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, ar e 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 densi ty between two images, the one referring a pollution-free day and the secon d reflecting a day with an atmospheric pollution episode. Results are suppo rted 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 t he industrialized region of Athens, to the west of the city's centre, as we ll as in a limited area in the centre of Athens.