PM10 and PM 2.5 particles are very significant issues for the public health of the community. Such parameters are
measured from air-pollution stations that are scarcely distributed in the Cyprus region. Satellite remote sensing can
provide synoptic coverage of the Cyprus area either daily from MODIS sensor or every 16 days from Landsat. Sunphotometers
are used to measure the aerosol optical thickness (AOT) on ground during the satellite overpass. Several
different campaigns have been made both for two urban areas in Paphos and Limassol area. For the period 28/10/09 -
30/12/09, the regression analysis between PM10 and ΡΜ2.5 for the Paphos town (central) gave coefficient of
determination of R2=0,78 and R2=0,61 respectively. Coefficient of determination R2 =0.61 was found for the period
May-June 2009 for the centre of Limassol when PM10 was regressed against AOT measured from MICROTOPS handheld
sun-photometer. The AOT data retrieved from MODIS AOT (at 550 nm) and CIMEL sun-photometer (AERONET)
also provided a high correlation (r=0.9, R2 = 0.81) for the centre of Limassol for April to July 2010 measurements.
Results obtained by correlating MODIS AOT (at 550 nm) against hand-held MICROTOPS sun-photometer in the centre
of Limassol for the period January 2009 to March 2010 gave R2=0,81. Using the PM10 limit of 50μg/m3 as prescribed by
the European Union and the regression model found for the Limassol area, a threshold value of AOT for this area of 0.6
was found. Such value can be used as threshold AOT values for alerts either using the MODIS or Landsat satellite
imagery. An example of how a GIS can provide temporal variations of AOT over the Cyprus area is shown.
It has been shown by Hadjimitsis et al. (2009) that the use of suitable non-variant targets in conjunction with the
application of the empirical line method can remove atmospheric effects from satellite images effectively. The method is
based on the selection of a number of suitable generic non-variant targets, on the basis that they are large, distinctive in
shape, and occur in many geographical areas. The need to further test such method by suggesting more suitable nonvariant
targets is one of the main aims of this study. Indeed, six targets have been already identified in the Lemesos
District area in Cyprus, near the harbour and tested. In-situ spectro-radiometric measurements using the SVC HR-1024
field spectro-radiometer have been made on November 2009 and from February 2010 to April 2010. Some of the in-situ
measurements were coincided with the Landsat TM/ETM+ overpass and the removal of atmospheric effects was very
effective. The above targets have been scanned using a 3D terrestrial laser scanner (Leica ScanStation C10) so as to
investigate the non-variability and uniformity of the proposed targets (through the laser scanner intensity values).
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