Finnish Meteorological Institute and IIT Madras establish virtual research centre on climate and air quality
VAYYU, Virtual Research Centre on Aerosol–Meteorology Interactions, Himalayan Atmosphere–Cryosphere Interactions, and Urban Air, combines advanced modelling with state-of-the-art observations. The aim is to improve understanding of how aerosols influence regional hydro-climate, monsoon dynamics, Himalayan snow and glacier melt, and air quality in major Indian cities. The collaboration builds on three years of joint research on Himalayan aerosols.
Building on ongoing joint projects
The new centre builds on two major collaborative initiatives:
CryoSCOPE which investigates atmosphere–cryosphere–hydrosphere interactions in the Himalayas and assesses the role of aerosols in glacier melt and drought and flood risks.
CO-ENHANCIN which has supported the establishment of a new urban observatory in Chennai, providing high-resolution measurements of aerosols, atmospheric chemistry and boundary-layer processes to support air-quality assessment and local weather prediction.
VAYYU will strengthen Indo-Finnish cooperation in climate science, urban sustainability and air-quality forecasting. The centre will also promote researcher mobility, joint research proposals and advanced training in atmospheric modelling and instrumentation.
