Publications

Shukla, KK; Attada, R; Sarangi, C; Kunchala, RK; Devulapalli, VP (2024). Exploring the factors responsible for aerosol asymmetric trends over Indo-Gangetic Plain using remote sensing observations. JOURNAL OF ATMOSPHERIC AND SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS, 258, 106220.

Abstract
The present study investigates the influencing factors responsible for the asymmetry in aerosol optical depth (AOD) trends using long-term datasets (2003 -2019) over western and eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) regions during the pre -monsoon season. Analysis from Modern -Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications Version -2 (MERRA-2) for different aerosols illustrates that dust aerosols dominate over the western IGP (W-IGP), while sulphate and carbonaceous aerosols (black carbon (BC) and organic carbon (OC)) majorly contributed to the total AOD over the eastern IGP (E-IGP). Our study reveals a significant decline in AOD over the W-IGP, while a rising trend over E-IGP from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite observations. A dipole pattern in AOD trends over IGP indicates the aerosol loading from combined effects of various natural and anthropogenic emissions under favourable meteorological conditions over the W-IGP and E-IGP, respectively. Furthermore, the declining AOD trend over W-IGP is mainly attributed to increased pre -monsoonal rainfall, which supports the wet deposition, increases soil moisture, thus reducing soil erodibility, and correlates strongly with meteorological factors. The rising AOD trend over the E-IGP appears to be influenced by increased anthropogenic emissions (i.e., BC, OC, and sulphate) from the industrialization of the region, decreased rainfall, and enhanced westerly -induced advection of aerosols from W-IGP. Our study indicates that the regional meteorological variables and anthropogenic sources influence changes in the AOD trends over the IGP region.

DOI:
10.1016/j.jastp.2024.106220

ISSN:
1879-1824