https://doi.org/10.51514/JSTR.4.4.2022.13-17
Vikram Sıngh Bhati and Abhishek Saxena
ABSTRACT
The present study aims to compare data acquired at Jaipur, an urban site in Rajasthan (26.9124° N, 75.7873° E, 431 MSL) using the ground station and PM2.5 aerosol values for the period 2017-2021 were derived from the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Application, version 2. To study aerosol variability, datasets from two different sources were analyzed and compared. The global COVID-19 pandemic forced the consequences of a nationwide lockdown; the PM2.5 level dropped by 40% in the first phase of the lockdown (March to May 2020). The seasonal levels were also compared in both datasets. In comparison, higher PM2.5 values were observed in post-Monsoon due to aerosol transport and a rise in local emissions after the lockdown was relaxed. However, minima in Monsoon exhibits due to the atmosphere’s precipitation/washout of aerosols. A linear fit between the datasets shows similarity within 95% confidence. In 2017-2021 mean value of PM2.5 concentrations from Merra-2 and the local station were 46.92 ± 15.99 μg/m3 and 51.24 ± 21.50 μg/m3, respectively. Detailed results will be presented during the presentation.
Keywords: Aerosol, PM2.5, Urban site, Rajasthan.