Satellite-driven assessment of urban pollution susceptibility in West Bengal, India

Urban air pollution remains a critical environmental challenge in rapidly developing regions, yet there is a limited understanding of spatial pollution susceptibility integrating multiple atmospheric pollutants and land-use dynamics. This study addresses this gap by developing a geospatial framework to assess pollution susceptibility across West Bengal, India, using Sentinel-5P tropospheric monitoring instrument data for key pollutants, including ultraviolet aerosol, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and formaldehyde (HCHO). A weight of evidence-based modelling approach was employed to integrate pollutant layers and generate a spatially explicit pollution susceptibility map. The results reveal pronounced spatial variability, with high susceptibility observed in northern districts (Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, and Maldah), industrial regions (Paschim Bardhaman and Birbhum), and densely populated urban centres such as Kolkata. Land use land cover analysis between 2017 and 2023 indicates a 44.9% increase in urban and 8.06% decline in vegetation, highlighting urban expansion, a key driver of pollution. This study demonstrates that integrating satellite-based pollutant observations with geospatial modelling provides an effective approach for identifying pollution hotspots and understanding their underlying drivers. These findings offer insights for policymakers and urban planners, enabling targeted interventions such as emission control, sustainable urban planning, and continuous monitoring frameworks for improved air quality management.