International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Study of Aerosol black carbon and Aerosol optical Depth over Ranchi
during winter in Northern India
Kumari Lipi1*, Manoj kumar2
1
Dept. of Centre of Excellence in Climatology, Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi, Jharkhand
2
Dept. Of Environment, Central University Jharkhand, India
ABSTRACT
Black Carbon (BC) aerosols are the main
sunlight-absorbing component of
atmospheric aerosols and Aerosol Optical
Depth is the major factor to determining
the light reaching the earth surface. The
local weather and air quality over a region
are greatly influenced by the Aerosol black
carbon (BC) and Aerosol Optical Depth
(AOD).Aerosol BC and AOD
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characteristics were measured using
Aethalometer over Ranchi (23.42N,
85.33E and 650m above MSL ).
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Temperature and humidity measurements
using an automatic weather station. This
paper presents the variation of
concentration of BC and AOD in winter
season month of December 2010,
December is one of the coldest month of
winter in northern India. B.I.T. Mesra in
Ranchi comes under the non-polluted area;
here the main sources of BC were biomass
burning (being used for cooking and
heating purpose in the villages/town) and
vehicular emissions. In a very clean air
location it may be as low as 0.500 µg/m³
and in a very polluted location it may be as
high as 20 µg/m³. During the period from
July-2010 to March 2011 the average
monthly BC concentration varied between
1.1 to 8.1 µg/m³ and daily average value
were found in the range of 1.0 to 18 µg/m³.
Objective of this paper is to study of the
variation of black carbon aerosol and
Aerosol optical Depth and the effects of
meteorological parameters (temperature
IJERTV2IS100907 www.ijert.org
Vol. 2 Issue 10, October - 2013
and relative humidity) and AOD over the
variation of black carbon aerosol.
1. Introduction
Aerosols have been identified as the major
source of uncertainty in the present day
climate studies [Intergovernmental panel
on Climate Change (IPCC),2007].Lack of
adequate observational data, coupled with
poor understanding of the spatiotemporal
and vertical distribution of aerosol
properties has been identified as the major
cause for the uncertainty. Aerosol
modulates Earth’s radiation balance
directly by scattering and by absorbing
incoming radiation. In addition to their
effect on radiation, they also serve as cloud
condensation nuclei and thereby influence
the number and size distribution of cloud
droplets. This process can change cloud
radiative properties, cloud lifetime, and
precipitation properties, thus indirectly
affecting the climate.
I am describe location and general
meteorology of sampling sit in section 2.,
In section 3. Discuss data and its
analysisand section 4. Conclude the result.
2. Location and General meteorology of
the sampling site
The sampling site selected for the present
work was Department of Applied
Mathematics, Birla Institute of Technolgy,
Mesra, Ranchi, which is located in the
Northern India. It is 23.42N, 85.33E and
650m MSL.The Instrument used for
continuous measurement of BC mass
concentration was Aethalometer (AE-31),
which is developed by Magee Scientific,
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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 2 Issue 10, October - 2013

USA.Measurements of BC mass daily average value were found in the range of 1.0
concentration were mainly based on the to 18 µg/m³.
aerosol light absoption.BC from the
ambient air accumulated on a quartz fiber
tape. The measurement of BC 8000
concentration is taken at seven 7000
wavelengths 370,470,520,590,660,880 and 6000

B.C Concentration
950nm.The measurement of the

(nano gm/m3)
5000
attenuation of light beam was linearly 4000
proportional to the amount of BC 3000
deposited on filter stripe. The Instrument 2000

was operated at the time base of 5 minute 1000

0
with a flow rate 4 LPM.Effect of 10-Jul10-Aug10-Sep10-Oct10-Nov10-Dec11-Jan11-Feb11-Mar

meteorological parameters like

temperature and relative humidity, data Fig2.Monthly average variation of black carbon
collected through 32m meteorological aerosol during July-10 to March-11
tower.

35

30

25 IGP
.
Ranchi
Latitude [ N]

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0

20
BOB
15 Arabian Sea
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10

5 Indian Ocean

0
60 70 80 90 100 110 120
0
Longitude [ E]

Fig. (1). Map of Indian subcontinent showing the

observational site – Ranchi (23.42N, 85.33E and
650m MSL)

3. Results and Discussion

The monthly variation of black carbon is presented

in Fig2.Average monthly BC concentration varied
between 1.1 to 8.1 µg/m³.The monthly variation
results showed higher concentration during winter
as compared to monsoon. This may be due to the
decrease of the average temperature which causes
the decrease in wind speed in turn resulted in low
transport of the black carbon because of low
dispersion. In 2010 and 2011 highest monthly
average was found in month of January. Diurnal
variation of BC from July-2010 to March-2011are
shown in fig3.During the period of observation

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 2 Issue 10, October - 2013

during early morning. Diurnal variation of BC

showed two peaks, one in morning and other in the
evening. It indicate that the BC concentration is
high during day fall and night due to prevailing low
temperature,inturn making inhabitants to use
anthropogenic sources for heating purposes. Above
results/discussions are based on the assumption that
the sources will emit the black carbon with same
rate and the quantitatively. Diurnal variation of BC
is totatally controlled by boundary layer conditions.
Apart from this boundary layer variations, the
effect of other factors may also be crucial factor
such as fossil fuel burning and vehicular emission
because are one of the major sources for black
carbon aerosols.

Black carbon
3000
2500
2000
ng/m3
Fig.3 Diurnal variation of BC concentration from 1500
July-2010 to March-2011 1000
500
4:10 8:35 12:45 17:10 21:20

July-10

Black carbon

3000
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2500
2000
ng/m3

The graphs shown and figure-4 provide the 1500

information about the variation of black carbon 1000
500
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concentration with time in a day. High BC 4:10 8:35 12:4517:1021:20

Sept-10
concentration was observed during early morning
and late night with some exceptions. During early
morning hours, high values of BC may attributed to 30000
25000
the turbulence set-in by the solar heating which 20000
ng/m3

breaks the nighttime’s stable layer and aerosols in 15000

10000

the nocturnal residual layer are mixed up with those 5000

0
4:10 8:35 12:4517:1021:20
near the surface. Low values of BC during Oct-10

afternoon hours may be due the dispersion of 7000

aerosols caused by increased in boundary layer 6000
5000
ng/m3

height in addition to the low traffic density. But in 4000

3000
the month of March2010 Black carbon 2000
1000
concentration high in the afternoon due duststrom 4:10 8:35 12:4517:1021:20

and transportation of aerosol from other location. In Nov-10

July, the black carbon concentration was low in 45000

40000
35000
noon as compared to BC concentration in evening. 30000
ng/m3

25000
20000
High value of evening may also be because of the 15000
10000
5000
combustion of anthropogenic sources of fuel. In 0
4:10 8:35 12:4517:1021:20
August, the BC concentration variation was similar Dec.-10

but the concentration of the BC was slightly more 16000

14000
than the July. In November, it was observed that 12000
10000
ng/m3

the BC concentration was high at day fall and 8000

6000
4000
during night as compared to the concentration in 2000
0
4:10 8:35 12:4517:1021:20
day. The concentration is been increasing gradually Jan-11

from a low value during noon and attained peak

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 2 Issue 10, October - 2013

20000
24
15000
22
ng/m3

Temp.(mean)-

Temp(mean)
10000 20
5000 18
0 16
4:10 8:35 12:4517:1021:20

Feb-11
14
12
12000
10
10000 8
8000 6
ng/m3

6000 335 340 345 350 355 360 365

4000
Julian Days Number
2000
0 RH(%)

4:10 8:35 12:4517:1021:20 100

March-11 90
80

RH(%)
70
60
50
40
Fig 4: Hourly variation of BC concentration during 335 340 345 350 355 360 365
different Month Julian days Number

Fig5. Shows the variation of BC concentration with

respect to meteorological parameters(temperature
and relative humidity).The black carbon
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concentration was generally increased with 60000
880nm

increase in the relative humidity(RH) and decrease 50000

in the temperature but the variation was not 40000

ng/m3

30000
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consistent because of the influence of other 20000

parameters like wind speed and direction. The 10000
Aerosol optical depth was increasing with black 0
5-Dec-10 7-Dec-10 11-Dec-10 15-Dec-10 20-Dec-10 24-Dec-10

carbon aerosol and decreasing with BC.From the December

fig.6 shows the variation of BC concentration
during monsoon season. The figure clearly indicate
% AOD(RNC)

that the rain fall produce a scavenging effect on the 1.0

0.9
atmospheric aerosol concentration. Due to the 0.8
0.7
0.6
rainfall, the aerosol present in the air got precipitate
AOD

0.5
0.4
to ground. Days which experienced rain fall had 0.3
0.2
low value of the BC concentration than the days 0.1
4-Dec-08 9-Dec-08 14-Dec-08 19-Dec-08 24-Dec-08 29-Dec-08 --

without rainfall. High rainfall resulted in sudden DEC-08

decrease in BC concentration due to scavenging

effect however the variation was not consitant
because of the influence of the other parameters. Fig 5.Variation of BC concentration with respect to
Mean while the value of mass concentration of metrological parameter (temperature and relative
black carbon aerosol was also compared with other humidity) and AOD during month of December.
regions of India including other parts of India
(Table.1).It was observed that average mass
concentrations of BC in Ranchi are higher as
compared to other city of India and other Indian
continental locations.

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 2 Issue 10, October - 2013

Fig.6.Scavenging effect of the rainfall on the

atmospheric aerosol concentration.

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Fig7.Variation of BC concentration at morning

5:45(December) with respect to metrological
parameter of upper boundary layer (Radiosonde
data)

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 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 2 Issue 10, October - 2013

Fig.7 Shows the variation of BC concentration at 2. BC showed well defined diurnal

morning 5:45am during month of December with variations. This is due to local factors and
respect to meteorological parameters(Sonde boundary layer dynamics.
data).The black carbon concentration was 3. High BC concentration was observed
compared with data 17/12/2010,19/12/2010 at when the humidity of air was and high and
lower BC and 24/12/2010,25/12/2010 at higher BC vice versa.
,observation indicate generally increased with 4. Average BC Concentration in Ranchi
increase in the relative humidity(RH) and decrease region is significantly large fractuation in
in the temperature but the variation was not winter season (December) as compared
temporal variation on that time.
consistent because of the influence of other
5. The aerosol number concentration and
parameters like wind speed and direction at height AOD measurements would be helps us to
below 12km . find the role of boundary layer dynamics
in the above typical temporal and monthly
Table1. Mass concentration of black carbon variations of BC at BIT Mesra, Ranchi
aerosol are compared with other regions of India site. Moreover, it is proposed to study the
impact of aerosols and trace gases on the
Period BC concentration biodiversity dynamics in and around
Location (µg/m³.) Ranchi and other parts of Northern India.
Ranchi July10 to 1.0-18(Daily 6. Winter season that may cause adverse
March-2011 average),1.1- effect to the agricultural crops and also to
8.1(Monthly the human health. Increased aerosol
average) loading may likely affect the rainfall
Varanasi Oct -08 to 2-40(Daily which is responsible for the observed
March-2010 average),3.6- drought conditions over the Indian
25.4(Monthly subcontinent. Detailed analysis of AOD,
average) crop yields and rainfall data are required
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Trivandrum 20 Feb.05 to 0.3-6 to understand the impact of increasing
16 March 05 aerosol loading over the Northern India.
Hyderabad Jan to July 0.5-68(dry
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2003 season),0.5-45(wet
season) Acknowledgement
Kanpur Dec.2004 6-20
Pune Jan.05 to 4.1(average) The authors express sincere gratitude to GBP
Dec.05 Programme of Space Physics Laboratory for
Anantapur Jan-08 to 2.74±0.63(annual providing the required meteorological data from
Dec.09 average) ARFI network and Birla Institute of Technology,
Northern Oct.2003 1.8±1.6 Mesra, Ranchi for allowing working in its premises
BoB close to and providing the facilities and necessary data to main
India author.
Shillong 2008 ~5(annual Mean)
Hanle in Aug.- .06(Mean) Reference:
Himalaya Dec.2009
Dehradun 2007-2009 4.39(Mean)
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ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 2 Issue 10, October - 2013

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