title: Seasonal characteristics of water-soluble inorganic ions and carbonaceous aerosols in total suspended particulate matter at a rural semi-arid site, Kadapa (India).
abstract: To better understand the sources as well as characterization of regional aerosols at a rural semi-arid region Kadapa (India), size-resolved composition of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) mass concentrations was sampled and analysed. This was carried out by using the Anderson low-pressure impactor for a period of 2 years during March 2013-February 2015. Also, the variations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and water-soluble inorganic ion components (WSICs) present in total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) were studied over the measurement site. From the statistical analysis, the PM mass concentration showed a higher abundance of coarse mode particles than the fine mode during pre-monsoon season. In contrast, fine mode particles in the PM concentration showed dominance over coarse mode particle contribution during the winter. During the post-monsoon season, the percentage contributions of coarse and fine fractions were equal, whereas during the monsoon, coarse mode fraction was approximately 26 % higher than the fine mode. This distinct feature in the case of fine mode particles during the studied period is mainly attributed to large-scale anthropogenic activities and regional prevailing meteorological conditions. Further, the potential sources of PM have been identified qualitatively by using the ratios of certain ions. A high sulphate (SO4) concentration at the measurement site was observed during the studied period which is caused by the nearby/surrounding mining activity. Carbon fractions (OC and EC) were also analysed from the TSPM, and the results indicated (OC/EC ratio of ~4.2) the formation of a secondary organic aerosol. At last, the cluster backward trajectory analyses were also performed at Kadapa for different seasons to reveal the origin of sources from long-range transport during the study period.
authors: Atmospheric Science Laboratory, Department of Physics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, 516 003, India.
authors: G Reshma
authors: GR
authors: Begam
authors: Atmospheric Science Laboratory, Department of Physics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, 516 003, India.
authors: C Viswanatha
authors: CV
authors: Vachaspati
authors: Atmospheric Science Laboratory, Department of Physics, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, 516 003, India. ynahammed@gmail.com.
authors: Y Nazeer
authors: YN
authors: Ahammed
authors: Collaborative Innovation Centre for Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, Key Laboratory for Aerosol-Cloud-Precipitation of China Meteorological Administration, School of Atmospheric Physics, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210044, China.
authors: K Raghavendra
authors: KR
authors: Kumar
authors: Aerosol and Atmospheric Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, 515 003, India.
authors: R R
authors: RR
authors: Reddy
authors: CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, DR. K S Krishna Road, New Delhi, 110 012, India.
authors: S K
authors: SK
authors: Sharma
authors: CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, DR. K S Krishna Road, New Delhi, 110 012, India.
authors: Mohit
authors: M
authors: Saxena
authors: CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, DR. K S Krishna Road, New Delhi, 110 012, India.
authors: T K
authors: TK
authors: Mandal
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007477:Ions / Q000032:analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012424:Rural Population; D012621:Seasons; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D007477:Ions; D052638:Particulate Matter; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Carbonaceous aerosols; HYSPLIT; Semi-arid; Total suspended particulate matter; WSIC