Using the Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra satellite data, we retrieved the Aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Angstrom Exponent (AE) to analyse the four air pollution episodes that occurred during December 2015 and 2016. This combined with the pollutant concentrations of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ and studied their variations along with the ratios observed in Nanjing. The fine model particles represented by PM_2.5 which was caused by anthropogenic activities is a main factor resulting in the pollution over this region. Further, the MODIS fire spots and the Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System (NAAPS) aerosol model were used to observe the aerosol sub-types. The pollutant concentrations increased by two times during 12^th-16^th and 19^th-27^th December, 2015. This was mainly attributed to increased dominance of fine particles produced from anthropogenic activities; whereas, the dust and smoke particles have less effect over the study region. Added to the above, two another different air pollution episodes noticed during 6^th-10^th and 15^th-18^th December, 2016. The Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) model was used to analyse the air pollution appeared on 6^th-10^th December, 2016which was mainly caused by the transport of dust particles from the northwest of China, and smoke particles produced from biomass burning originated from the southern part of China and local anthropogenic activities. The air pollution process during 15^th-18^th December, 2016 was almost same as that happened with the 2015's which is mainly caused by frequent anthoprogenic activities. It is revealed that the dust and smoke particles aggravated the effects of air pollution during the pollution episodes over Yangtze River Delta.