First Land Use and Air Quality Study in Greater Rosario, Argentina: A Ground-Satellite Assessment of PM

Abstract

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is studied for the first time at ground level in different sites of Greater Rosario (GR), an urban and industrial area of central-eastern Argentina. Twelve sites were selected according to land use, and 87 samples were analyzed during winter 2021 and summer 2022. The spatial and temporal distribution of PM2.5 was examined, comparing results among sites and with global data. Ground-based data were complemented with satellite-derived Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and nitrogen dioxide vertical column density (NO2 VCD). During winter, the highest PM2.5 was obtained at an industrial site in northern GR, while in summer, maximum values were observed in the center of Rosario. Summer rain events could contribute to the wet deposition of suspended particles, resulting in lower PM2.5 concentrations. Satellite data indicate higher average AOD in summer (attributable to forest fires in NE Argentina) and higher NO2 VCD in winter, coinciding with burning events in the Paraná Delta islands and reflected in some PM2.5 peaks. This analysis represents the first approach to assessing the air quality of Rosario and its surroundings, with on-site data collected in association with land use.