Application of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model meteorological data for assessment of fine particulate matter $left(PM_{2.5}right)$ over India

Abstract

Air pollution is recognized as a major health risk today. Greatereconomic activities in rapidly developing urban cities around the worldare leading to higher levels of pollution and to greater exposure (Chanand Yao, 2008; Dockery et al., 1993; Gurjar et al., 2010; Molina andMolina, 2004). In developing countries like India, air pollution is notonly a city centric problem, but rural areas are also facing health impacts associated with it (HEI, 2010). However, the contributing sourcesdiffer widely in terms of their nature and magnitude. Transport sectoralong with electricity generation and industries contributes to majorityof the air pollution in Indian cities (Badami, 2005; CPCB, 2010; Guliaet al., 2015), whereas continuous use of solid fuels like wood, charcoal,cow dung for cooking and heating purposes is considered as a majorthreat to the health of millions of people residing in rural areas (Bruceet al., 2000; WHO, 2006; World Bank and Institute for Health Metricsand Evaluation, 2016). Low and middle–income countries house about80 percent of the world's population and account for about 90 percentof the deaths and nonfatal illness each year from air pollution (WHO,2016).