Begam, G. Reshma and Vachaspati, C. Viswanatha and Ahammed, Y. Nazeer and Kumar, K. Raghavendra and Reddy, R. R. and Sharma, S. K. and Saxena, Mohit and Mandal, T. K. (2017) Seasonal characteristics of water-soluble inorganic ions and carbonaceous aerosols in total suspended particulate matter at a rural semi-arid site, Kadapa. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 24 (2). pp. 1719-1734. ISSN 0944-1344

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Abstract

To better understand the sources as well as characterization of regional aerosols at a rural semi-arid region Kadapa (India), size-resolved composition of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) mass concentrations was sampled and analysed. This was carried out by using the Anderson low-pressure impactor for a period of 2 years during March 2013-February 2015. Also, the variations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and water-soluble inorganic ion components (WSICs) present in total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) were studied over the measurement site. From the statistical analysis, the PM mass concentration showed a higher abundance of coarse mode particles than the fine mode during pre-monsoon season. In contrast, fine mode particles in the PM concentration showed dominance over coarse mode particle contribution during the winter. During the post-monsoon season, the percentage contributions of coarse and fine fractions were equal, whereas during the monsoon, coarse mode fraction was approximately 26 % higher than the fine mode. This distinct feature in the case of fine mode particles during the studied period is mainly attributed to large-scale anthropogenic activities and regional prevailing meteorological conditions. Further, the potential sources of PM have been identified qualitatively by using the ratios of certain ions. A high sulphate (SO4) concentration at the measurement site was observed during the studied period which is caused by the nearby/surrounding mining activity. Carbon fractions (OC and EC) were also analysed from the TSPM, and the results indicated (OC/EC ratio of similar to 4.2) the formation of a secondary organic aerosol. At last, the cluster backward trajectory analyses were also performed at Kadapa for different seasons to reveal the origin of sources from long-range transport during the study period.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Copyright for this article belongs to M\S Springer Verlag.
Subjects:	Environmental Science > Environmental Geology Environmental Science > Environmental Geology Environmental Science > Environmental Geology Environmental Science > Environmental Geology
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User:	Users 27 not found.
Date Deposited:	20 Feb 2019 08:32
Last Modified:	20 Feb 2019 08:32
URI:	http://npl.csircentral.net/id/eprint/2845

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