Enhanced Monitoring of Air Pollution in Asalouyeh, Iran Using Sentinel-5 Satellite Imagery and Google Earth Engine

Asalouyeh, a rapidly industrializing port city in Iran, faces significant environmental challenges due to air pollution resulting from extensive industrial activities. This study employs Sentinel-5 satellite data and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of key air pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and aerosols, over the period from 2019 to 2023. By leveraging the advanced capabilities of remote sensing and cloud-based geospatial analysis, we processed satellite imagery to monitor atmospheric pollution levels and identify pollution hotspots. The findings indicate a notable increase in pollutant concentrations, particularly NO₂, CO, and SO₂. NO₂ levels increased from a range of 0.0022–0.0071 µmol/m² in 2019 to 0.0025–0.0099 µmol/m² in 2023, while CO concentrations rose from 0.63–0.88 ppm in 2019 to 0.58–0.86 ppm in 2023. Similarly, SO₂ concentrations increased significantly, from 0.008–0.04 ppm in 2019 to 0.01–0.06 ppm in 2023. Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) values also showed an upward trend, reaching a peak of -0.034 to 0.8 in 2023 compared to -0.81 to 0.016 in 2019. The results demonstrate a clear correlation between increasing pollution levels and industrial expansion in Asalouyeh, with the highest concentrations observed near petrochemical complexes and transportation corridors. The identified pollution hotspots provide critical insights for policymakers, enabling targeted interventions such as emission control regulations, improved industrial waste management, and enhanced monitoring infrastructure. By integrating Sentinel-5 data with GEE’s cloud-based processing capabilities, this study establishes a scalable and cost-effective framework for continuous air quality assessment in industrial zones, addressing the limitations of traditional ground-based monitoring. These findings contribute to a growing body of research on industrial air pollution in the Persian Gulf region, emphasizing the urgent need for stringent environmental policies and sustainable industrial practices to mitigate pollution-related health risks.