Abstract
In the present study, continuous ground-based SO2 monitoring has been planned over the Srinagar Garhwal Valley of Uttarakhand. The monsoon (M-2018), post-monsoon (PoM-2018), winter (W-2019), pre-monsoon (PrM-2019), and M-2019 have high SO2 concentrations (3.66 ± 2.05 μg/m3, 5.54 ± 2.23 μg/m3, 6.42 ± 1.79 μg/m3, 7.56 ± 3.53 μg/m3 6.45 ± 3.49 μg/m3) at 1900, 2000, 1800, 1900, and 1900 local time attributed mainly due to biomass burning and long-range transportation of pollutants. A drastic change in the SO2 concentration was observed from 4.81 to 17.39 μg/m3 in May 2019 with a strong correlation of 0.61 with fire counts during an extensive forest fire. Due to the wet scavenging process, Jul 2018 (1.07 ± 0.82 μg/m3) showed the lowest SO2 concentration. Temperature, humidity, and wind speed significantly correlate with SO2 in different seasons. Overall, the air quality in the SGV region is good, but it worsens during forest fires, although it still remains within satisfactory levels. HYSPLIT model trajectories, cluster, and CWT analysis indicate the transportation of air mass from the Gulf region, Sahara Desert, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to Srinagar with a significant contribution of 40.43 to 72.29% air mass and have highest contribution more than 7 μg/m3. We have also observed weekend effects (reduction in the pollutant concentration) in Jul 2018, Sep 2018, Feb 2019, Apr 2019, and May 2019. Overall, this study highlights the seasonal variations in SO2 concentrations, the impact of forest fires on air quality, the influence of meteorological factors, the long-range transport of pollutants, and the presence of weekend effects in the SGV region of Uttarakhand.
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Acknowledgements
A. S. G. thanks Prof. Annpurna Nautiyal, Vice-Chancellor, HNBGU. Srinagar, Garhwal Uttarakhand & Head, Department of Physics, HNBGU. Srinagar for encouragement and for providing the necessary infrastructure facility for this study. A. S. G. is also thankful to the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) & Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, for funding support. S. G. is thankful to Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University (HNBGU) and Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences Coimbatore for providing the required funding and support.
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Gautam, A.S., Kumar, S., Gautam, S. et al. Regional air quality: biomass burning impacts of SO2 emissions on air quality in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India. Air Qual Atmos Health 17, 1–18 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-023-01426-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-023-01426-w