Seasonal Variation of Aerosol Distribution and Optical Depth over the Indo-Gangetic Belt

Rapid industrialization, urbanization, and synoptic conditions have posed serious environmental concerns in South Asian countries, especially in the most densely populated region of the Indo-Gangetic Belt (IGB) in the last few years. In this paper, the authors are trying to show the aerosol optical depth (AOD) variation within the Indo-Gangetic Belt region from 2007 to 2012 to reveal a relationship between regional climate change and air quality. The present study is based on the online data from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) mission. In winter, AOD is dominated by fine-mode aerosols produced by numerous anthropogenic origins. In contrast, summer months or the pre-monsoon periods are characterized by abrasive mineral dust and the dust coming mainly from the Thar Desert region. The seasonal variation of AOD and aerosol vertical distribution over IGB are determined with the help of the particle depolarization ratio, color ratio, and backscatter coefficient (at 532 nm).