Impact of a mountain grassland fire on the concentration of aerosol black carbon and carbon monoxide near the surface at a remote coastal location

Beegum, SN; Moorthy, KK; Babu, SS; Kumar, GM; Sampath, S; Aneesh, VR

HERO ID

1655076

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2008

HERO ID 1655076
In Press No
Year 2008
Title Impact of a mountain grassland fire on the concentration of aerosol black carbon and carbon monoxide near the surface at a remote coastal location
Authors Beegum, SN; Moorthy, KK; Babu, SS; Kumar, GM; Sampath, S; Aneesh, VR
Journal Atmospheric Research
Volume 88
Issue 1
Page Numbers 46-55
Abstract A case study is presented on the impact of an extensive grassland fire, at a high altitude location in Western Ghats, on the aerosol black carbon (BC) mass concentration (M-B) and concentration (CO) of carbon monoxide measured at two remote, coastal, nearby locations. Observations revealed a substantial increase shortly after the outbreak of the fire at a high altitude location (similar to 20 km away) in the concentrations of both species; while a two-fold increase occurred in the mass concentration of BC; the increase in CO though was less pronounced (by a factor of similar to 1.5). It is suggested that the sea-breeze circulation modified by the prevailing winds caused the transport of pollutants from the source region downwind to the coastal location. The impact persisted for one day after which it became insignificant. During the first maximum of these, the wind conditions were such that the pollutants emitted from the fire were transported offshore with the return flow of the sea breeze, they then sank along with the airmass and were again transported back to the coast via the sea breeze. During the second maximum (after sunset), the particles as well as the trace gases along with the airmass came directly to the regions of fire to the valley via katabatic flow and were again transported to the coast via the land breeze. This added with the nighttime confinement of pollutants near the surface caused the enhancement in nocturnal peak and it prevailed high until next day morning unlike normal days. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Doi 10.1016/j.atmosres.2007.10.001
Wosid WOS:000254811500005
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments Source: Web of Science WOS:000254811500005
Is Public Yes
Keyword black carbon; carbon monoxide; aethalometer; sea/land breeze; forest fire