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PROMOTE

Process analysis, observations and modelling -
Integrated solutions for cleaner air for Delhi


PROMOTE brings together a cross-disciplinary team of leading researchers from India and the UK spanning expertise in process-orientated observational and modelling analysis, prediction and forecasting of air quality and meteorology, climate modelling and socio-economic assessment of mitigation options.


Over 4 years, this integrated proposal aims to reduce uncertainties in air quality prediction and forecasting for Delhi by undertaking process orientated observational and modelling analyses and then to derive sensitivity relationships linking air pollutant concentrations and emission controls. This new knowledge will be critical to formulate effective mitigation solutions for reducing air pollution over Delhi and surrounding regions. PROMOTE brings together a cross-disciplinary team of leading researchers from India and the UK to deliver these aims by addressing three key questions:

Q1 What contribution is made by primary and secondary aerosols to the overall air pollution burden in Delhi during summer and winter conditions?

Q2 How do the interactions between boundary layer dynamics and long-range transport of air pollution contribute to the local air quality of Delhi?

Q3 By taking account of local, urban and regional sources, what are the most effective emission controls for mitigation interventions that will lead to significant reductions in air pollution and exposure levels over Delhi and the wider National Capital Region?

PROMOTE will address Q1 and Q2 by improving the representation of aerosol and boundary layer processes in the existing SAFAR air quality forecasting system. It will extend the capabilities of SAFAR to provide higher resolution predictions of air quality and, through an integrated modelling framework it will examine the sensitivities of air pollutant concentrations to changes in local, urban and regional air pollution contributions to address Q3. PROMOTE will contribute to both Theme 2 (Processes: physical and chemical) and Theme 4 (Mitigations and interventions) of the Air Pollution and Human Health in an Indian Megacity (APHH) programme by cooperating with other APHH projects and provide new knowledge to identify effective mitigation solutions for reducing air pollution in Delhi.

Project objectives

Specific research objectives that address our three key questions are:

O1 To examine the contribution of secondary aerosols to the air pollution burden in Delhi during distinct meteorological seasons by developing a new representative model scheme for subtropical urban environments (Q1);

O2 To investigate how boundary layer interactions lead to high air pollution events during pre-monsoon and stable winter fog periods affecting Delhi (Q2);

O3 To quantify local, urban and regional contributions to Delhi’s air quality through an improved understanding of aerosols, long-range transport and boundary layer processes (Q2);

O4 To undertake an operational and diagnostic evaluation of the SAFAR air quality forecasting system for Delhi incorporating improved organic aerosol, aerosol-fog and boundary layer process representations (Q1, Q2);

O5 To develop the first coupled local-urban-regional modelling system for predicting high resolution concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and other pollutants with source attribution and then to quantify sensitivity response relationships for developing effective mitigation strategies for Delhi (Q2, Q3);

O6 To synthesise and translate the outcomes of PROMOTE with other APHH projects for providing datasets for exposure and health studies and contributing to a roadmap for implementing effective local and regional mitigation strategies to meet current and future compliance and health requirements in Delhi and NCR (Q3).

Through our analysis, we will deliver new knowledge on how local, urban and regional (LRT) sources of air pollution affect Delhi’s air quality. With an improved OA scheme and improved understanding of BL dynamics, sensitivities between air pollutant concentrations and changes in local (e.g. traffic, industrial) and regional (LRT) contributions will be quantified with a new coupled multiscale modelling system for recommending interventions and mitigation options for Delhi.

PROMOTE will combine a comprehensive suite of observations and modelling systems to address the research objectives through closely coupled work packages (WPs).