High resolution aerosol optical depth retrieval over urban areas from Landsat-8 OLI images

The satellite-retrieved aerosol optical depth (AOD) provides unique estimation of loading across a continuous space. However, current AOD products with relatively coarse resolution (≥1 km) can hardly capture the details in urban areas large spatial gradients. To address this issue, here we developed novel retrieval algorithm for retrieving extra fine (30 m) from Landsat-8 satellite OLI images. In algorithm, three land surface reflectance (LSR) schemes and four types are adopted to improve accuracy. is applied on Beijing Wuhan city China during 2014–2019. Results suggest that retrieved new exhibits good agreement ground-based measured ( R 2 = 0.920), 81.63% AODs fall within expected error line root-mean-square 0.112. Moreover, high-resolution also successfully identified polluted sources discrepancy over different cover two megacities China, implying its great potential detecting emission complex area. Such improvement 30 m study demonstrates substantial potentials supporting further studies air pollution management human exposure at extra-fine scale. ● Urban Surface anisotropy type variation represented retrieval. Detailed gradient area could be represented. Aerosol high dataset.