AIRS retrieved CO2 and its association with climatic parameters over India during 2004–2011

•Association of AIRS CO2 with climate parameters over India•CO2 show positive correlation with surface temperature•Vertical/horizontal winds contribute towards CO2 transport•Vegetation and monsoonal rainfall show inverse relationship with CO2

Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) retrieved mid-tropospheric Carbon Dioxide (CO2) have been used to study the variability and its association with the climatic parameters over India during 2004 to 2011. The study also aims in understanding transport of CO2 from surface to mid-troposphere over India. The annual cycle of mid-tropospheric CO2 shows gradual increase in concentration from January till the month of May at the rate ~ 0.6 ppm/month. It decreases continuously in summer monsoon (JJAS) at the same rate during which strong westerlies persists over the region. A slight increase is seen during winter monsoon (DJF). Being a greenhouse gas, annual cycle of CO2 show good resemblance with annual cycle of surface air temperature with correlation coefficient (CC) of + 0.8. Annual cycle of vertical velocity indicate inverse pattern compared to annual cycle of CO2. High values of mid-tropospheric CO2 correspond to upward wind, while low values of mid-tropospheric CO2 correspond to downward wind. In addition to vertical motion, zonal winds are also contributing towards the transport of CO2 from surface to mid-troposphere. Vegetation as it absorbs CO2 at surface level, show inverse annual cycle to that of annual cycle of CO2 (CC-0.64). Seasonal variation of rainfall-CO2 shows similarities with seasonal variation of NDVI-CO2. However, the use of long period data sets for CO2 at the surface and at the mid-troposphere will be an advantage to confirm these results.