Kathmandu: The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development here is collaborating with NASA and the United States Agency for International Development to leverage space technology to monitor air quality and develop solutions to combat air pollution in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. A two-day programme, featuring experts from the ICIMOD and NASA’s Applied Science Team and SERVIR Science Coordination Office will train stakeholders across the region in the area of using satellite data, including GK2-AMI Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) data, for monitoring air quality. “Regular and long-term monitoring of air quality is extremely important to improve air quality in a region which is currently one of the most polluted in the world,” Bhupesh Adhikary, senior air quality specialist at ICIMOD, said. Participants will learn to assimilate satellite data into air quality forecasting models, providing up to 48-hour forecasts for South Asia and higher resolution forecasts for Hindu Kush Himalayan countries, according to a press release issued by the ICIMOD. “Poor air quality affects our daily lives.

Source: The Hindu May 07, 2024 15:10 UTC