Significant environmental challenges, such as urban and industrial expansion, alongside
vegetation preservation, directly influence the concentrations of critical air pollutants
and greenhouse gases in cities and their surroundings. The urban development and expansion
process is aptly captured by classifying land use and land cover (LULC). We aimed
to analyze LULC changes in an Andean area, Ecuador, and to reveal the relations of
LULC classes with three air pollutants ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur
dioxide (SO2), using remote sensing datasets (Sentinel-5P - Sentinel 1 - Sentinel-2)
across different periods. Results showed that SO2 is not a reliable indicator for
assessing its behavior based on LULC classes, as it was difficult to distinguish between
different land cover types using this pollutant. For NO2, the analysis showed a moderate
distinction among LULC classes, suggesting some variability in its distribution across
different land cover classes. On the other hand, O3 analysis shows that all land cover
classes are statistically distinguishable, demonstrating that urban, shrubland, green
areas, and forest classes influenced ozone distribution. These findings emphasize
the importance of accurate land cover classification in understanding air pollutants'
spatial distribution and dynamics. This analysis is crucial for understanding the
impacts of land use and land cover changes on urban health and well-being and the
effects of rapid urban expansion.
