Air quality management in India using satellite data

Abstract Exposure to ambient air pollution is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in India. Inadequate ground-based monitoring of ambient air pollution makes it difficult for India to manage its air quality. Satellite data has the potential to address this issue. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) routinely retrieved by various sensors worldwide can provide qualitative information about air quality in the last two decades. Recent advancements in satellite retrieval and modeling techniques allow estimating PM2.5 from AOD for quantitative applications. Such spatially continuous exposure data of almost two decades are beneficial for tracking air quality, monitoring the progress of policy measures, identifying local hotspots, delineating airsheds, facilitating the expansion of the existing ground-based network, and, above all, for retrospective and prospective health impact studies. In this chapter, satellite data applications in air quality management are discussed with a focus on India. A similar approach can be adopted anywhere globally, especially in the data-poor regions of the developing world. Upcoming missions of dedicated geostationary satellites for air quality monitoring and retrieval target of speciated PM2.5 would further open new frontiers of air pollution epidemiology and management using satellite data.