Advances in Environmental Meteorology and Air Quality Early Warning

Abstract

. India Meteorological Department (IMD) established in 1875 has a long legacy of monitoring climate and environmental parameters. IMD was the first institution in India to start systematic long-term observation of Solar Radiation, Ozone, Precipitation Chemistry and Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and Physical properties and Atmospheric Chemistry. The solar radiation measurement started for the first time at Kolkata as early as November,1879. However, a series of coordinated and systematic observations of various geophysical phenomena started all over the globe after International Geophysical Year (IGY) 1957-58. Post-independent IMD rose up to meet the demand for enhancing the density of observing systems through a self-reliant approach of total indigenization of the manufacture of meteorological instruments. IMD started manufacturing meteorological, radiation and ozone measurement instruments to the specified accuracy at par with the internationally established manufacturers. IMD has long history of measurement of all the three components of Ozone i.e. Total Columnar Ozone, Vertical Distribution and Surface Ozone measurement. Total Columnar Ozone measurements in India were first made during September 1928 to August 1929 at Kodaikanal observatory of IMD.
The air quality forecast is relatively recent initiative in IMD compared to digital weather and climate forecasts generation.
The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) provide real-time forecast products for early warning of changing profile of Air Quality Index (AQI) across the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi to designated air quality management/regulatory authorities in order to moderate anticipated high AQI levels through enforcing various sector targeted emission reduction actions specified under graded response action plans. This paper reviews emerging trends in environment meteorology and IMD’s pivotal role in monitoring and prediction of atmospheric environment.