HR: 0800h
AN: A21A-0018    [Abstracts]
TI: High NO2 Observed From OMI AURA over the Indo-Gangetic plains
AU: * Singh, R P
EM: rsingh3@gmu.edu
AF: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, UP 208016, India
AU: * Singh, R P
EM: rsingh3@gmu.edu
AF: Center for Earth Observing and Space Research, College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, United States
AU: Prasad, A K
EM: anupiitk@gmail.com
AF: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, UP 208016, India
AU: Prasad, A K
EM: anupiitk@gmail.com
AF: Center for Earth Observing and Space Research, College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, United States
AU: Kafatos, M
EM: mkafatos@gmail.com
AF: Center for Earth Observing and Space Research, College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, United States
AU: Singh, A
EM: ashbindu.singh@rona.unep.org
AF: UNEP Division of Early Warning and Assessment, North America, Washington, D.C 20006, United States
AB: The formation of dense haze, fog and smog, a winter season phenomena, affects millions of people in the Indian sub-continent and especially in the Indo-Gangetic (IG) plains. Recent studies have shown the effect of increasing aerosol loading and pollution on agricultural crops, vegetation, hydrological cycle and climatic conditions in the IG plains. In the present study, we present spatial distribution of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) observed from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), a key sensor for atmospheric chemistry on NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) Aura satellite, over the Indian subcontinent. High NO2 concentrations are observed in the IG plains and surroundings, originating from coal based thermal power plants (including vehicular transport sector in the mega cities) situated in the urban and rural areas. These plants are likely responsible for the formation of smog as well as high surface ozone affecting species of plants and vegetation of the IG plains. The present results show complex atmospheric chemistry over the IG plains that need to be further investigated through an international cooperation.
DE: 0305 Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801, 4906)
DE: 0345 Pollution: urban and regional (0305, 0478, 4251)
SC: Atmospheric Sciences [A]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting