Indian network project on Carbonaceous Aerosol Emissions, Source Apportionment and Climate Impacts (COALESCE)

Abstract

Climate change and air pollution have important societal consequences, especially in emerging economies, wherein transitions from polluting technologies to cleaner alternatives coincide with high population vulnerability to environmental threats. India is home to a fifth of the world's population and a gamut of human activities, employing a far ranging spectrum of technologies and fuels, with consequent emissions. Atmospheric fine particles or aerosols in the region predominate in carbonaceous constituents and dust. Multi-institutional studies in the region have earlier focused on natural and anthropogenic climate forcing by aerosols and feedbacks on regional and global climate. Important gaps remain in understanding human activities influencing emissions, emission aerosol properties, and regional atmospheric processes, specifically those related to carbonaceous aerosol impacts on climate and air quality. With an aim to address these gaps, the COALESCE (Carbonaceous Aerosol Emissions, Source Apportionment and Climate Impacts) project was launched on 7 July 2017. The project adopts integration of scientific methods developed by both the climate and air quality research communities. New fundamental knowledge from the project and strong links to India's policy framework would enable climate and clean-air action in the region. The article describes the scientific rationale, objectives, and planned activities under COALESCE to explore engagement with the international climate and air quality research communities and to enable eventual dissemination of research findings, knowledge products, and decision-support tools.