Long Range Transport of Anthropogenic Pollution in the Asian Region

Bilkis A. Begum (1), Swapan K. Biswas (1), Gauri G. Pandit (2), Shahida Waheed (3), Manikkuwadura C. S. Seneviratne (4), David D. Cohen( 5), Andreas Markwitz(6), Philip K. Hopke (6)

Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY

     Abstract Number: 145
     Last modified: April 24, 2010

Abstract
Abstract

Transboundary transport of air pollution has been an issue of increasing importance over the last several decades. Long-range transport of anthropogenic pollution is contrasted with that of pollution produced by natural processes such as dust storms or natural forest fires. Airborne particulate matter data sets covering the period from 2002 to 2007 from the neighboring countries like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were used to find the source areas that are primarily responsible for long range transported pollutants. All four countries collected samples with the same type of sampler and follow the same technique for mass and BC measurements. It was found that high fine soil contributions were from dust storms. On the other hand, smoke in this region mainly comes from the Northern India where they often burnt agricultural waste.

Keywords: airborne particulate matter, long-range transport, black carbon, soil