Sunday 05 / May / 2024
Muscat: In a bid to analyse and assist the air quality in the Middle East, the University of Nizwa and the Environmental Authority have collaborated with NASA to establish an air quality modelling project in Oman. The joint research aims to study the relationship between climate change and air quality in Oman.
This strategic partnership has resulted in the establishment of Sun photometer stations at designated locations, fortifying the AERONET global network.
As part of this initiative, six final-year physics students are actively involved in deciphering data from NASA instruments, contributing to a deeper understanding of Oman’s climatology and air quality.
Dr Baiju Dayanandan, the project’s Principal Investigator, highlighted that air quality could affect the health and life of the individual, and air pollution could reduce two years of life.
The University is not only committed to contributing to a better understanding of atmospheric changes but also aspires to lay the groundwork for future atmospheric modelling efforts in Oman.
The University is gearing up to present its findings at the Oman Conference for Environmental Sustainability and Decarbonisation in February 2024, offering a great opportunity to share insights with a wider audience. This project was made possible by the Research Council (TRC) initiative called “Synergy of ground-based and satellite measurements for atmospheric aerosol monitoring over the Middle East (BFP/RGP/EBR/21/009).”
The collaborations with other research organisations such as Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modelling, the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar help broaden the research scope.
The NASA AERONET project and TRC project at the University of Nizwa are making significant progress, and there is a lot of anticipation for the long-term impact of their research on climate and air quality studies.
The results presented will provide valuable input for major national and international assessments, supporting policy development by organisations such as the IPCC and the CCAC (Climate and Clean Air Coalition).
The University of Nizwa’s initiative to establish an air quality modelling project in Oman is a significant step towards better understanding and addressing the air quality issue faced globally.
