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Distributions of O3, CO and NMHCs over the rural sites in central India

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Abstract

The surface level measurements of O3, CO, CH4 and light NMHCs were made at eight different rural sites in the central part of India during February, 2004. The online analyzer was used for in-situ measurement of O3 while air samples were collected for the analyses of CO, CH4 and NMHCs using the gas chromatography techniques. The average mixing ratios of O3, which were in the range of 60–90 ppbv, are significantly higher compared to the typical values reported for urban sites of India. The increase rates of O3 in the forenoon hours were estimated to be in the range of about 8.8–10 ppbv h−1. The slopes of ∆O3/∆CO, which is an indicator of the efficiency of photochemical production, were in the range of 0.24–0.33 ppbv ppbv−1. However, levels of primary pollutants e.g., NMHCs, CO, etc. at these sites were much lower than urban sites, but higher compared to previously observed values surrounding marine region of India. The estimated ratios of NMHCs and CO indicate fossil fuel combustion process as the dominant source of primary pollutants in this corridor.

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Acknowledgement

This work was partly funded by ISRO-GBP under special land campaigns. We are grateful to B. H. Subbaraya, R. Sridharan, V. Jayaraman and C. B. S. Dutt for their interest, encouragement and support. We also thank other members of the PRL team for their help during this campaign.

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Correspondence to L. K. Sahu.

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Lal, S., Sahu, L.K., Venkataramani, S. et al. Distributions of O3, CO and NMHCs over the rural sites in central India. J Atmos Chem 61, 73–84 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10874-009-9126-5

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