Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences
Title : | Influence of traffic emissions on Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA) formation and characteristics in different urban airsheds |
Area of research : | Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences |
Principal Investigator : | Prof. Tarun Gupta, Indian Institute Of Technology Kanpur (IITK), Uttar Pradesh |
Timeline Start Year : | 2022 |
Timeline End Year : | 2025 |
Contact info : | tarun@iitk.ac.in |
Equipments : | "Micra Aethalometer (Black Carbon Detector)
portable multi-gas analyzer
portable dual channel medium flow rate air sampler" |
Details
Executive Summary : | Particulate (PM) air pollution in India has become a major threat to the health of the population, climate, and economy. Organics organic aerosol (OA) contributes significantly to fine PM (PM2.5), which is the most harmful among all PM. Most of the OA is formed via atmospheric processing of primary emissions and known as secondary OA or SOA. SOA could alter key aerosol properties like optical characteristics, hygroscopicity, size distribution and toxicity, so it is very important to understand SOA characteristics. SOA levels and characteristics are quite sensitive to anthropogenic emissions (NOx, SO2, and VOCs) and meteorological factors (T, RH etc.). It has been reported that VOC (volatile organic compounds)/NOx ratio could play an important role in modulating SOA levels, especially in urban areas with high NOx emissions. Anthropogenic NOx could also produce nitrate radicals, which further oxidize gas phase VOCs and produce SOA and aggravate PM pollution. Some modeling studies pointed out that only NOx control could alter VOC/NOx ratio in such a way that more SOA could be produced. It is quite clear that VOC and NOx need to be reduced in tandem and with strict monitoring of VOC/NOx ratio and its impact on SOA. It has also been reported that the night time formation of SOA will be impacted by changing VOC/NOx ratios and aerosol acidity due to stringent NOx and SO2 control. In India, however, no such detailed study carried out to looked into the existing VOC/NOx regime and how this ratio and other parameters influencing the SOA formation. New, more stringent primary emission control policies are being implemented in India but it is unclear how it will impact the secondary aerosol formation, if at all. Given the importance of the SOA and the lack of such detailed study from India, it is essential that a thorough SOA formation and characteristics study being carried out. Kanpur and Mumbai are densely populated polluted cities with both population and vehicular traffic on the rise, this required sufficient understanding of secondary PM formation for effective air quality management. The obtained information will enhance the primary emission-secondary pollution formation linkage and provide valuable insights into PM-related air pollution problems in densely populated urban areas. This improved understandings will provide us with additional information to employ effective mitigation techniques geared towards air pollution abatement. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Abhishek Chakraborty, Indian Institute Of Technology Bombay (IITB), Maharashtra-400076 |
Total Budget (INR): | 73,60,200 |
Organizations involved