Satellite-Based Atmospheric Gas Monitoring in Maritime Chokepoints: Integration of Sentinel-5P TROPOMI and AIS Data for Emission Control in the Istanbul Strait

Abstract

Anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) and emissions from maritime transport represent a significant challenge for atmospheric monitoring and control. The Istanbul Strait, characterized by its narrow, winding geography and high traffic density, presents a unique chokepoint where these emissions directly impact local air quality. This study proposes a gas-focused integrated framework that combines Sentinel-5 Precursor (Sentinel-5P) TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) satellite observations with Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to analyze atmospheric trace pollutant time series in the Istanbul Strait during 2025. A bottom-up emission methodology based on the IMO 4th GHG Study was employed, yielding annual gaseous pollutant totals of 213,678 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), 5970 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and 686 tons of sulfur oxides (SOx). Time-series and cross-correlation analyses demonstrated a quantifiable relationship between AIS-derived NOx estimates and TROPOMI NO2 tropospheric column densities (r = 0.76, p < 0.05, n = 12), validating the use of satellite sensors for marine atmospheric monitoring. A decision support system (DSS) proof of concept (PoC) was developed to evaluate emission control scenarios through speed optimization. The results indicate that implementing a 10% speed reduction strategy could reduce CO2 emissions by 18% (38,462 tons) and generate net economic savings of EUR 3.07 million under the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) carbon pricing framework. Furthermore, a scenario with a 20% speed reduction resulted in a 35% decrease in CO2 emissions. The findings underscore the potential of integrating satellite-based gas remote sensing with AIS data, thereby facilitating real-time atmospheric monitoring and strengthening emission control policy enforcement in maritime chokepoints.