Modeling the Behavior of Seasonal Aerosols with 23-Year Satellite Data in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Jalisco, Mexico

Satellite images have been used for more than 60 years to better understand the atmosphere, land, and water of our planet. In this study, a historical analysis was carried out for a period of 23 years of satellite images and specific measurements of 2.5 µm particulate matter of anthropogenic origin obtained through the NASA Giovanni website [1]. Atmospheric aerosols have a direct effect on the energy balance, cloud formation, and an indirect effect on rainfall, and consequently on flora and fauna regionally and globally [2]. In addition, they have a harmful impact on air quality, affecting the health of the population. These effects indicate the need for a quantitative study of this type of aerosols, especially in the cities of the world, which is where most sources of anthropogenic aerosols are located, mainly emitted by industries and vehicles. The Guadalajara Metropolitan Zone (GMZ), the third-largest metropolis in Mexico [3], The GMZ does not currently have ground-based measurements of particulate matter for the entire city. In this quantitative study, the seasonal behavior of aerosols was modeled. This allowed us to quantify and discover seasonal patterns in the geographic region of interest. This knowledge may contribute to future research related to the effects of aerosols in the GMZ and to the generation of an approximate forecast that allows preventive and corrective actions to be taken to reduce their harmful effects that affect the city and its inhabitants.