Title: Influence of accidental fire on black carbon aerosol concentrations over an urban environment

Authors: K. Madhavi Latha, K.V.S. Badarinath

Addresses: Forestry and Ecology Division, National Remote Sensing Agency (Department of Space-Government of India), Balanagar, Hyderabad 500 037, India. ' Forestry and Ecology Division, National Remote Sensing Agency (Department of Space-Government of India), Balanagar, Hyderabad 500 037, India

Abstract: Carbonaceous aerosols are emitted by combustion sources and may influence the climate by altering the radiation balance of the atmosphere. Carbonaceous particles exist mainly in the accumulation mode and thus may be transported over long distances. The present study deals with the impact of anthropogenic activity associated with accidental fires on the black carbon aerosol concentrations over an urban environment, namely Hyderabad, India. Black carbon aerosol loading in association with meteorological parameters on a normal day, an accident day and a post-accident day have been analysed. Diurnal variations of black carbon aerosols on a normal day suggest that black carbon aerosol concentrations increased by a factor of about 2 during morning and evening hours compared with afternoon hours. A drastic increase in black carbon aerosol loading was found during an accident day compared with a normal day. An immediate return to normal black carbon concentration was found during the post-accident day. Black carbon aerosol loading in relation to rainfall is also discussed in the paper.

Keywords: carbonaceous aerosols; black carbon concentrations; fire accidents; rainfall; relative humidity; temperature; climate change; radiation balance; India; environmental pollution; air pollution; global warming.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2005.007609

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2005 Vol.23 No.4, pp.473 - 479

Published online: 19 Aug 2005 *

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