Spaceborne lidar retrieved composite and speciated aerosol extinction profiles and optical depths over India: A decade of observations

Based on satellite data, gathered over a decade (June 2006 to December 2016), polluted dust - defined as a mixture of dust and smoke - has emerged as the dominant aerosol species across India.

• Shape of the vertical profiles changed as we move from south to north of India.
   
• Most of the Indian region is immersed in polluted dust (dust + smoke).
   
• Boundary layer aerosol optical depth (AOD) pattern resembled that of columnar AOD during colder seasons.