Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• rahman zandi
• hojat sadeghi
• Sara Ghaedi

Department of Physical Geography - Faculty of Geographical Sciences and Planning - University of Isfahan

Abstract

Objective: Rapid urbanization and intensive industrial development have led to critical air pollution challenges in Iranian megacities, with Isfahan facing one of the most severe conditions. This study aims to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of major air pollutants in Isfahan during 2018–2023.
Methods: We employed Sentinel-5P (TROPOMI) satellite data combined with ground-based monitoring stations to evaluate the spatial distribution and temporal trends of five key pollutants: nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and the UV Aerosol Index (UAI). Spatial analyses were conducted to identify concentration gradients and pollution hotspots across urban districts.
Results: NO₂ and CO concentrations were consistently higher in central and northern areas, declining towards the east and south. SO₂ showed fluctuating spatial patterns across years, while UAI levels were mainly elevated in the eastern and northeastern districts. PM2.5 concentrations were also concentrated in central and northern zones. Temporally, a notable decline in NO₂, CO, PM2.5, and UAI levels occurred in 2020, coinciding with COVID-19 restrictions, followed by an increase in subsequent years as activities resumed.
Conclusions: The findings highlight the dominant role of anthropogenic sources, particularly traffic and industrial activities, in shaping air quality patterns in Isfahan. Integrating satellite and ground-based data provides a reliable approach for monitoring urban air pollution and offers a scientific basis for developing sustainable air quality management strategies in industrial megacities.

Keywords

• Air pollution
• Isfahan
• Remote sensing
• Sentinel-5P،Spatiotemporal analysis

Main Subjects

• Remote sensing and Gis