scholarly journals Seasonal distribution and drivers of surface fine particulate matter and organic aerosol over the Indo-Gangetic Plain

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 10881-10909
Author(s):  
Caterina Mogno ◽  
Paul I. Palmer ◽  
Christoph Knote ◽  
Fei Yao ◽  
Timothy J. Wallington
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Substantial Contribution ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Gangetic Plain ◽  
Post Monsoon ◽  
Fine Particulate ◽  
Indo Gangetic Plain

Abstract. The Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is home to 9 % of the global population and is responsible for a large fraction of agricultural crop production in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Levels of fine particulate matter (mean diameter <2.5 µm, PM2.5) across the IGP often exceed human health recommendations, making cities across the IGP among the most polluted in the world. Seasonal changes in the physical environment over the IGP are dominated by the large-scale south Asian monsoon system that dictates the timing of agricultural planting and harvesting. We use the WRF-Chem model to study the seasonal anthropogenic, pyrogenic, and biogenic influences on fine particulate matter and its constituent organic aerosol (OA) over the IGP that straddles Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh during 2017–2018. We find that surface air quality during pre-monsoon (March–May) and monsoon (June–September) seasons is better than during post-monsoon (October–December) and winter (January–February) seasons, but all seasonal mean values of PM2.5 still exceed the recommended levels, so that air pollution is a year-round problem. Anthropogenic emissions influence the magnitude and distribution of PM2.5 and OA throughout the year, especially over urban sites, while pyrogenic emissions result in localised contributions over the central and upper parts of IGP in all non-monsoonal seasons, with the highest impact during post-monsoon seasons that correspond to the post-harvest season in the agricultural calendar. Biogenic emissions play an important role in the magnitude and distribution of PM2.5 and OA during the monsoon season, and they show a substantial contribution to secondary OA (SOA), particularly over the lower IGP. We find that the OA contribution to PM2.5 is significant in all four seasons (17 %–30 %), with primary OA generally representing the larger fractional contribution. We find that the volatility distribution of SOA is driven mainly by the mean total OA loading and the washout of aerosols and gas-phase aerosol precursors that result in SOA being less volatile during the pre-monsoon and monsoon season than during the post-monsoon and winter seasons.

scholarly journals Seasonal distribution and drivers of surface fine particulate matterand organic aerosol over the Indo-Gangetic Plain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caterina Mogno ◽  
Paul I. Palmer ◽  
Christoph Knote ◽  
Fei Yao ◽  
Timothy J. Wallington
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Seasonal Distribution ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Gangetic Plain ◽  
Fine Particulate ◽  
Indo Gangetic Plain ◽  
Global Population

Abstract. The Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is home to 6 % of the global population and is responsible for a large fraction of agricultural crop production in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Levels of fine particulate matter (mean diameter

scholarly journals Source apportionment of carbonaceous fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) in two contrasting cities across the Indo–Gangetic Plain

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 398-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana M. Villalobos ◽  
Mansur O. Amonov ◽  
Martin M. Shafer ◽  
J. Jai Devi ◽  
Tarun Gupta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Source Apportionment ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Gangetic Plain ◽  
Pm 2.5 ◽  
Fine Particulate ◽  
Indo Gangetic Plain

scholarly journals On the widespread enhancement in fine particulate matter across the Indo-Gangetic Plain towards winter

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Narendra Ojha ◽  
Amit Sharma ◽  
Manish Kumar ◽  
Imran Girach ◽  
Tabish U. Ansari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Gangetic Plain ◽  
Fine Particulate ◽  
Indo Gangetic Plain

scholarly journals In situ, satellite measurement and model evidence on the dominant regional contribution to fine particulate matter levels in the Paris megacity

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (16) ◽  
pp. 9577-9591 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Beekmann ◽  
A. S. H. Prévôt ◽  
F. Drewnick ◽  
J. Sciare ◽  
S. N. Pandis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Satellite Measurement ◽  
Fine Particulate ◽  
Wood Burning ◽  
Air Pollution Regulation

Abstract. A detailed characterization of air quality in the megacity of Paris (France) during two 1-month intensive campaigns and from additional 1-year observations revealed that about 70 % of the urban background fine particulate matter (PM) is transported on average into the megacity from upwind regions. This dominant influence of regional sources was confirmed by in situ measurements during short intensive and longer-term campaigns, aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements from ENVISAT, and modeling results from PMCAMx and CHIMERE chemistry transport models. While advection of sulfate is well documented for other megacities, there was surprisingly high contribution from long-range transport for both nitrate and organic aerosol. The origin of organic PM was investigated by comprehensive analysis of aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS), radiocarbon and tracer measurements during two intensive campaigns. Primary fossil fuel combustion emissions constituted less than 20 % in winter and 40 % in summer of carbonaceous fine PM, unexpectedly small for a megacity. Cooking activities and, during winter, residential wood burning are the major primary organic PM sources. This analysis suggests that the major part of secondary organic aerosol is of modern origin, i.e., from biogenic precursors and from wood burning. Black carbon concentrations are on the lower end of values encountered in megacities worldwide, but still represent an issue for air quality. These comparatively low air pollution levels are due to a combination of low emissions per inhabitant, flat terrain, and a meteorology that is in general not conducive to local pollution build-up. This revised picture of a megacity only being partially responsible for its own average and peak PM levels has important implications for air pollution regulation policies.

scholarly journals Organic molecular tracers in the atmospheric aerosols from Lumbini, Nepal, in the northern Indo-Gangetic Plain: Influence of biomass burning

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Wan ◽  
Shichang Kang ◽  
Quanlian Li ◽  
Dipesh Rupakheti ◽  
Qianggong Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Vanillic Acid ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Syringic Acid ◽  
Rural Site ◽  
Aerosol Composition ◽  
Gangetic Plain ◽  
Post Monsoon ◽  
Post Monsoon Season ◽  
Indo Gangetic Plain

Abstract. To better understand the characteristics of biomass burning in the northern Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), total suspended particles were collected in a rural site, Lumbini, Nepal during April 2013 to March 2014 and analyzed for the biomass burning tracers (i.e., levoglucosan, mannosan, vanillic acid, etc.). The annual average concentration of levoglucosan was 734 ± 1043 ng m−3 with the maximum seasonal mean concentration during post-monsoon season (2206 ± 1753 ng m−3), followed by winter (1161 ± 1347 ng m−3), pre-monsoon (771 ± 524 ng m−3) and minimum concentration during monsoon season (212 ± 279 ng m−3). The other biomass burning tracers (mannosan, galactosan, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, and dehydroabietic acid) also showed the similar seasonal variations. There were good correlations among levoglucosan, organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC), indicating significant impact of biomass burning activities on carbonaceous aerosol loading throughout the year in Lumbini area. According to the characteristic ratios: levoglucosan / mannosan (Lev / Man) and syringic acid / vanillic acid (Syr / Van), we deduced that the high abundances of biomass burning products during non-monsoon seasons were mainly caused by the burning of crop residues and hardwood while the softwood had less contribution. Based on the diagnostic tracer ratio (i.e., Lev / OC), the OC derived from biomass burning constituted large fraction of total OC, especially during post-monsoon season. By analyzing the MODIS fire spot product and five-day air-mass back trajectories, we further demonstrated that organic aerosol composition was not only related to the local agricultural activities and residential biomass usage, but was also impacted by the regional emissions. During the post-monsoon season, the emissions from rice residue burning in western India and eastern Pakistan could impact particulate air pollution in Lumbini and surrounding regions in southern Nepal. Therefore, our finding is meaningful and has a great importance for adopting the appropriate mitigation measures, not only at the local level but also by involving different regions and nations, to reduce the biomass burning emissions in the broader IGP region nations.

scholarly journals Organic molecular tracers in the atmospheric aerosols from Lumbini, Nepal, in the northern Indo-Gangetic Plain: influence of biomass burning

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (14) ◽  
pp. 8867-8885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Wan ◽  
Shichang Kang ◽  
Quanlian Li ◽  
Dipesh Rupakheti ◽  
Qianggong Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Vanillic Acid ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Rural Site ◽  
Aerosol Composition ◽  
Gangetic Plain ◽  
Minimum Concentration ◽  
Post Monsoon ◽  
Post Monsoon Season ◽  
Indo Gangetic Plain

Abstract. To better understand the characteristics of biomass burning in the northern Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), total suspended particles were collected in a rural site, Lumbini, Nepal, during April 2013 to March 2014 and analyzed for the biomass burning tracers (i.e., levoglucosan, mannosan, vanillic acid). The annual average concentration of levoglucosan was 734 ± 1043 ng m−3 with the maximum seasonal mean concentration during post-monsoon season (2206 ± 1753 ng m−3), followed by winter (1161 ± 1347 ng m−3), pre-monsoon (771 ± 524 ng m−3) and minimum concentration during monsoon season (212 ± 279 ng m−3). The other biomass burning tracers (mannosan, galactosan, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid and dehydroabietic acid) also showed the similar seasonal variations. There were good correlations among levoglucosan, organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC), indicating significant impact of biomass burning activities on carbonaceous aerosol loading throughout the year in Lumbini area. According to the characteristic ratios, levoglucosan ∕ mannosan (lev ∕ man) and syringic acid ∕ vanillic acid (syr ∕ van), we deduced that the high abundances of biomass burning products during non-monsoon seasons were mainly caused by the burning of crop residues and hardwood while the softwood had less contribution. Based on the diagnostic tracer ratio (i.e., lev ∕ OC), the OC derived from biomass burning constituted large fraction of total OC, especially during post-monsoon season. By analyzing the MODIS fire spot product and 5-day air-mass back trajectories, we further demonstrated that organic aerosol composition was not only related to the local agricultural activities and residential biomass usage but also impacted by the regional emissions. During the post-monsoon season, the emissions from rice residue burning in western India and eastern Pakistan could impact particulate air pollution in Lumbini and surrounding regions in southern Nepal. Therefore, our finding is meaningful and has a great importance for adopting the appropriate mitigation measures, not only at the local level but also by involving different regions and nations, to reduce the biomass burning emissions in the broader IGP region nations.

scholarly journals In-situ, satellite measurement and model evidence for a~dominant regional contribution to fine particulate matter levels in the Paris Megacity

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 8647-8686 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Beekmann ◽  
A. S. H. Prévôt ◽  
F. Drewnick ◽  
J. Sciare ◽  
S. N. Pandis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Satellite Measurement ◽  
Fine Particulate ◽  
Wood Burning ◽  
Air Pollution Regulation

Abstract. A detailed characterization of air quality in Paris (France), a megacity of more than 10 million inhabitants, during two one month intensive campaigns and from additional one year observations, revealed that about 70% of the fine particulate matter (PM) at urban background is transported on average into the megacity from upwind regions. This dominant influence of regional sources was confirmed by in-situ measurements during short intensive and longer term campaigns, aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements from ENVISAT, and modeling results from PMCAMx and CHIMERE. While advection of sulfate is well documented for other megacities, there was surprisingly high contribution from long-range transport for both nitrate and organic aerosol. The origin of organic PM was investigated by a comprehensive analysis of aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS), radiocarbon and tracer measurements during two intensive campaigns. Primary fossil fuel combustion emissions contributed less than 20% in winter and 40% in summer to carbonaceous fine PM, unexpectedly little for a megacity. Cooking activities and, during winter, residential wood burning are the major primary organic PM sources. This analysis suggests that the major part of secondary organic aerosol is of modern origin, i.e. from biogenic precursors and from wood burning. Black carbon concentrations are on the lower end of values encountered in megacities worldwide, but still represent an issue for air quality. These comparatively low air pollution levels are due to a combination of low emissions per inhabitant, flat terrain, and a meteorology that is in general not conducive to local pollution build-up. This revised picture of a megacity only controlling part of its own average and peak PM levels has important implications for air pollution regulation policies.

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