Dust Storms and Their Influence on Atmospheric Parameters over the Indo-Gangetic Plains

Abstract

Dust storms are very common in the northern parts of India, and every year people living in the Indo-Gangetic plains suffer greatly. Dust storms affect day-to-day lives of people living in the Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) and impact their health. The atmospheric and meteorological parameters are highly influenced by the dust storms and are found to affect the air quality that creates a big health threat and also affects the weather conditions. In this chapter, we discuss use of satellite remote sensing data in monitoring the dust events which occur every year during pre-monsoon season and their impacts on ocean, atmosphere, and meteorological parameters. Long-term effects of such dust storms on the climate of the northern parts of India are discussed. Such dust storms can be easily monitored using satellite data that can be used in issuing warning to the people so that they would not be exposed to such strong dust storms.