Multi-year characterization of aerosol black carbon concentrations over a semiarid tropical site Udaipur

Vyas, Brij Mohan , Gogoi, Mukunda M. , Jose, Subin

2021-05-01 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH 2021   28(卷), 18(期), (22864-22877页)

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Continuous and multi-year (2008-2012) measurements of black carbon (BC) mass concentrations (M-BC), carried out from the semiarid tropical site Udaipur (24.6 degrees N, 74 degrees E, 580 m a.s.l.) near the western Indian desert, are analyzed for their region-specific features. M-BC varied over a wide range during the period of study, with the hourly mean values occurring as low as 0.09 to as high as 49.1 mu g m(-3), with the multi-year average similar to 4.5 +/- 2.6 mu g m(-3). Annual variations showed the highest concentrations during November and December (winter seasonal mean = 7.4 +/- 3.3 mu g m(-3)) and the lowest in the monsoon months of July and August (monsoon seasonal mean = 2.5 +/- 2.2 mu g m(-3)). M-BC showed significant inverse relationship with the planetary boundary layer height (rho similar to - 0.50) as well as ventilation coefficient (rho similar to - 0.72). Alike aforesaid atmospheric dynamic parameters, T, WS, and RH also possessed statistically significant negative correlations with monthly M-BC. Enhancement in annual as well as diurnal amplitude in M-BC during deficient monsoon years relative to excessive monsoon years have given marked indication of BC sink mechanism due to precipitation. Roles of long-range regional air pollutant transport also have been identified. Identical and consistent seasonal variation in percentage contribution of M-BC with PM2.5 (varying from 2.6 to 9.1%) and absorption Angstrom exponent (alpha(abs), monthly mean values varying from 0.77 +/- 0.04 to 1.16 +/- 0.08) gives evidence of substantial amount of enhanced anthropogenic source activities of fossil fuel incomplete combustion in post-monsoon and winter period.