Lalitpur – Training on “Satellite Remote Sensing for Air Quality Analysis in the Himalayan Region” was held from 15 – 19 February 2010 by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The training was held in the training room at the ICIMOD Headquarters.
 
This five days training course was held with an objective to strengthen capacity and networking in the region by familiarising the "Transboundary Air Pollution Programme" at ICIMOD and imparting relevant knowledge and skills on the use of satellite images for air quality analysis in the Himalayan region. This five days training course included lectures and interactive activities designed to give participants “hands-on” experience with the various air quality satellite images and tools. More specifically, the training gave an overview of Atmospheric Brown Cloud (ABC) and Malé Declaration programmes and  its activities, introduction to GIS and "hands-on" sessions, satellite remote sensing for air quality assessment, NASA Giovanni tool on remote sensing with demonstration of relevant case studies and satellite image resources for the topic. Relevant satellite products for air quality analysis were also presented, including MODIS true color imagery, MODIS aerosol optical depth (AOD), OMI NO2, and CALIPSO. In addition, numerical air quality models were also discussed which included the Naval Research Laboratory’s Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System (NAAPS) global aerosol model that provides global forecasts of surface particulate matter concentrations.

While Ms. Amy Huff and Ms. Jill Engel Cox were the main resource persons from NASA, Ms. Wah Wah Htoo was the key representative and resource person from United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Ms. Bidya Banmali Pradhan was the key focal person and coordinator of this training from ICIMOD. There were 23 participants in this training course.