Aerosol Optical Depth and Precipitation: Measuring Particle Concentration, Health Risks and Environmental Impacts

This volume uses aerosol optical depth (AOD) analysis through mapping and remote sensing techniques to derive the relationship between aerosols and hazardous precipitation events, primarily in the form of flooding. Attention is also given to pollution caused by an abundance of particulate matter in the atmosphere and its impacts on human health, which is also assessed via the study of AOD. Background is given on how AOD is retrieved, and why it is a useful tool for estimating atmospheric particle concentration, but also the challenges associated with using this approach. Different aerosol types are introduced to perform a comparative analysis of the most common associations between pollution impacts on temperature and resulting precipitation events. These analyses will help to provide an overview of the best strategies to make informed and sustainable disaster risk management practices and policies. The target audience for the work is students, researchers, and scientists working witha vision towards sustainability, public health safety and air pollution mitigation measures. It will also be a useful text for climate change policy makers, environmental engineers and stakeholders in social development sectors.

Dr. Sneha Gautam is an Associate Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India. He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, and an M.Tech in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Indian School of Mines (IIT - ISM) Dhanbad. Following his Ph.D., Dr. Gautam has had a distinguished career. He worked at INCLEN and the University of California, Berkeley, USA, from May 2015 to July 2016. Subsequently, he received a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, and continued his postdoctoral work from August 2016 to May 2017. Later, he served as an Assistant Professor & Head at Marwadi University, Rajkot, Gujarat, from September 2017 to April 2019. Dr. Gautam's research is at the intersection of clean air engineering/science, human health, and smart/sustainable living in urban environments. His work delves into the formation and emission of particles, with a focus on both vehicular and non-vehicular sources, particularly in the context of megacities. His contributions extend to developing low-cost sensing approaches and aiding in the formulation of exposure control technology and guidelines for policymakers, leading to improved urban air quality and associated health benefits.  Additionally, Dr. Gautam has served as an editor for various journals and has published papers in diverse multidisciplinary fields. His commitment to advancing knowledge and addressing environmental challenges is evident in his extensive contributions to academia and research. 

 

Roshini Praveen Kumar, a dedicated individual, completed her B.E. in Civil Engineering at VDIT-Haliyal in 2019. Subsequently, she pursued an M. Tech. in Environment and Water Resource at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, India, from 2019 to 2021. With a focus on aerosol retrieval studies and the exploration of interactions between aerosols and precipitation, she has contributed to published papers in these areas. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor, she actively engages in research and education within the field of Climate and Water Resources. Her commitment is further demonstrated by her pursuit of a Ph.D. in the same domain, reflecting a dedication to advancing knowledge in these crucial areas. Her academic journey reflects her passion for addressing environmental challenges, particularly in rainfall, climate, and river basin studies, aiming to make meaningful contributions to her field.

 

Cyril Samuel, a distinguished professional, earned his B. Tech in Civil Engineering from Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences Coimbatore, India in 2016. Following this, he gained practical experience at St. Andrews Infrastructure from 2016 to 2017. Since 2017, he has been actively involved in consulting and interior design projects through his own firm, Aesthetic Draftsman. Building on his industry experience, he pursued an M. Tech. in Environment and Water Resource at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences from 2019 to 2021. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the Institute, he simultaneously pursues a Ph.D. in the field of Air Pollution and Lightning. His diverse contributions include published papers in aerosol retrieval studies and exploring the interaction between aerosols and precipitation.