Air Quality from Space: Bridging Monitoring Gaps with Satellite Data in South-Western Romania

Abstract Background Monitoring pollutants is essential for understanding air quality and its impact on public health. In Romania, it is limited due to the cost of the monitoring network only covering mainly urban areas. Sentinel-5P, one of the EU's Copernicus program satellites, provides free data on atmospheric pollutants, with global coverage that overcomes the limited and unevenly distributed ground sensors. It measures several pollutants with high spatial and temporal resolution, filling the gaps in ground measurements. Methods We built a dataset with pollutants measurements for the South-Western region of Romania (24,095km2, 448 administrative units grouped in 5 counties). Satellite data were processed at unit level: daily products were collected for NO2, SO2, O3, CO, and CH4; geolocated using precise coordinates; geographically subset to include only relevant values; aggregated at administrative unit level. Daily statistics were then computed (min, max, mean), for detailed analysis of pollutant levels and trends over time. Results From the dataset built for the region and the years 2019-2023, we provide several data subsets for one of the counties of the region, emphasizing the extended coverage of satellite data compared with data from the 6 ground stations available in the area. Conclusions The temporal series of satellite data allows tracking of pollutant trends over several years and may be further correlated with morbidity and mortality in the area. By integrating satellite data with health records, researchers can identify patterns and potential causal relationships between pollutant exposure and health outcomes. This approach enhances the accuracy and reliability of air quality assessments, supports regulatory compliance, and informs public health decisions. Leveraging satellite data enables a more detailed understanding of pollutant distribution and its effects on human health, ultimately leading to more effective environmental policies and interventions. Key messages • Satellite data enables the identification of pollutant trends and their correlation with health outcomes. • Integrating satellite data with health records can reveal patterns and causal links, improving public health interventions.