Transport of aerosols and trace gases during dust and crop-residue burning events in Indo-Gangetic Plain: Influence on surface ozone levels over downwind region

Abstract

Abstract The present study addresses the influence of long-range transport from dust storm (event 1) and crop-residue burning (event 2) sources over Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) using ground-based measurements and satellite observations. In the present study, the spatial distribution and temporal variation of ambient particulate matter (PM) were assessed at 15 air quality monitoring stations situated in Rajasthan, north-western-Indo-Gangetic Plain (NW-IGP) and downwind region. During the dust event, the daily average mass concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were 1.2–3.3 and 2.2–4.6 times higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS 60 μg/m3 for PM2.5 and 100 μg/m3 for PM10) across stations in the vicinity of the Thar Desert. Stations in NW-IGP showed enhancement in PM2.5 and PM10 during crop-residue burning period. Agra being a downwind site was influenced by both the events and enhancement in PM levels was observed, however ozone (O3) showed different variations during event 1 and 2. During the dust event, 6.1% reduction in the mean O3 level compared to the study period was found while a significant enhancement (15.1%) during event 2 was observed at Agra. To determine the possible reasons for different O3 trends, the variation of O3 precursors carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) along with the meteorological parameters was also assessed. CO and NOx levels during event 1 were reduced similar to O3 whereas during event 2 an enhancement in CO and NOx levels was observed. Satellite observations and backward air-mass trajectories suggested transport of aerosols from Thar Desert resulted in reduced O3 levels during dust event while transport of O3 precursors enhanced photochemical production of O3 during crop-residue burning period at Agra.