High spatiotemporal resolution estimation and analysis of global surface CO concentrations using a deep learning model

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2024-12, Vol.371, p.123096, Article 123096
• Main Authors: Hu, Mingyun, Lu, Xingcheng, Chen, Yiang, Chen, Wanying, Guo, Cui, Xian, Chaofan, Fung, Jimmy C.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Carbon Monoxide - analysis; China; CNN deep learning; CO-Related mortality; Deep Learning; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Global CO pollution; Neural Networks, Computer; Ozone - analysis; Seasons; Wildfire enhancement
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123096

Ambient carbon monoxide (CO) is a primary air pollutant that poses significant health risks and contributes to the formation of secondary atmospheric pollutants, such as ozone (O3). This study aims to elucidate global CO pollution in relation to health risks and the influence of natural events like wildfires. Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) big data techniques, we developed a high-performance Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based Residual Network (ResNet) model to estimate daily global CO concentrations at a high spatial resolution of 0.07° from June 2018 to May 2021. Our model integrated the global TROPOMI Total Column of atmospheric CO (TCCO) product and reanalysis datasets, achieving desirable estimation accuracies with R-values (correlation coefficients) of 0.90 and 0.96 for daily and monthly predictions, respectively. The analysis reveals that the CO concentrations were relatively high in northern and central China, as well as northern India, particularly during winter months. Given the significant role of wildfires in increasing surface CO levels, we examined their impact in the Indochina Peninsula, the Amazon Rain Forest, and Central Africa. Our results show increases of 60.0%, 28.7%, and 40.8% in CO concentrations for these regions during wildfire seasons, respectively. Additionally, we estimated short-term mortality cases related to CO exposure in 17 countries for 2019, with China having the highest mortality cases of 23,400 (95% confidence interval: 0–99,500). Our findings highlight the critical need for ongoing monitoring of CO levels and their health implications. The daily surface CO concentration dataset is publicly available and can support future relevant sustainable studies, which is accessible at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11806178. [Display omitted] •Daily global surface CO concentrations were estimated by a deep learning model.•Convolution Neural Network architecture boosts prediction accuracy and robustness.•CO concentrations were relatively high in China and India, and peaked in winter.•Wildfires played an important role in the generation of surface CO.•Short-term mortalities related to CO exposure were estimated for 17 countries.