Visualization of Suspended Particulate Matter by Digital cameras

JUNKO KAMBE (1), Toru Yagi (1), Umpei Nagashima (2), Tomoo Aoyama (3)

(1) Edogawa University, (2) AIST, Tsukuba, (3) University of Miyazaki

     Abstract Number: 169
     Last modified: November 7, 2009

Abstract
Air pollution in the eastern Asian mega cities is very serious problem for the human health care. Meteorological phenomena, yellow sand and haze are caused by suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the atmosphere. We measured the density when the phenomena occurred. The detection of SPM is difficult for the usual citizens, because the equipments of SPM detection are very expensive and not easy to handle for non-trained people. The detection of SPM is expected to be easier by the developments and utilizing the visualization instruments of light scattering of SPM.
We would like to propose the visualized aerosol distributions in the atmosphere by commercial available digital cameras. The digital image data are deconvoluted to R, G and B fractions. The collected images were stored as the RAW-format image data. The image data representing the SPM distributions were extracted from the RAW images by newly developed image analysis software. The mod-pictures enable to show the SPM distribution in the air surrounding the local area, where is the place for taken pictures. And also the RGB brightness demonstrates the SPM characters. And we processed R-image part of the pictures as mod-picture. The power and mod-calculations of brightness of pixels show concentrated black stripes around the sun for the clear sky day. The black stripes are defined for the ideal Mie-scattering. When SPM flows into the atmosphere, the stripes are disordered, and SPM was observed close to the earth.
On use of the method, the yellow sand phenomena have the following characters.
1. The distribution has a high density center and the shape of the fringe is not decided. Occasionally, an unstable cloud was generated in the fringe.
2. Estimating the upper limit of the yellow sand from the cloud, we obtain the altitude (about 600m).
3. The yellow sand subsiding in the sea has two layers which are the main body and diffused haze.
We applied the method to the haze and got the following:
1. The detailed flow in the atmosphere is described by the scattering of SPM particles. Thus, the SPM is a tracer to detect the atmospheric flow.
2. The three-dimensional structure of the atmosphere is estimated by the RGB resolution image of the scattering pictures qualitatively.
Air pollution in the eastern Asian mega cities is very serious problem for the human health care. We believe that SPM should be monitored as the human living environments. The detection of SPM is expected to be easier for the usual citizens.