Using different spatial scale measurements in a geostatistically based approach for mapping atmospheric nitrogen dioxide concentrations. Application to the French Centre region

Passive sampling surveys followed by geostatistical data analysis have become a common and efficient approach for mapping background concentrations at regional and urban scales. Traffic-related pollution is also a matter of concern as regards population exposure but since it acts at shorter spatiotemporal scales, it is usually not integrated in the same maps. However, to provide more comprehensive information to the authorities and the public, the agencies responsible for air quality monitoring are searching for innovative ways of representing background and roadside concentrations together. A methodology based on geostatistics and the examination of the relationships between seasonal nitrogen dioxide concentrations and auxiliary variables is proposed in this study. It is applied to data collected in the French Centre region. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.