Onyeuwaoma, Nnaemeka Dominic; Nwofor, Okechukwu Kelechi; Chineke, Theo Chidiezie; Eguaroje, Ezekiel Onoshi; Dike, Victor Nnamdi (2015). Implications of MODIS impression of aerosol loading over urban and rural settlements in Nigeria: Possible links to energy consumption patterns in the country. ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH, 6(3), 484-494.

Abstract
A study of aerosol loading patterns in some selected cities in Nigeria was carried out using MODIS, TOMS/OMI AND AIRS satellite imageries for a period of 10 years. The results showed that an aerosol optical depth (AOD) loading obtained ranged from 0.02-0.9, UV aerosol index (AI) and carbon monoxide (CO) results ranged from 1.32-2.43 and 2.22-2.6 molecule/cm(2), respectively. The CO data was used to infer the presence of carbonecous aerosols from biomass, fossil combustion and industrial activities. This result indicates that areas with higher AOD and AI do not correspond in high CO loading. From the HYSPLIT and HAT analysis conducted it showed that advection plays important role in the dispersion of aerosols. This implies that aerosols can reside in a place remote from where they are generated. Also, the high concentration of CO aerosol in the southern cities suggests a high rate of industrial pollution as a result of fossil fuel burning, vehicular emissions, high population density and gas flaring. Therefore, emphasis should be on the need to switch to renewable energy options as an alternative to fossil fuel. Furthermore, plans for mitigations should not be limited to industrialized cities only but extended to other cities which might be bearing the real brunt of industrial emissions as shown in this work.

DOI:
10.5094/APR.2015.054

ISSN:
1309-1042