ID: 62335
Title: Live observation of great blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) from northern Arabian Sea, off Gujarat, India
Author: A.Sai Kishore, K.Bhanu Rekha, S.A. Hussain, A.Madhavi
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (3) 468-470 (2021)
Subject: Live observation of great blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) from northern Arabian Sea, off Gujarat, India
Keywords: Balaenoptera musculus, northern Arabian Sea, Gujarat, India
Abstract: The great blue whale Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) is the largest animal reported to exist on earth. These migratory giants are distributed across major oceans of the world, except the Arctic, Mediterranean, Okhotsk and Bering Seas. In the Indian Ocean, blue whales are only documented from the highly productive northern part. The population and distribution pattern of blue whales are poorly understood despite standing–based information which confirms their presence from Bangladesh, Burma, India and Pakistan waters.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Calambokidis, J. and Steiger, G., Blue Whales, Colin Baxter Photography Ltd, Grantown-on-Spey, Scotland, 1997, p.72.
Yochem, P.K. and Leatherwood, S., In Handbook of Marine Mammals (eds Ridgway, S.H. and Harrison, R.), Academic Press, London, UK, 1985, vol.3, pp.193-240.
Literature cited 2: Branch, T.A. et al., Mamm. Rev., 2007, 37, 116-175.
Anderson, R.C., J. Cetacean Res. Manage, 2005, 7, 119-135.
ID: 62334
Title: Coppicing behaviour for clonal forestry in Melia dubia Cav.
Author: Sourav Ranjan Mohapatra, Neha Singh Panwar, Rahul Kumar, Ashok Kumar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (3) 467-468 (2021)
Subject: Coppicing behaviour for clonal forestry in Melia dubia Cav
Keywords: Coppicing behaviour, clonal forestry, Melia dubia
Abstract: The family Meliaceae has popularly been known for its multiple end-uses, primarily for quality timber. It includes 50 species and 550 genera, of which Melia dubia Cav. (syn. Melia composite Benth).is one of the fast-growing deciduous tree species with great commercial importance. The species is also known by the trade name Malabar Neem, Maha Neem or Gora Neem, and is indigenous to tropical moist deciduous forests of the Western Ghats, Khasi Hills, Odisha, Deccan region, North Bengal, Assam and parts of Northeast India up to 1500-1800 m amsl altitudes.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Pennington, P.D. and tyles, B.T., Blumea, 1975, 22, 419-540.
Shrivastava, P., Kumar, S. and Kumar, A., In Plantation and Agrofrestry: Pulpwood Value Chain Approach (eds Parthiban, K.T. and Seenivasan, R) Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, India, 2017, pp 77-89.
Literature cited 2: Chauhan, S. an Arun Kumar, A.N., J. Indian Acad. Wood Sci., 2014, 11(1) , 25-32.
Bijalwan , A. and Dobriyal, M.J.R., Down to Earth, 2015, 23.
ID: 62333
Title: Flood Management in India
Author: Sharad K.Jain
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (3) 455-456 (2021)
Subject: Flood Management in India
Keywords: Flood Management, India
Abstract: India has a monsoon type climate where more than 75% of the annual rainfall is received in about four monsoon months. However, this is also the period when the country faces floods, mainly due to intense and /or prolonged rainfall events. During monsoon months, the rivers carry about 75-80 % of the annual runoff.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1:
Literature cited 2:
ID: 62332
Title: Integrating state-of the-art in silico tools with molecular docking to predict the impact of the most deleterious amino acid substitutions onTRAPPC6A protein
Author: Mohammed Baqur S.Al-Shuhaib and Jafar M.B.Al-Shuhaib
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (2) 398-405 (2021)
Subject: Integrating state-of the-art in silico tools with molecular docking to predict the impact of the most deleterious amino acid substitutions onTRAPPC6A protein
Keywords: Deleterious mutants, in silico cools, molecular docking, protein particle complex, single nucleotide polymorphism
Abstract: Trafficking Protein Particle Complex subunit 6A (TRAPPC6A) is an important molecule that is mainly involved in the transport of vesicles to the cis-Golgi membrane. Loss of function in this protein leads to a variety of severe disorders. The present study was conducted to prioritize the most deleterious effects of non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) to TRAPPC6A protein. Two approaches were employed, sequence-based and structure –based, to predict which nsSNP has the most harmful effects on TRAPPC6A.Docking was performed to compare the ability of normal TRAPPC6A and its most deleterious mutants to bind with the corresponding receptor. All utilized in silico tools indicated highly damaging impacts of three nsSNPs, viz. W74C, G125S and G129D.Docking showed remarkable alterations in the atomic contact energy of TRAPPC6A binding with its receptor. The present finding provides a cost-effective method for assessing the damaging effects of nsSNPs on TRAPPC6A, which may help in understanding the impact of this protein on neurodevelopmental disorders.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Sacher, M., Shahrzad, N., Kamel, H. and Milev, M.P., TRAPPopathies, an emerging set of disorders linked to variations in the genes encoding transport protein particle (TRAPP_ -associated proteins. Traffic., 2018, 20, 5-26.
Aridor, M. and Hannan, L.A., Traffic jams II: an update of diseases of intracellular transport. Traffic, 2002, 3, 781-790.
Literature cited 2: Kummel, D., Oeckinghaus, A., Wang,C, Krappmann,D. and heinmann,U., Distinct isocomplexes of the TRAPP trafficking factor coexist inside human cells. FEBS Lett., 2008, 582, 3729-3733.
Kim, J.J., Lipatova, Z. And Segev, N., TRAPP complexes in secretion and autophagy. Front. Cell Dev., Biol., 2016, 30, 20.
ID: 62331
Title: Computational studies of mycorrhizal protein: GiHsp60 and its interaction with soil organic matter
Author: Dipti Mothay and K.V.Ramesh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (2) 389-397 (2021)
Subject: Computational studies of mycorrhizal protein: GiHsp60 and its interaction with soil organic matter
Keywords: Docking studies, homology modelling, heat shock protein, mycorrhizal fungi, soil pollutants
Abstract: This study uses homology modelling and molecular docking approaches to explore the binding mechanism of glomalin-related soil protein from Rhizophagus irregularis (GiHsp60) with soil organic matter (SOM) and the role played by soil protein in the sequestration of common soil pollutants Conserve domain analysis reveals that GiHsp60 belongs to chaperonin-like super-family having binding sites for ATP/Mg2+.Three-dimensional model of GiHsp60 was reasonably good based on reports generated by different validation servers. Docking results suggest that Van der Waals force is primarily responsible for the interaction between GiHsp60 and SOM. The study also reveals the role played by GiHSp60 in the sequestration of different soil pollutants.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Kemper, W.D.and Rosenau, R.C., Aggregate stability and size distribution. In Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1.Physical and Mineralogical Methods, Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, Agronomy Monograph No.9, 1986, 2nd edn, pp.425-442.
Lehmann, A., Fitschen, K. and Rilling, M.C., Abiotic and biotic factors influencing the effect of microplastic on soil aggregation. Soil Syst., 2019, 3, 21.
Literature cited 2: Leifheit, E.F., Veresoglou, S.D.,Lehmann,A., Morris, E.K. and Rillig, M.C., Multiple factors influence the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soil aggregation-a meta-analysis. Plant Soil, 2014, 374, 523-537.
Wright, S. F. and Upadhyaya, A., Extraction of an abundant and unusual protein from soil and comparison with hyphal protein of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Soil Sci., 1996, 161, 575-586.
ID: 62330
Title: Chronology of coastal dune ridges in Vaigai prodelta region, southeastern Tamil nadu, India
Author: S.Sathiyaseelan, D.K.Panda, D.Banerjee, D.Ramesh and A.D. Shukla
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (2) 382-388 (2021)
Subject: Chronology of coastal dune ridges in Vaigai prodelta region, southeastern Tamil nadu, India
Keywords: Aeolian activation, Chronology, coastline, luminescence ages, Palaeoclimate, red dunes
Abstract: The Tamil Nadu coastline, India, has extensive dunes which can be used for inferring quaternary palaeoclimates.In the present study, we aim to determine the chronology of the dunes in the Vaigai prodelta region along the southeastern coastline of the country. Optically stimulated luminescence ages for the elevated beach ridge samples SANK-5, SANK-4, SANK-3, SANK-2 and SANK-1 were estimated to be 0.9 ± 0.1, 1.1±0.1, 1.8 ±0.2, 5.3±0.4 and 27±2.3ka respectively, from top to bottom of the section. The first four phases of Aeolian activation occurred in marine oxygen isotope stage-1, whereas the ~27 ka age suggests that sediment deposition occurred in marine oxygen isotope stage-3. The luminescence ages were in stratigraphic order and represent the first dates of Aeolian activation in the Vaigai region.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Gardner, R.A.M., Reddening of dune sands-evidence from southeast India. Earth Surface .Landforms, 1981, 6, 459-468.
Jayangondaperumal, R., Murari, M.K., Sivasubramanian, P., Chandrasekhar, N. and Singhvi, A.K., Luminescence dating of fluvial and coastal red sediments in SE coast, INDIA, and implications for palaeoenvironmental changes and dune reddening. Quaternary Res., 2012, 2012, 77, 468-481.
Literature cited 2: Huntley, D.J. Hutton, J.T. and Prescott, J.R., Optical dating using inclusions within quartz grains. Geology, 1993, 21, 1087-1090.
Banerjee, D., Better-Jensen, L. and Murray, A.S., Retrospective dosimetry: estimation of the dose to quartz using the single-aliquot regenerative –dose protocol. Appl. Radiat. Isot., 20000, 52, 831-844.
ID: 62329
Title: Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on surface ozone build-up at an urban site in western India based on photochemical box modelling
Author: Meghna Soni, Narendra Ojha and Imran Girach
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (2) 376-381 (2021)
Subject: Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on surface ozone build-up at an urban site in western India based on photochemical box modelling
Keywords: Air quality, atmospheric chemistry, COVID-19, trace gases
Abstract: Elevated ozone (O3) near the earth’s surface causes adverse impacts on human health and vegetation, besides impacting air chemistry and climate. Intense lockdown to contain the spread of Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) offered a rare opportunity to delineate the anthropogenic impact on urban O3 build-up. In this regard, we incorporated observations of chemical species and environmental conditions into a photochemical box model (NCAR Master Mechanism) to study the O3 changes at a semi-aid urban site in western India (Ahmedabad; 23°N, 72.6°E).In contrast with primary pollutants , daytime O3 build-up is observed to be enhanced during the lockdown by ~39% .Model, driven by lower nitrogen oxides (NOx) during the lockdown, also simulated enhanced O3 on NOx .Further , a sensitive simulation unraveled an important role of the meteorological changes in the 03 enhancement (by ~16%) during the lockdown. The results highlight that the lockdown impact can be modulated profoundly by the complex chemistry plus meteorological changes, offsetting the benefits of lower precursor levels in the context of O3 pollution.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Lelieveld, J. et al., The contribution of outdoor air pollution sources to premature mortality on a globe scale. Nature, 2015, 525, 367-371; https://doi.org/10.1038/nature15371.
Ghude, S. D. et al., Premature mortality in India due to PM2.5 and ozone exposure. Geophys. Res. Lett., 2016, 43, 4650-4658; doi: 10.1002/2016GL068949.
Literature cited 2: Sharma, A., Ojha, N., Pozzer, A., Beig, G. and Gunthe, S.S., Revisiting the crop yield loss in India attributable to ozone .Atmos. Environ., 2019, X.1: 100008; doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2019.100008.
Jacob, D., Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry, Princeton University Press, New Jersey 1999; doi: 10.2307/j.ett7t8hg.
ID: 62328
Title: Effect of COVID-19lockdown on the spatio-temporal distribution of nitrogen dioxide over India
Author: Shuchita Srivastava, Asfa Siddiqui, D.Mitra and Prakash Chauhan
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (2) 368-375 (2021)
Subject: Effect of COVID-19lockdown on the spatio-temporal distribution of nitrogen dioxide over India
Keywords: COVID-19 lockdown, nitrogen dioxide, Nox, OMI
Abstract: The nationwide lockdown was implemented in India from 25 March 2020 onwards to control the spread of deadly Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A sudden shutdown of anthropogenic activities resulted in abrupt decrease of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) across the Indian region. OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) tropospheric column NO2 observations show significantly decreased values during 2020 compared to previous years during 25 March to 19 April. The spatiotemporal variation of tropospheric column NO2 difference between 2020 and average 2017-2019 shows reduction by more than 1x1015 molecules/cm2 over the Indo Gangetic Plain, eastern and southern India due to lockdown. However, the western Indian region shows slight enhancement which may be attributed to combined effect of transport of polluted air from Middle East and Pakistan , and relatively higher biomass burning activity during 2020.A significant reduction is also observed on the surface distribution of Nox (NO + NO2) over different Indian cities due to COVID-19 lockdown. Maximum reduction in daily average surface NOx is observed over Kolkata (65.2±18.7 ppbv to 30.3 ± .6 ppbv) followed by new Delhi (38.8 ± 17.5 ppbv to 11.5 ±.9 ppbv) which may be attributed to vehicle fleet, type of fuel used, power plants and industrial emissions.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Kurokawa, J. and Ohara, T., Long-term historical trends in air pollutant emissions in Asia: Regional Emission inventory in Asia (REAS) version 3.1.Atmos.Chem.Phys.Discuss, 2019; https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2019-1122.
Balakrishnan, K. et al., The impact of air pollution on deaths, disease burden, and life expectancy across the states of India: the Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet Planetary Health, 2017, 5196 (18), 30261-30244.
Literature cited 2: Mahajan, A.S., Smedt, I.De, Biswas, M.S., Ghude, S.D., Fadnavis, S., Roy, C. and Roozendael, M.van, Inter-annual variations in satellite observations of nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde over India. Atmos. Environ., 2015, 116, 194-201.
IPCC, Climate Change, Atmospheric Chemistry and Greenhouse Gases, Contribution of Working Group 1 to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental al Panel on Climate Change, 2001.
ID: 62327
Title: Effect of SARS-COV-2 pandemic induced lockdown on the aerosol loading ove the coastal state, Goa
Author: Atiba A.Shaikh, Avirup Sen and Harilal B.Menon
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (2) 360-367 (2021)
Subject: Effect of SARS-COV-2 pandemic induced lockdown on the aerosol loading over the coastal state, Goa
Keywords: Aerosol optical depth, radiative forcing, SARS-CoV-2
Abstract: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic resulted in India imposing a nationwide lockdown on 22 March 2020, bringing all human activities to a complete halt. The current study focuses on the effects of lockdown on the abundance of atmospheric aerosols over Goa. The focused-on pre-lockdown, lockdown and period corresponding to lockdown in 2019.The AOD spectra depicted a decrease in the anthropogenically derived fine mode aerosols during the lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown period. Mean AOD500 for prelockdown and lockdown periods were 0.43± 0.19 and 0.53 ± o.11 respectively. The higher AOD500 during lockdown was due to an increase in naturally derived coarse mode aerosols , which is further confirmed with the lower Angstrom exponent values (1.04±0.11).The mean black carbon mass concentration for the respective periods were 1990.45 ± 470.87 ng m-3 and 1109.71 ± 218.33 ng m-3, and the mean atmospheric forcing during the respective periods were 25.13±5.72 Wm-2, 27.31± 3.71Wm-2 and 30.81 ± 5.59 W m-2 respectively.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Zambrano-monserrate, M.A., Alejandra, M.and Sanchez-alcalde, L. Science of the total environment indirect effects of COVID-19 on the environment .Sci. Total Environ., 2020, 728, 138813.
Sharma, S., Zhang, M., Anshika, Gao, J., Zhang, H. and Kota, S. in India. Sci. Total Environ, 2020, 728, 138878.
Literature cited 2: Charlson, R.J. et al., Climate forcing by anthropogenic aerosols. Science, 1992, 255, 423-430.
Ramanathan, V., Crutzen, P.J., Kiehl, J.T. and Rosenfeld, D., Aerosols, climate, and the hydrological cycle. Science, 2001 294, 2119-2124.
ID: 62326
Title: Dominance of natural aerosols over India in pre-monsoon: inferences from the lockdown effects
Author: S.S. Prijith, J.Srinivasulu and M.V.R.Sesha Sai
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (2) 352-359 (2021)
Subject: Dominance of natural aerosols over India in pre-monsoon: inferences from the lockdown effects
Keywords: Absorbing aerosols, anthropogenic aerosols, COVID19, dust, forest fire, lockdown, natural aerosols
Abstract: Changes in absorbing and composite aerosols over India during the first phase of lockdown are examined, using multi-satellite observations. While MODIS shows -16.17 ±1.35% reduction in AOD over the Indian landmass, OMI shows a decrease of -22.4±1.36% (-26.2±1.17%) in AOD (AAOD). Considerable fraction of this AOD difference is contributed by the changes in aerosols at higher altitudes. While reduction in AOD of -38.05± 1.06% (-39.4±1.12), -23.02 ± 2.63 % (-17.08 ± 2.12) -18.98±2.86 % (-28.38 ± 2.39%) is observed over IGP, Northwest and Southern Peninsula respectively from MODIS (OMI), enhancement in AOD of 5.16 ± 2.44 % (6.82 ± 2.86%) is seen over Central west India. Reduction in absorbing aerosols over IGP is -39.18 ±1.25%, whereas that over Southern Peninsula is -33.1±2.03 %. These changes are significantly contributed by the changes in dust aerosols, in addition to the decrease in anthropogenic aerosols. Though there is a reduction in aerosol loading, compared to previous years, gradual increase in AOD and AAOD is seen even during the lockdown period due to strengthening of dust transport. Moreover, the reduction in total (absorbing) aerosol loading over India during the lockdown phase is only 20% (26%), with significant contribution from higher altitudes, even in the absence of major anthropogenic sources. These results show the dominance of natural aerosols over India during pre-monsoon
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Charlson,R.J.,Schwartz,S.E.,Hales,J.M.,Cess,R.D., Coakley Jr, J.A., Hansen, J.E., and Hofmann, D.J, Climate forcing by anthropogenic aerosols. Science, 1992, 255, 423-430.
Russell, P.B., Hobbs, P.V. and Stove, L.L., Aerosol properties and radiative effects in the United States east coast haze plume: An overview of the Tropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational Experiment (TARFOX). J. Geophys. Res, 1999, 104(D2), 2213-2222.
Literature cited 2: IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change), Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis, cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2014.
McCormick, R. and Ludwig, J., Climate modification by atmospheric aerosols. Science, 1967, 156 (3780) 1358-1359.
ID: 62325
Title: Response of ambient BC concentration across the Indian region to the nation-wide lockdown: results from ARFINET measurements of ISRO-GBP
Author: Mukunda M.Gogoi, S.Suresh Babu, B.S. Arun, K.Krishna Moorthy,A.Ajay,P.Ajay, Arun Suryavanshi, Arup Borgohain, Anirban Guha, Atiba Shaikh, Binita Pathak, Biswadip Gharai, Boopathy Ramasamy,G.Balakrishnaih,Harilal B.Menon, Jagdish Chandra Kuniyal, Jaya
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (2) 341-351 (2021)
Subject: Response of ambient BC concentration across the Indian region to the nation-wide lockdown: results from ARFINET measurements of ISRO-GBP
Keywords: RFINET, black carbon, COVID-19
Abstract: In this study, we assess the response of ambient aerosol black carbon (BC) mass concentrations and spectral absorption properties across Indian mainland during the nation-wide lockdown (LD) in connection with the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. The LD had brought near to total cut-off of emissions from industrial, traffic (road, railways, marine and air) and energy sectors, though the domestic emissions remained fairly unaltered. This provided a unique opportunity to delineate the impact of fossil fuel combustion sources on atmospheric BC characteristic. In this context, the primary data of BC measured at the national network of aerosol observatories (ARFINET) under ISRO-GBP are examined to assess the response to the seizure of emissions over distinct geographic parts of the country. Results indicate that average BC concentrations over the Indian mainland are curbed down significantly (19-40%) from prelockdown observations during the first and most intense phase of lockdown. This decline is significant with respect to the long-term (2015-2019) averaged (climatological mean) values. The drop in BC is most pronounced over the Indo-Gangetic Plain (>60%) and north-eastern India (>30%) during the second phase of lockdown, which significant reduction is seen during LD1 (16-60%) over central and peninsular Indian as well as Himalayan and sub-Himalayan regions. Despite such a large reduction, the absolute magnitude of BC remained higher over the IGP and north-eastern sites compared to other parts of India. Notably, the spectral absorption index of aerosols changed very little over most of the locations, indicating the still persisting contribution of fossil-fuel emissions over most of the locations.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Ramanathan, V. and Charmichael, G., Global and regional climate changes due to black carbon. Nat. Geosci., 2008, 1, 221-227.
Bond, T.C. et al., Bounding the role of black carbon in the cilimate system : a scientific assessment .J. Geophys. Res .Atmos., 2013, 118, 5380-5552; doi: 10.1002/jgrd.50171.
Literature cited 2: Gogoi, M.M. et al., Radiative effects of absorbing aerosols over north-eastern India: observations and model simulations. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 2017, 122 (2), 1132-1157; doi: 10.1002/2016JD025592.
Li, G.L., Sun, L. Ho, K.F., Hong, K.C., and Ning, Z., Implication of light absorption enhancement and mixing state of black carbon (BC) by coatings in Hong-Kong. Aerosol Air Qual. Res., 2018, 18, 2753e2763.
ID: 62324
Title: Impact assessment of change in anthropogenic emissions due to lockdown on aerosol characteristics in rural location
Author: A.jay, K.Krishna Moorthy, S.K.Satheesh and G.Havazhagan
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (2) 332-340 (2021)
Subject: Impact assessment of change in anthropogenic emissions due to lockdown on aerosol characteristics in rural location
Keywords: Anthropogenic emissions, black carbon, COVID-19 lockdown, rural aerosols, scattering coefficients, single scattering albedo
Abstract: Long-term and continuous measurements of aerosol concentration and optical properties from the Challakere Climate Observatory, located in a remote rural semi-arid region northeast of Bengaluru, are examined for the impact of the prolonged and phased national lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. The analyses revealed that the lockdown, which almost brought all the anthropogenic activities (particularly associated with fossil fuel use such as in transport and industrial sectors) to a standstill and then slowly relaxed in phases, had very little impact on the aerosol properties at this remote site, in sharp contrast to the impacts seen in the major urban conglomerate, Bengaluru, located about 230 Km southeast to Challakere. Rather than impacts from anthropogenic sources associated with fossil fuel combustion, the aerosol characteristics at Challakere are strongly influenced by regional and synoptic meteorology. The findings re-emphasize that the emissions from fossil fuel combustion in industrial and automobile sector are the major source of aerosols (especially absorbing type) over urban and semi-urban environments.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Babu, S.S and Moorthy, K.K., Anthropogenic impact on aerosol black carbon mass concentration at a tropical coastal station: a case study. Curr. Sci., 2001, 81, 1208-1214.
Beegum, S.N. et al., Spatial distribution of aerosol black carbon over India during pre-monsoon season. Atmos. Environ., 2009, 43, 1071-1078.
Literature cited 2: Badarinath, K.V.S. et al., Variations in black carbon aerosol, carbon monoxide and ozone over an urban area of Hyderabad, India during the forest fire season. Atmos. Res., 2007, 85, 18-26.
Pathak, B. et al., Firework induced large increase in trace gases and black carbon at Dibrugarh, India. J. Earth Sci. Eng., 2013, 3, 540.
ID: 62323
Title: Impact of lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak on O3 and its precursor gases, PM and BC over northeast India
Author: Binita Pathak, Pradip Kumar Bhuyan, Arshini Saikia, Kalyan Bhuyan, P.Ajay , Sankar Jyoti Nathand Shyam Lochan Bora
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (2) 322-331 (2021)
Subject: Impact of lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak on O3 and its precursor gases, PM and BC over northeast India
Keywords: Aerosols, air quality, COVID-19, lockdown, northeast India, particulate matter, trace gases
Abstract: Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) data are used to evaluate the impact of the lockdown ( 24 March-3 May 2020) on the concentrations of surface 03, Nox, CO, SO2, PM and BC compared to those measured during the same period in 2015-2019 over northeast India and adjoining areas. Measurements made at Dibrugrh complements the CAMS observations. The NOx, NO2, CO, SO2, BC and PM concentrations dipped appreciably over northeast India and nearby countries. Similar decrement is observed in Dibrugarh in 2020 over their reference levels. Reduction of precursor gases triggered an increase in O3 concentration across northeast India and adjoining South Asia at Dibrugarh. The air quality over the region improved from moderate to satisfactory levels due to lockdown.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Shi XAiaoqin and Brasseur, G.P., The response in air quality to the reduction of Chinese economic activities during the COVID-19 outbreak. Geophys. Res.Lett., 2020; doi: 10.1029/2020GL088070.
Xu Kaijie, Kangping, Cui, Li-Hao Young, Yen-Kung Hsieh, Ya-Fen Wang, Jiajia Zhang and Shun Rocky Wan, Impact of the COVID-19 event on air quality in Central China.Aerosol Air Qual.Res. 2020, 20, 915-912; doi: 10.4209/aaqr.2020.04.0150.
Literature cited 2: Bauwens, M. et al., Impact of coronavirus outbreak on NO2 pollution assessed using TROPOMI an OMI observations. Geophys. Res. Lett, 2020; doi10.1029/2020GL087978.
Sharma, AS., Zhang, M., Gao, J. Zhang. and Kota, S.H., Effect of restricted emissions during COVID-19 on air quality in India.Sci. Total Environ., 2020, 728, 138878.
ID: 62322
Title: Variation of black carbon and particulate matter in Bhubanesar during the pre-monsoon: possible impact of meteorology and COVID-19 lockdown
Author: Jyotishree Nath, Subhasmita Panda, Satya S.Patra, Boopathy Ramasamy and Trupti Das
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (2) 313-321 (2021)
Subject: Variation of black carbon and particulate matter in Bhubanesar during the pre-monsoon: possible impact of meteorology and COVID-19 lockdown
Keywords: Black carbon, biomass burning, fossil fuel, lockdown, particulate matter
Abstract: To combat the present COVID-19 pandemic, a countrywide lockdown 9LD) was imposed in India from 25 March until 31 May 2020.This unique scenario brought a decline in various anthropogenic activities leading to a considerable decrease in the concentration of several atmospheric pollutants. In this scenario, CSIR-IMMT Bhubaneswar carried out black carbon (BC), PM10 and PM2.5 analysis through optical and gravimetric measurements, respectively, during March-May 2020 followed by a comparison with previous years (2017-2018) of observation. There was a reduction of ~33% in average overall BC concentration along with a significant drop in PM10 (33%) (P<0.05) and PM2.5 (~38%) (P<0.05) during the entire LD period as compared to 2017-2018.During LD, contribution from biomass burning was enhanced by almost 3 times as compared to 2017-2018.However, the simultaneous meteorological variation during the LD period prevents clear distinction of the impact of lockdown on BC and PM.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Helin, A. et al., Characteristics and source appointment of black carbon in the Helsinki meteropolitan area, Finland. Atmos. Environ., 2018, 190, 87-98.
Babu, S.S. and Moorthy, K.K., Anthropogenic impact on aerosol black carbon mass concentration at a topical coastal station: a case study. Curr. Sci., 2001, 81 (9), 1208-1214.
Literature cited 2: Reddy, M.S., and Venkatraman, C., Direct radiative forcing from anthropogenic carbonaceous aerosols over India. Curr. Sci., 1999, 76, 1005-1011.
Tiwari, V.S., Srivastava, A.K., Bisht, D.S., Parmita, P., Srivastava, M.J and Attri, S.D., Diurnal and seasonal variations of black carbon and PM2.5 over New Delhi, India: Influence of meteorology. Atmos. Res., 2013, 125-126, 50-62.
ID: 62321
Title: Ambient fine particulate matter pollution over the megacity Delhi, India: an impact of COVID-19 lockdown
Author: M.ArunKumar and S.Dhanakumar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2021
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 120 (2) 304-312 (2021)
Subject: Ambient fine particulate matter pollution over the megacity Delhi, India: an impact of COVID-19 lockdown
Keywords: Air pollution, COVID-1, lockdown, particulate matter
Abstract: In this study, we investigate the impact of the COVID19 pandemic onPM2.5 levels in the national capital city Delhi, India.PM2.5 and meteorological data from 35 ground-based monitoring stations over Delhi city are utilized for the present study. Geographic Information System-based spatial interpolation method was employed to analyse the spatial pattern of PM2.5 from January to April 2020 and compared with that of preceding years (2018-19) .The findings indicate that the PM2.5 level has reduced significantly during the lockdown period. About 40% of reduction in PM2.5 concentrations i observed when compared to the pre lockdown phase. Exclusively between 25 March and 30 April, about 94.44 % of days were within the NAAQS 24-h standard limit of 60µg/m3.The significant role of meterology in the dispersal of PM2.5 over Delhi is clear from the correlation analysis. A strong negative correlation (r=-0.546) between the Temp and PM2.5 indicates the better dispersion of air pollutants during high-temperature conditions. A higher reduction in PM2.5 has been observed in Central, Northern and Eastern parts of the megacity. The present study provides insights to policymakers to prepare and implement future policy measures for controlling air pollution levels in the megacity.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: WHO ambient (outdoor) air quality database Summary results, update 2018, WHO ,Geneva, Switzerland, 2018.
WO global urban ambient air pollution database (update 2016), Geneva, Switzerland, 2016.
Literature cited 2: Balakrishnan, K. et al. The impact of air pollution on deaths, disease burden, and life expectancy across the states of India: the global burden of disease study 2017.Lancet Planetary Health, 2019, 3 (1), e26-e-39.
Todorovic, I., Air pollution sharply falls worldwide on COVI-19 lockdowns, 2020; https://balkangreenenergynews.com/air-pollution-sharply-falls-worldwideon-covid-19-lockdowns/ (accessed on 27 April 2020).