Arunkumar, M and Dhanakumar, S (2021) Influence of meteorology, mobility, air mass transport and biomass burning on PM2.5 of three north Indian cities: phase‑wise analysis of the COVID‑19 lockdown. Environ Monit Assess, 618. pp. 1-17.

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Abstract

Recent studies concluded that air quality has improved due to the enforcement of lockdown in the wake of COVID-19. However, they mostly concentrated on the changes during the lockdown period, and the studies considering the consequences of deescalation of lockdown are inadequate. Therefore, we investigated the changes in fne particulate matter (PM2.5) during the pre-lockdown, strict lockdown, unlocking, and post-lockdown scenarios. In addition,we assessed the infuence of meteorology, mobility, air mass transport, and biomass burning on PM2.5 using Google’s mobility data, back trajectory model, and satellite-based fre incident data. Average PM2.5 concentrations in Ghaziabad, Noida, and Faridabad decreased by 60.70%, 63.27%, and 60.40%, respectively, during the lockdown. When compared with the preceding year (2019), the reductions during the
shutdown period (25 March–31 May) were within the range of 36.34–44.55%. However, considering the entire year, this reduction in PM2.5 is momentary, and a steady increase in trafc density and industrial operations within cities during post-lockdown refects a potent recovery of aerosol level, during which the average mass of PM2.5 three- to four-folds higher than the lockdown period. Back trajectories and fre activity results showed that biomass burning in the nearby
states (Haryana and Punjab) infuence aerosol load. We conclude that a partial lockdown in the event of a sudden surge in pollution would be a benefcial approach. However, reducing fossil fuel consumption and switching to more environmentally friendly energy sources, developing green transport networks, and circumventing biomass burning are efcient ways to improve air quality in the long term

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: HYSPLIT · PM2.5 · COVID-19 lockdown · Biomass burning · North Indian cities
Divisions: PSG College of Arts and Science > Department of Environmental Science
Depositing User: Mr Team Mosys
Date Deposited: 13 Jun 2022 06:37
Last Modified: 13 Jun 2022 06:37
URI: http://ir.psgcas.ac.in/id/eprint/1224

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