Wintertime chemical composition of aerosols at a rural location in the Indo-Gangetic Plains

Systematic measurements of mass concentration and chemical composition of aerosols have been carried out at Kharagpur in the Indo-Gangetic Plains during winter to identify the major sources over the region and to examine the changes in aerosol characteristics during haze events. Aerosol concentration is significantly large at the site, more than two-fold that of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for residential areas in India. The main sources of aerosols over the region are anthropogenic activities and mineral dust. Species like SO42−, NO3−, NH4+, BC, Cl−, etc. are associated with anthropogenic sources, while Al, Fe, Ca, Na, Ti, Mn, etc. originate mainly from crustal sources. Though the site is only ∼100 km away from the Bay of Bengal, oceanic contribution is insignificant (∼2%), mainly due to prevailing north/northeasterly winds. A mean chemical composition evolved for the location shows that the aerosol system is composed of 17% mineral dust, 18% water-soluble components, 6% black carbon and 23% particulate organic matter along with a residual fraction of 36%. This residual fraction is attributed to organic aerosols of natural or secondary origin and water content of aerosols. An uncertainty of the order of 6–45% is involved in these estimations. Nevertheless, this mean chemical composition can act as a realistic input chemical model in the estimation of aerosol radiative forcing for this region. Analysis indicates that anthropogenic influence can be comparable to or exceeds natural aerosols at the location. The total aerosol mass concentration as well as that of anthropogenic species revealed enhancement on hazy days.

► Aerosol concentration at Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) sites is larger than that at off-IGP sites.
► The main sources of aerosols over the rural location Kharagpur are anthropogenic activities and mineral dust.
► Insignificant oceanic contribution at Kharagpur during winter.
► Anthropogenic influence can be comparable to or can exceed natural aerosols at Kharagpur.
► The total aerosol mass concentration as well as that of anthropogenic species revealed enhancement on hazy days.