Diurnal Evolution of Urban Heat Island and Its Impact on Air Quality by Using Ground Observations (SAFAR) over New Delhi

Abstract

The paper presents a study of urban heat island (UHI) intensity and its impact on air quality by using the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) network observations over Delhi during the clear sky month of December of 2013 and 2015. It is found that in the month of December 2013 and 2015 the UHI shows a peak in late evening around 20:00 hrs. The concentration of PM2.5 shows a bimodal peak in the month of December of both the years 2013 and 2015 which is due to the enhanced anthropogenic activity during the traffic hours. The formation of UHI during the late evening traffic hours is due to the enhancement in the concentration of PM2.5 due to the enhanced anthropogenic activity with higher ground heat flux and lower PBLH and wind speed which leads to both the years 2013 and 2015 during the month of December. It is also found that UHI intensity shows a positive correlation (r = 0.57) with PM2.5 concentration and a negative correlation (r = -0.40) with wind speed and the PM2.5 concentration also shows a negative correlation (r = -0.57) with wind speed during December 2013. Whereas during December 2015 it has found that UHI intensity has a positive correlation (r = 0.65) with PM2.5 concentration and a negative correlation (r = -0.45) with wind speed and the PM2.5 concentration also shows a negative correlation (r = -0.57) with wind speed.