Light absorption characteristics of brown carbon during foggy and non-foggy episodes over the Indo-Gangetic Plain
2017
Atmospheric PM1 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 1 μm) samples have been collected during foggy (n = 17) and non-foggy nights (n = 19) in wintertime at Kanpur in central Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) to assess light absorption characteristics and direct radiative forcing of water-extractable brown carbon (BrC). We have observed a significant enhancement (two-tailed t-test: t = 2.2; at significance level: p < 0.05) in the absorption coefficient of water-extractable BrC at 365 nm (babs-BrC-365) from non-foggy (Avg.: 53.5 Mm⁻¹) to foggy episodes (69.3 Mm⁻¹). Enhancement in mass absorption efficiency (MAE) of BrC (1.8 m²/g C) during foggy episodes is consistent with that of babs-BrC-365. Absorption Ångström exponent (AAE) remained similar (2.8) during foggy and non-foggy episodes. Significantly lower value of AAE (2.8) at Kanpur compared to other places in IGP (∼5) highlights more light absorbing potential of atmospheric BrC over central IGP. Furthermore, MAE of EC at 660 nm during foggy period (8.5 m²/g) is relatively high as compared to that during the non-foggy episode (7.0 m²/g). The MAE of BrC and EC exhibited enhancement by ∼15% and 20%, respectively during foggy events. These observations are also reflected by an increase (t = 11.1; p < 0.05) in direct radiative forcing of water-extractable BrC (relative to EC) in the atmosphere: from 23.7 ± 10.8% during non-foggy to 54.3 ± 16.5% during foggy episodes. Differences in chemical composition, loading, absorption properties and direct radiative forcing (DRF) of carbonaceous aerosols during non-foggy and foggy episodes indicate predominant influence of fog-processing.
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