ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF NO2 AND SO2 IN MUNICIPALITIES OF RIVERS STATE AND ABIA STATE USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS FROM 2020-2023

ABSTRACT

Air pollution is one of the environmental problems confronting growing cities and is currently the challenge faced by many developed and developing countries. This study was carried out to assess the concentrations of Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Sulphur dioxide (SO2) in Rivers state and Abia state. Secondary data collection method was used for the assessment, levels of Nitrogen dioxide (N02) and Sulphur dioxide (SO2) was extracted annually from Google Earth Engine using information from Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing. A comparison of the levels of the levels of Nitrogen dioxide (N02) and Sulphur dioxide (SO2) was done from the year 2020 to 2023. Results showed that the annual mean concentrations of Nitrogen dioxide (N02) in Obior/Akpor, Rivers state ranged from ‘0.000066257mol/m2 to 0.000085723mol/m2’, the highest concentrations were found in the year 2021 from January to June and the lowest were found in the year 2022 from July to December. In Umuahia, Abia State, results showed that the annual mean concentrations of Nitrogen dioxide (N02) ranged from 0.000035631mol/m2 to 0.000075156mol/m2, the highest concentrations were found in the year 2022 from January to June and the lowest were found in the year 2021 from July to December; the implications of this higher concentration is that it may lead to respiratory diseases, lungs cancer, heart diseases and damages to other organs. Annual mean concentration of Sulphur dioxide (SO2) in Obio/Akpor, rivers state ranged from ‘-0.000048258mol/m2 to 0.000056289mol/m2 , the highest concentrations were found in the year 2020 from July to December and the lowest were found in the year 2021 from January to June. In Umuahia, Abia State, results showed that the annual mean concentrations of Sulphur dioxide (SO2) ranged from ‘-0.000028731mol/m2 to 0.000065289mol/m2’, the highest concentrations were found in the year 2022 from July to December and the lowest concentrations in 2023 from January to December; the implication of this high concentration affect lung function, worsen asthma attacks, worsen existing heart diseases in sensitive groups, and harming the ecosystem in general. Constant monitoring of the air quality and atmospheric pollutants to ensure xiv early detection of a decrease or increase in the concentration of pollutants is vital and can be achieved using remote sensing and Geographical Information System.