Vol. 39, issue 01, article # 5

Abstract:

Nitrogen and sulfur dioxides belong to the priority pollutants of atmospheric air and belong to substances of the 3rd class of hazard. The joint influence of sulfur dioxide and dioxide nitrogen on air quality is extremely negative. Monitoring their content in atmospheric air is an important environmental task. Joint analysis and comparison of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere of Moscow and St. Petersburg on the basis of ground-based measurements, as well as tropospheric content of these aerotoxicants based on satellite data are performed. Satellite data (the OMI spectrometer from the Aura satellite) cover the period from 2005 to 2023, and ground data are collected for the period 2002–2023. The concentrations of nitrogen dioxide slowly decrease in Moscow and Sant-Petersburg both in satellite and ground-based data. The concentrations of sulfur dioxide are significantly reduced according to ground-based measurements in Moscow and Sant-Petersburg. Satellite observations show relatively constant concentrations in St. Petersburg and their growth in Moscow. The hypothesis which explains the divergence of ground-based and satellite data on the content of sulfur dioxide is suggested. The results can be used in the practical work of environmental authorities in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Keywords:

nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, satellite and ground-based monitoring, Moscow, St. Petersburg

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