breezes with predominant winds from the Southeast, which can transport pollutants and biogenic emissions from the coast. Therefore the ABCD region is a unique and privileged location for studying the dynamics of atmospheric pollutants in the RMSP, the contribution of their different sources and the influence of different meteorological scenarios. Despite this, few studies on atmospheric pollution have been developed in this region. This project aims to contribute to a better characterization of atmospheric pollutants and their dynamic processes in the ABCD region. Aerosol optical depth retrievals from MODIS sensors aboard the Aqua and Terra satellites, available at NASA's Giovanni platform over 24 years (2000 to 2023) will be analyzed. Interesting case studies will be selected and analyzed in greater detail, aiming to observe differences between local pollutant emissions and transport from other locations.