Abstract
Atmospheric carbonaceous aerosols of South Asian origin have received immense concerns in the Anthropocene owing to their plausible role in the observed regional to inter-continental scale climate anomalies. Tracking plausible sources and alterations during their transport (secondary processes) are keys to understanding their net influence on regional climate. Here, we report elemental concentrations of C and N (TC and TN), their isotopes (δ13C, δ15N) and TC/TN ratios of bulk carbonaceous aerosol particles over northern Indian Ocean [Bay of Bengal (BOB) and Arabian Sea (AS)] collected as a part of Integrated Campaign for Aerosol, Gases and Radiation Budget (ICARB) during March–May, 2006. In order to understand typical sources, we also measured same parameters of (i) aerosols emitted from typical biomasses conventionally burnt in north and northeastern India and (ii) aerosols particles present in ambient air over selected Indian cities during pre-monsoon season. Bulk aerosols over AS are characterized by significantly higher TC/TN ratios (∼50 ± 10) compared to aerosol over Indian cities (5.6 ± 2.6) as well as over BOB (6.8 ± 12.5), most likely due to having significant inorganic carbon contributed by mineral dust. δ13C of aerosols over AS and BOB do not show significant variation (−25.6‰ ± 0.6, −26.5‰ ± 0.8; n = 24 and 21 respectively), however δ15N values showed a conspicuous difference between the two braches of northern Indian Ocean (10.6‰ ± 2.7 over BOB and 1.4‰ ± 3.3 over the AS). Depleted δ15N of aerosols over AS can be interpreted in terms of significant mixing of isotopically depleted nitrogenous compounds (NH3 and NOxs) emitted from the underlying (denitrifying) waters.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.