A deep insight into state-level aerosol pollution in India: Long-term (2005–2019) characteristics, source apportionment, and future projection (2023)

The present study provides a national scenario of aerosol pollution with the long-term (2005–2019) trend, source apportionment, and future (2023) for each Indian states. We used MODIS AOD FRP, differential AODs from MERRA-2, trace gases (NO2, SO2) data OMI. Almost all states IGP fall under red zone (“highly vulnerable”; >0.5) whereas central, western, few south-Indian orange (“vulnerable”; 0.4 < >0.5). most alarming feature is that southern exhibit shift blue/green (less vulnerable/safe; <0.4) to vulnerable zones in 2023 as observed using auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed coal-fired thermal power plant (TPP), vehicular, solid fuel/waste, biomass burning are major sources aerosols at future. estimated proposed TPP capacity (GW) needs be reduced bring down move less safe zones. would complement strengthen ongoing missions combat air India.