Context:

• Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has launched Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi which is designed:
       o  To predict extreme air pollution events and
       o  To give warnings to take necessary steps as per Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

About:

• The air pollution system has been developed jointly by the scientists at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).
• The Air Quality Early Warning System consists of two components: (i) Warning System (ii)  Prediction system

Prediction System:

• The prediction systems have been developed by scientists of MoES institutions with the technical support from the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), USA and the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI). The prediction part of the system consists of two modelling framework:
• One is based on NCAR atmospheric chemistry transport model
• The second one is based on Finnish Meteorological Institute model.
• The modelling framework typically consists of a high resolution weather prediction model with an atmospheric chemistry transport model.
• Both the models have data assimilation facility, which can assimilate data from satellites on dust aerosols, particulate matter from stubble burning and other air pollutants like SO₂ and NO₂.
• The models will take into account the background aerosols and pollutants, long range transport of dust from dust storms and particulate matter from stubble burning.
• The predictions will be now available for 72 hours. A new website was launched to archive the all observations and predictions of the

Warning System:

• A real time observations of air quality over Delhi region and details about natural aerosols like dust (from dust storms) and particulate matter using different satellite data sets
• Predictions of air pollutants from two different air quality prediction systems based on state-of-the-art atmospheric chemistry transport models and
• Warning Messages and Alerts and Bulletins. 

 Website

• A new website developed for archiving all the observational and prediction products has been launched along with warning and prediction system.
• The website will be accessed by the officials of Environmental Pollution Authority (EPA) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for taking necessary steps depending upon the requirements.

Significance:

• The early warning system will help in proactively forewarning, 3-4 days in advance, any large scale air pollution events which may occur over the Delhi region.
• The prediction and warning system will help the authorities to better prepare for mitigating the adverse effects of the pollution.
• The system will complement other efforts of the government such as in-situ management of crop residue in reducing pollution in the national capital.
• The system will become a benchmark to be replicated for the pollution bulletin and mitigation mechanism for other cities of Delhi.

Learning Aid