Aerosol Characteristics over India Based on Long-Term AERONET Measurements

Aerosols over the Indian region exhibi large spatial and seasonal Variation, however long-term ground-based Measurements that can consistently illustrate these variations are still limited. In this work, I utilize Level-2 AERONET data from selected locations in India to investigate how aerosol loading and optical attributes have changed during the last decade. The analysis centers chiefly on on Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Ångström exponent, and basic inversion products that help identify the dominant aerosol types.

The results indicate a clear seasonal variation at all stations. High AOD values appear during the pre-monsoon months, which is consistent with dust-laden air mass intrusion from arid regions, while winter months present increased fine-mode aerosols linked to vegetation fires and area-specific emission activities. Stations located in the Indo-Gangetic Plain exhibit the highest overall AOD levels, whereas coastal and semi-arid stations demonstrate lower values and more mixed aerosol regimes. Some sites indicate a gradual rise in fine-mode aerosol contribution, suggesting increasing anthropogenic influence, while others show small or no long-term trends.

These observations assist into better understand the aerosol environment over India and also furnish a reliable reference for measuring satellite retrievals. The study highlights how AERONET measurements can support regional climate and air-quality assessments by offering consistent, long-term optical property data that cannot be captured fully by satellites alone.