Abstract
Stubble burning (SB) has been a major source of seasonal aerosol loading and pollution over northern India. The aftereffects of groundwater preservation act i.e., post 2010 era (2011–2020) has seen delay in crop harvesting thereby shifting the peak SB to May (Wheat SB) and to November (Paddy SB) by 8–10 and 10–12 days compared to pre-2010. Groundwater storage depletion rate of 29.2 mm yr−1 was observed over the region. Post 2010 era shows an increase of 1.4% in wheat SB and 21% in Paddy SB fires over Punjab and Haryana with 70% of PM2.5 air mass clusters (high probability > 0.8) advecting to the downwind regions leading to 23–26% increase in PM2.5 and 4–6% in aerosol loading over National Capital Region (NCR). Although the objective of water conservation policy was supposed to preserve the groundwater by delaying the paddy transplantation and sowing, on the contrary the implementation of this policy has seen groundwater storage after 2013 depleting at a rate of 29.2 mmyr−1 over these regions. Post policy implementation has led to shift and shrinking of harvest window with increased occurrences in SB fires which also increase associated particulate matter pollution over North India.
Highlights
About 80% of the total global Biomass Burning (BB) is contributed by tropical regions, mainly Southeast Asia, Southern Africa, Australia and South America[1]
Post-2010 era, witnessed P oMSB fires increased by 21% while PrMSB fires increased by 1.4%
Using long term satellite and ground measurements, we have investigated the trends in stubble fires, associated particulate matter pollution over National Capital Region (NCR), downwind regions and linkage with groundwater storage
Summary
About 80% of the total global Biomass Burning (BB) is contributed by tropical regions, mainly Southeast Asia, Southern Africa, Australia and South America[1]. It is estimated that a total of 620 million tons of crop residue is generated annually in India, of which 16% is burnt in field and major contribution in SB is paddy straw (43%), wheat straw (21%) followed by sugarcane (19%)[3]. Over the last 15 years, the total production of wheat & paddy over Punjab and Haryana has increased by 6.96% while the rate of surplus crop residue left over in the field (after utilization for cattle fodder, storage & other uses)[4] is 1.2 mt yr−1. We investigated the impact of GW act on the changes & pattern in stubble burning, its impact on air pollution in the region and status of groundwater storage thereafter
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