The Scenario of Carbonaceous Aerosols and Total Solar Radiation in Two Cities in Nepal

Authors

  • R.K. Sharma Pulchowk Campus Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University,
  • B.K. Bhattarai Pulchowk Campus Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University,
  • B.K. Sapkota Pulchowk Campus Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University,
  • M.B. Gewali Central Department of Chemistry, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu,
  • B. Kjeldstad Depart of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology,

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6002.2017.06.01.4

Keywords:

Carbonaceous aerosol, Black carbon, Elemental carbon, Aethalometer, Total solar radiation.

Abstract

Measurement of elemental carbon (EC) and black carbon (BC) aerosols was carried out using AE-31, 7 channel aethalometer at Kathmandu and Biratnagar; two mega cities of Nepal, for five months, January to May 2011 to study its temporal and spatial variation. Total solar radiation was also monitored using Kipp and Zonen CMP 6 pyranometer. Monthly concentration variation for EC and BC was distinct in both study sites. At Biratnagar, monthly EC concentration varies from 3.3 -20.7 µg /m3 while in Kathmandu it varies between 6.0-13.7 µg /m3. Similarly, BC monthly concentration ranges from 3.3 -20.1 µg /m3 and 7.0-14.9 µg /m3 respectively. It was found that both EC and BC were highest during January in both the sites and it decreases gradually. Monthly average solar radiation shows a maximum value in May and minimum in January. A distinct anti-correlation between monthly average carbonaceous aerosols and total solar radiation was observed. Moreover, there was a pronounced diurnal variation of both carbonaceous aerosols EC and BC in the sites with two high peaks one in the morning at about 9:00 and another at late evening 20:00 local time with minimum concentration in the afternoon. The nature of peaks were different at two sites. Biratnagar shows a larger evening peak while Kathmandu shows in the morning inferring heavy domestic and industrial fuel consuming activities in evening and morning respectively. In addition to this, daily and monthly concentration of EC was more than BC at Biratnagar reflecting slightly more biomass fuel consumption than fossil fuel for domestic, industrial and other urban activities. In contrast to this, Kathmandu shows more domination of fossil fuel than biofuel because of reverse order concentration of carbonaceous aerosols. Total solar radiation also shows apparent diurnal variation in both sites with the highest value at around noon time.

References


[1]Lim HJ, Turpin BJ. Origins of primary and secondary organic aerosols in Atlanta; Results of time resolved measurements during the Atlanta Supersite experiment. Environ Sci Techol 2002; 36: 4489-4496.https://doi.org/10.1021/es0206487
[2]Lin P, Hu M, Deng Z, Slanina J, Han S, Kondo Y, Takegawa N, Miyazaki Y, Zhao Y, Sugimoto N. Seasonal and diurnal variations of organic carbon in PM2.5 in Beijing and the estimation of secondary organic carbon. J Geophys Res Atmos 2009; 114: D00G11.https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JD010902
[3]Cachier H. Combustion carbonaceous aerosols in the atmosphere: implications for ice core studies. In; Robert J D (Ed) Ice core studies of global Biogeochemical cycles NATO. ASI Series Springer, Berlin 1995; pp. 313-346.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-51172-1_17
[4]Hansen ADA, Rosen H, Norakov T. The aethalometer: an instrument for the real time measurement of optical absorption by aerosol particles. Sci Total Environ 1984; 36: 191-196.https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(84)90265-1
[5]Cooke WF, Wilson JJN. A global black carbon aerosol models. J Geophys Res 1996; 101: 19395-19409.https://doi.org/10.1029/96JD00671
[6]Ramanathan V, Carmichael G. Global and regional climate changes due to black carbon. Nat Geosci 2008; 1: 221-227.https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo156
[7]Bond TC, Streets DG, Yarber KF, Nelson SM, Woo JH, Klimnot Z. A technology based global inventory of black and organic carbon emissions from combustion. J Geophys Res 2004; 109: D14203.https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JD003697
[8]Ramanathan V, Li F, Ramana MV, Praveen PS, Kim D, Corrigan CE, Nguyen H, Stone EA, Schauer JJ, Carmichael GR, Adhikari B, Yoon SC. Atmospheric brown clouds: hemispherical and regional variations in long range transport, absorption, and radiative forcing. J Geophys Res 2007; 112: D22S21.https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JD008124
[9]Samet J, Dominici F, Crriero F, Coursac I, Zeger S. Fineparticulate air pollution and mortality in 20 U.S cities, 1987-1994. N Engl J Med 2000; 343: 1742-1749.https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM200012143432401
[10]Pope A, Burnett R, Thun M, Calle E, Krewski D, Ito K, Thurston G. Lung cancer, cardiopulmonary mortality and long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution. JAMA 2002; 287: 1132-1141.https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.287.9.1132
[11]Penner JE. Carbonaceous aerosols influencing atmospheric radiation: Black and organic carbon. In: aerosol forcing of climate. R.J. Charlson and J. Heintzenberg (eds.) John Wiley and sons Ltd 1995; 91-108.
[12]Acerman AS, Toon OB, Stevens DE, Heymsfield AJ, Ramanathan V, Welton EJ. Reduction of tropical cloudiness by soot. Science 2000; 288: 1042-1047.https://doi.org/10.1126/science.288.5468.1042
[13]Menon S, Hansen J, Nazarenko I, luo YF. Climate effects of black carbon aerosols in China and India. Science 2002; 297: 2250-2253.https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1075159
[14]Hansen J, Nazarenko L. Soot climate forcing via snow and ice albedos. Proc Natl Acad Sci 2003; 101: 123-428.
[15]Ogren JA, Charlson RJ. Elemental carbon in the atmosphere: cycle and life time. Tellus 1983; 35b: 241-254.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0889.1983.tb00027.x
[16]Penner JE, Dickinson RE, O’Neill CA. Effects of aerosol from biomass burning on the global radiation budget. Science 1992; 256: 1432-1434.https://doi.org/10.1126/science.256.5062.1432
[17]Ogren JA, Groblicki PJ, Charlson RJ. Measurement of the removal rate of elemental carbon from the atmosphere. Sci Total Environ 1984; 36: 329-338.https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(84)90284-5
[18]Bahrmann CP, Saxena VK. The influence of air mass history on black carbon concentration in the southeastern Unites States. J Geophys Res1998; 103: 23153-23161.https://doi.org/10.1029/98JD02475
[19]Central Bureaus of Statics (CBS), 2011 Web Address: http://www.cbs.gov.np/. Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal Government, as of 17 May 2012.
[20]Central Bureaus of Statics (CBS), 2006. Web Address: http://www.cbs.gov.np/. Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal Government, as of 17 May 2012.
[21]Allen GA, Lawrence J, Koutrakis P. Field validation of a semi-continuous method for aerosol black carbon (aethalometer) and temporal patterns of summertime hourly black carbon measurements in southwestern PA. Atmos Environ 1999; 33: 817-823.https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(98)00142-3
[22]Babich P, Wang P, Allen G, Sioutus C, Koutrakis P.Development and evaluation of a continuous ambient PM mass monitor. Aerosol Sci Technol 2000; 32: 309-324.https://doi.org/10.1080/027868200303641
[23]Hansen ADA, Rosen H, Norakov T. The aethalometer: an instrument for the real time measurement of optical absorption by aerosol particles. Sci Total Environ 1984; 36: 191-196.https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(84)90265-1
[24]Weingartner E, Saathof H, Schnaiter M, Streit N, Bitnar B, Baltensperger U. Absorption of light by soot particles: Determination of the absorption coefficient by means of Aethalometers. J Aerosol Sci 2003; 34: 1445-1463.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-8502(03)00359-8

Downloads

Published

2017-04-06

How to Cite

Sharma, R., Bhattarai, B., Sapkota, B., Gewali, M., & Kjeldstad, B. (2017). The Scenario of Carbonaceous Aerosols and Total Solar Radiation in Two Cities in Nepal. Journal of Technology Innovations in Renewable Energy, 6(1), 32–42. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6002.2017.06.01.4

Issue

Section

Articles