Decreasing Trend in Black Carbon Aerosols Over the Indian Region

Manoj, MR and Satheesh, SK and Moorthy, KK and Gogoi, MM and Babu, SS (2019) Decreasing Trend in Black Carbon Aerosols Over the Indian Region. In: Geophysical Research Letters .

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Abstract

We examine long-term trends in the near-surface black carbon mass concentration, using multiyear primary data obtained from a dense network (ARFINET) of observatories over the Indian region. We report for the first time the statistically significant decreasing trend in black carbon mass concentration, based on primary data from this region, at an average rate of ~242 ± 53 ng · m �3  · year �1 during the period 2007�2016. This finding contrasts with the generally increasing trend in the columnar aerosol optical depth, reported earlier, and the steadily increasing trend in anthropogenic activities over this region. The roles of different possible mechanisms, including possible changes in the vertical redistribution of aerosols, are discussed. Over the period 2007�2015, a significant though weak, increasing trend is seen in the contribution from aerosols above 1 km to the columnar aerosol optical depth. These observations imply possible long-term climate consequences. ©2019. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher:	Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Additional Information:	Copyright for this article belongs to Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Keywords:	Carbon; Fog; Optical properties, Aerosol optical depths; Anthropogenic activity; Black carbon; Black carbon aerosol; Dense network; Long-term trend; Near surfaces; Possible mechanisms, Aerosols
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Divecha Centre for Climate Change Division of Mechanical Sciences > Centre for Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences
Date Deposited:	16 Apr 2019 06:16
Last Modified:	16 Apr 2019 06:16
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/62103

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