Fine and Coarse Particulate Matter in a Tropical Semi-Arid Region of South India: Mass Concentrations and Source Apportionment
Listed in
This article is not in any list yet, why not save it to one of your lists.Abstract
The study of Particulate Matter (PM) at Kadapa, a tropical semi-arid rural region (14.47˚N,78.82˚E, 138 m above sea level) in South India, highlights the variability and seasonal patterns of fine and coarse mode aerosol concentrations. By analyzing the PM 1 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 , it provides valuable insights into how aerosols influence atmospheric processes and human health. PM 1 and PM 2.5 mass concentrations were generally low (0–20 µg/m³) except during the winter season. The average concentrations were 13.3 ± 0.5 µg/m³ for PM 1 and 21.5 ± 0.8 µg/m³ for PM 2.5 over the study period. PM 10 consistently exceeded 100 µg/m³ across all seasons, with an average of 66.8 ± 1.9 µg/m³. The winter and post-monsoon seasons are more conducive to fine particle accumulation, possibly due to reduced dispersion from lower wind speeds and stable atmospheric conditions. Whereas summer and monsoon seasons had the highest concentrations of PM 10 particles, possibly due to more arid conditions and increased dust from dry areas. PM concentrations were generally higher on weekdays compared to weekends, with a peak observed on Friday. This might indicate increased local human activities and pollution sources during the workweek. The study explored the relationship between AOD and meteorological factors with PM concentrations. AOD, which is a measure of the extent of aerosol particles in the atmosphere, could offer insight into the regional aerosol burden. Meteorological factors like wind speed, temperature, and humidity are known to influence aerosol dispersion and concentration. The Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) and Concentration Weighted Trajectory (CWT) methods identified key source regions contributing to PM 2.5 particle concentrations. The main sources were found to be inland and marine areas nearby, indicating a mix of local emissions (e.g., dust, biomass burning) and regional influences from marine aerosols.
