Previous Year Question

The Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) is an international scientific programme operated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Its objective is to study Atmospheric Composition, long-term changes in atmospheric constituents, and their effects on climate and the environment. The programme systematically monitors Greenhouse Gases, Ozone, Aerosols, and other atmospheric components. In the context of the 2012, India did not have a monitoring station classified as a GAW Global Station.

The GAW monitoring network consists of Global Stations and Regional Stations. Global Stations represent atmospheric conditions across extensive geographical areas and conduct long-term measurements of several atmospheric constituents. In contrast, Regional Stations study atmospheric pollution, gas concentrations, and other environmental changes over relatively smaller geographical regions. This arrangement facilitates comparisons of atmospheric data from different regions and supports the scientific analysis of Climate Change.

The other three countries mentioned in the question had established GAW Global Stations. Assekrem/Tamanrasset in Algeria, Arembepe in Brazil, and Mount Kenya in Kenya are prominent stations. These stations were developed to monitor atmospheric constituents under different geographical conditions in Africa and South America. Brazil's Arembepe station is a historical GAW Global Station, which is classified as Closed in the current WMO-associated station database.

In India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) conducts atmospheric observations, ozone monitoring, chemical analysis of precipitation, and climate-related research. India also contributes to the GAW programme and has conducted atmospheric monitoring activities at the regional level. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between the absence of atmospheric monitoring in India and the absence of a GAW Global Station in India.