title: Investigation of PM2.5mass concentration over India using a regional climate model.
abstract: Seasonal variation of PM2.5(Particulate Matter <2.5 μm) mass concentration simulated from WRF-Chem (Weather Research and Forecasting coupled with Chemistry) over Indian sub-continent are studied. The simulated PM2.5are also compared with the observations during winter, pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons of 2008. Higher value of simulated PM2.5is observed during winter followed by post-monsoon, while lower values are found during monsoon. Indo-Gangetic Basin (IGB) exhibits high amount of PM2.5(60- 200 μg m-3) throughout the year. The percentage differences between model simulated and observed PM2.5are found higher (40- 60%) during winter, while lower (< 30%) during pre-monsoon and monsoon over most of the study locations. The weighted correlation coefficient between model simulated and observed PM2.5is 0.81 at the significance of 98%. Associated RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) is 0.91 μg m-3. Large variability in vertically distributed PM2.5are also found during pre-monsoon and monsoon. The study reveals that, model is able to capture the variabilities in spatial, seasonal and vertical distributions of PM2.5over Indian region, however significant bias is observed in the model. PM2.5mass concentrations are highest over West Bengal (82± 33 μg m-3) and the lowest in Jammu & Kashmir (14± 11 μg m-3). Annual mean of simulated PM2.5mass over the Indian region is found to be 35± 9 μg m-3. Higher values of PM2.5are found over the states, where the reported respiratory disorders are high. WRF-Chem simulated PM2.5mass concentration gives a clear perspective of seasonal and spatial distribution of fine aerosols over the Indian region. The outcomes of the study have significant impacts on environment, human health and climate.
authors.affiliation: Indian Centre for Climate and Societal Impacts Research (ICCSIR), Mandvi, Kachchh, Gujarat, India. Electronic address: sherin.hassan@iccsir.org.
authors.forename: Sherin Hassan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bran
authors.affiliation: Indian Centre for Climate and Societal Impacts Research (ICCSIR), Mandvi, Kachchh, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Srivastava
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002980:Climate; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Environmental pollution; Health risk; India; PM(2.5); WRF-Chem