Publications

Pratap, V; Saha, U; Kumar, A; Singh, AK (2021). Analysis of air pollution in the atmosphere due to firecrackers in the Diwali period over an urban Indian region. ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH, 68(8), 3327-3341.

Abstract
Short-term investigations of atmospheric pollutants (PM10, P-2.5,SO2, NO2, O-3, and CO) were performed during the Diwali festival over Varanasi for a period of six years from 2011 to 2016. Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) observed for the corresponding days of Diwali was found to be considerably much higher and even its value reached 2.0 for some Diwali years, which is basically almost 3-folds than the control days. The total scattering aerosol optical thickness as well as aerosol extinction co-efficient at 550 nm crossed the value of 1.0 in almost all the Diwali day cases. The associated meteorological conditions (low wind speed, declining temperature, lowered night-time boundary layer height, etc.) during the Diwali period leads to the detrimental accumulation of atmospheric pollutants near to the surface layer in Varanasi region. Moreover, PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were recorded much higher than the safer limits set by NAAQS for 24-hour mean values throughout the period of study. The concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 crossed beyond the safer limits and crossed 500 mu g/m(3) (in 2015) and 450 mu g/m(3) (in 2016) respectively, which is basically 5-6 times higher than the standard NAAQS limit. In comparison with the trace gases concentrations (e.g. SO2, NO2, O-3, and CO) on control day, it was observed higher on the respective Diwali day. Satellite data derived from MODIS (Aqua and Terra) have also been taken into account to observe and verify the unpropitious effects of fireworks for the chosen case. MODIS true-color images show dense smoke plumes and haze over the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) on Diwali days of 2011-2016 with its continuation in the following days. Proper assessment and regular monitoring is needed in order to mitigate the localized air pollution due to this kind of festival by the local scale authority to the top-level environmentalists. (C) 2021 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOI:
10.1016/j.asr.2021.06.031

ISSN:
0273-1177