Behavior of boundary layer ozone and its precursors over a great alluvial plain of the world: Indo-Gangetic plains

Abstract

We investigate the special behavior in the distribution of boundary layer ozone and its precursors over world's most extensive tract of uninterrupted alluvium and intensively farmed zones situated in the foothills of Himalayas as major river basin, known as Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). The study makes use of a Chemistry-Transport Model forced with dynamical fields and new emission inventories of pollutants established for 2001. It is found that the IGP region is highly vulnerable to human induced pollutant emissions due to conducive synoptic weather pattern which make it a source regions of ozone precursors within which these tracers remain confined and reinforce photochemical production of ozone. In addition, the continental tropical convergence zone and long range transport play a vital role. As a result, elevated levels of ozone concentration (maximum up to 80 ppbv) and its precursors with cellular structure of spatial variation with large seasonality are noticed.