Abstract
The present study reports spatio-temporal distribution pattern of major gaseous (NH3 and NO2) and particulate water soluble total nitrogen (pWSTN) in the ambient air to explore the seasonal variation, major interactions and dominating sources. Considering the major hotspot of atmospheric reactive nitrogen (N) emission, three sites in Indo-Gangetic plain (IGP) were selected based on different local source parameters. Results have shown that gas phase reactive N contribute up to 90% of total analyzed reactive N, where NH3 imparted highest at all the three sites. Prayagraj, a fast growing urban site, has shown highest concentrations of NH3 (72.0 μg m−3), followed by Madhupur rural site (57.7 μg m−3) and Delhi, an urban megacity site (35.8 μg m−3). As compared to previous studies conducted at different sites of IGP, NH3 concentrations were reported to be the highest at the former two sites. However, unlike NH3, NO2 levels were recorded lower at Madhupur (3.1 μg m−3) and Prayagraj (9.4 μg m−3) sites as compared to Delhi (13.4 μg m−3). Similarly, pWSTN concentrations were in the order of Madhupur (6.6 μg m−3) < Prayagraj (10.0 μg m−3) < Delhi (10.1 μg m−3). A strong correlation of NO2 with pWSTN at urban sites has shown the crucial role of NO2 in the formation of nitrogenous aerosols. Significant spatial variation can be attributed to varying local emission sources ranging from microbial emission from improper sewage treatment and open waste dumping at Prayagraj, agricultural activities at Madhupur and vehicular exhausts at Delhi site.
Highlights
When the neo-Malthusians were busy in predicting the impending food crisis across the world due to burgeoning levels of population, little did they conceive of a situation where the food production would outstrip the rate of population growth
Increasing emissions of atmospheric reactive N are considered as an important player in altering the N cycle
It was followed by Madhupur rural site owing to the livestock and agriculture sources, which are considered as the biggest source of NH3 emissions in India
Summary
When the neo-Malthusians were busy in predicting the impending food crisis across the world due to burgeoning levels of population, little did they conceive of a situation where the food production would outstrip the rate of population growth. This has been made possible in large measure due to the increased production of the variegated nitrogenous inputs that have served to amplify the levels of food production.[1] A direct consequence of this has been the intensification in nitrogen (N) cycles across the world which, in turn, has CONTACT Umesh Kulshrestha. The magnitude and abundance of reactive particulate N are dependent on the number of conditions such as availability of precursor gases such as NH3, NO2, VOCs, ozone, etc., light availability, temperature and relative humidity (RH)
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