IoT Based Sodar Network for Estimation of Atmospheric Boundary Layer

Abstract

The advancement in connected and interactive networks such as the Internet of Things (IoT) has paved the way for the networking of various meteorological sensors to study and research in atmospheric science. Nowadays, it is important to consider regional meteorological parameters for planning and management the air quality of a defined area. The atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is one of the essential components of meteorology and is utilized to estimate the emission and dispersion of air pollution. An integrated network of meteorological sensors using IoT expedites real-time monitoring of critical parameters. These networks facilitate regulatory authorities in enhancing their decision-making and planning in the fields of atmospheric science and air quality management. Remote sensing techniques have dominated the field of lower atmospheric parameter monitoring. Sonic Detection and Ranging (SODAR) is a robust technique to estimate the ABL structures. SODAR is a remote sensing technique that relies on acoustic backscattered signals to plot echogram structures. The ABL height is estimated by echogram structures which are interpreted as standard atmospheric conditions such as convection, inversion and etc. based on the echogram patterns. In the modern era of the Internet and informatics, the combination of ground-based and remote sensing meteorological sensors provides a new paradigm for ABL estimation. In this research work, an IoT-based SODAR network has been created for estimation and monitoring of the ABL height. Monostatic SODAR is used to measure the ABL height. The air quality of a region depends on the local pollutants and environmental conditions along with the pollutants transported through the region. The transport of hazardous gases and particulate matter has a significant impact on the quality of the air. The primary goal of this research is to develop an IoT-based SODAR network (IoT-SN) for measuring the ABL height at various locations in Northern India.