Emission characteristic of ozone related trace gases at a semi-urban site in the Indo-Gangetic plain using inter-correlations

Abstract

Measurements of surface O3, CO, NOx and light NMHCs were made during December 2004 at Hissar, a semi-urban site in the state of Haryana in north-west region of the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). The night-time O3 values were higher when levels of CO, NO and NO2 were lower but almost zero values were observed during the episodes of elevated mixing ratios of CO (above 2000 ppbv) and NOx (above 50 ppbv). Slopes derived from linear fits of O3 versus CO and O3 versus NOx scatter plots were also negative. However, elevated levels of O3 were observed when CO and NOx were in the range of 200–300 ppbv and 20–30 ppbv, respectively. Slope of CO-NOx of about 33 ppbv/ppbv is much larger than that observed in the US and Europe indicating significant impact of incomplete combustion processes emitting higher CO and lesser NOx. Correlations and ratios of these trace gases including NMHCs show dominance of recently emitted pollutants mostly from biomass burning at this site.