Acronyms
NAMP - India's air pollution monitoring program
What is National Ambient Monitoring Program?
This primary greenhouse gas is the main driver of long-term climate change
What is CO2?
This high-energy flash breaks nitrogen molecules apart, creating a natural NOx emissions in the sky
What is Lightning?
Often called the “Blue Marble”, this is the only known sphere in the universe to support life
What is Earth?
The process where gravity pulls particles down to the ground without the help of rain
What is Deposition?
CPCB - India's regulatory body that sets and enforces air quality standards
What is Central Pollution Control Board?
Mainly produced by burning coal and oil at power plants, this gas is the main ingredient of acid rain
What is SO2?
These massive arid-land events loft "crustal" particles high into the air, often crossing entire oceans
What is a Desert Storm?
On the AQI scale, this middle “Traffic Light” color for caution means air is moderate
What is Yellow/Orange?
As part of water cycle, this process turns liquid into gas, increasing humidity levels
What is Evaporation?
AOD - A measure of how much sunlight is blocked by airborne particles, frequently used in satellite data
What is Aerosol Optical Depth?
Unlike the others, this gas is primarily an agricultural byproduct from fertilizers
What is Ammonia (NH3)?
These large geological vents are the earth's primary natural source of SO2 and ash
What is a Volcano?
On the AQI scale, this "Traffic Light" color for go means the air is clean
What is Green?
In this process, tiny particles stick together to form larger, heavier particles
What is Coagulation?
GRAP - India's tiered emergency program when air pollution is severe
What is Graded Response Action Plan?
This short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) leaks from landfills and rice paddies
What is Methane?
This term describes VOCs (like isoprene) released naturally by trees and forests rather than humans
What are Biogenics?
On the AQI scale, this "Traffic Light" color for stop means the air is unhealthy
What is Red/Maroon?
This happens when gas turns back into liquid droplets, forming clouds or "secondary" aerosols
What is Condensation?
CAQM - India's judicial body entrusted to plan for clean air in North India
What is Commission for Air Quality Management?
This is the most abundant greenhouse gas on Earth, not human-made, but its levels are controlled by temperature and rain
What is Water (H2O)?
This "briny" aerosol is formed when wind and waves cause bubbles to burst on the ocean surface
What is SeaSalt?
This sky color is what clean air action plans aim for
What is Blue?
The word describes the scattering or absorption of light by particles, making the horizon look hazy
What is Extinction?