Spatial distribution in aerosol mass and size characteristics between Delhi and Hyderabad during land campaign in February 2004

Abstract

Mass and size distribution of aerosols was studied using different measurement techniques, along Delhi-Hyderabad land corridor, to understand the spatial variability of aerosols over north central Indian region, from Delhi to Hyderabad and back, in the month of February 2004. Aerosol mass loading of Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) derived up to PM25, PM10, PM2.5, PM1 size fractions, were found to be in the range of 17-56, 16-54, 8-44 and 5-37 µg m⁻³, respectively. The QCM derived up to PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 with respect to total aerosol mass (PM25) are 90%, 80% and 70%, respectively, which indicate the dominance of finer particles. The PM10 aerosol concentrations measured by High Volume Respirable Dust Sampler (HV-RDS) had an average value of 48 µg m⁻³ with the range of 27-75 µg m⁻³. Aerosol average concentrations by HV-RDS were observed to be 54 ± 5 µg m⁻³ near urban areas, 48 ± 2 µg m⁻³ in forest area and 44 ± 22 µg m⁻³ in rural areas along the land corridor.