Puneites can now get weather forecast alerts via SMS, e-mail

An instant access to air quality and weather forecast data will now be available to Puneites under the 'SAFAR' system devised for the city by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) here.
The SAFAR -- System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research -- has become functional this week with ten monitoring stations established in various parts of the city and the neighbouring industrial township of Pimpri-Chinchwad representing different environmental conditions, according to IITM officials.
Mercury levels will also be monitored under SAFAR and the weather information pooled at its control room will be disseminated in a user-friendly format to the general public through e-mail alerts, SMS alerts and interactive voice response (IVR) in addition to digital display boards.

The IVR will give the citizens current and 24 hour advance information on air quality and weather just by dialing a toll free number, they said.
The four components on which the SAFAR works include a network of air quality and weather monitoring stations, development of emission inventory, a forecasting model and air quality index which are subsequently translated into information for citizens by means of colours and codes.
The emission inventory prepared by IITM for Pune denotes eight chemical pollutants and is expected to contribute to realistic Indian input in global climate models for improved simulations and better forecasts, an IITM official noted.

Implementation of the SAFAR project could be undertaken by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in other metropolitan cities having air quality problems, the officials said.
With its burgeoning number of two and four wheelers resulting in vehicular air pollution as well as expanding belt of industry, Pune region is said to be ranking high in air pollution index in the country.