The Role of Biomass Burning Emission in Indo-Gangetic Plains on the Air Quality

Abstract

Abstract: Every year, the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) burn biomass, which results in serious atmospheric pollution, including reactive nitrogen. This study focuses on the burning of biomass area and nitrogen species emissions in the months of October, November, and March, April, and May from 2016 to 2020. Using a satellite product from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Aqua and Terra satellites, reactive nitrogen species emissions (ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx = NO + NO2)) were estimated for the study period. In this study, region of IGP is divided in three parts i.e. West IGP region, Middle IGP region and East IGP region. we estimate that post-monsoon west IGP region has highest average burned area is 19731.081839 sq km and the maximum emission of nitrogen species NH3 is 3558462491 g in year 2016. Our findings on biomass burning and nitrogen species emissions offer important insight for addressing the most contaminated area of the IGP region.