System of Air Quality & Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) : Overview

System of Air Quality & Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) : Overview

Question: System of Air Quality & Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) is a major milestone in combating air pollution. Elaborate

• 10% of the economic growth will be achieved by the Modi government without collateral damage in terms of the environment

• In line with this, SAFAR/System of Air Quality & Weather Forecasting and Research has been developed

• SAFAR is the topmost preventative technology

• It will reveal the level of UV radiation and carcinogenic mercury in the air being breathed

• SAFAR has been developed by the Pune based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology along with ESSO Partner Institutions namely IMD and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast
• Ministry of Earth Sciences has developed this technology for predicting air quality at the micro level within a city

• SAFAR will help citizens to assess air quality and decide precautions on the basis of that

• 10 Air Quality Monitoring Stations and 30 Automatic Weather Stations have been set up in Mumbai along with 15 digital display systems to get valuable data of scientific importance

• SAFAR would provide data on current air quality, future weather conditions, alerts for extreme weather conditions and linked health advisories

• Intensity of harmful solar radiation will also be assessed through the Ultra Violet Index

• It will also help in disaster management

• Under the plan scheme “Metropolitan Advisories for Cities for Sports, Tourism (Metropolitan Air Quality and Weather Services), SAFAR has been introduced and its forecast is 1 to 3 days in advance for the first time in the nation

• The implementation of SAFAR has been created in active partnership with local municipal corporations and numerous local educational institutions and governmental agencies

• Appropriate mitigation and systematic action can also be taken for improvement of air quality and associated health issues through SAFAR

Facts and Stats

• SAFAR observational network of Air Quality Monitoring Stations and Automatic Weather Stations represent selected micro-environments of the city

• Industrial, residential, background/cleaner, urban complex and agricultural zones as per global guidelines ensure complete representation of the city environment

• Air Quality indicators are monitored at about 3 metre in height from the ground with online instruments through SAFAR

• Data is recorded and stored by SAFAR at every 5 minute interval for quality check and further analysis.

• Pollutants monitored by SAFAR include PM1, PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, CO, NOx (NO, NO2), SO2, BC, Methane (CH4), Non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), VOC’s, Benzene, Mercury

• Monitored Meteorological Parameters which SAFAR takes into account include UV Radiation, Rainfall, Temperature, Humidity, Wind speed, Wind direction, solar radiation

• This is the first network of its kind in India