Title of the scheme : Establishment of Environmental Observatory

 
Duration : 2008 to 2013 and extended every year
(up to 2015-16)

Principal Investigator : Dr. C. Udayasoorian, PhD.,

Professor and Head,
Dept. of SS&AC,
AC&RI, TNAU
Killikulam, Vallanad – 628 252

Location : Wood House

Horticultural Research Station
Ooty

 
Manpower
Sl.No. Categories Sanctioned Filled position
Position (Nos.) (Nos.)
1. Senior Research Fellow 1 Vacant from
(SRF) 14.01.2016

Financial details (1.4.2015 to 31.3.2016)  

Sl.No. Budget head Sanctioned Received Funds utilized
(As per EFC) so far till date

1. Salary head 3,00,000 3,00,000 2,10,295

2. Recurring 14,10,609 14,10,609 3,10,596
3. Non recurring - - -
Total 17,10,609 17,10,609 5,20,891
Details of experiments

• Continuous monitoring of Ozone (O3), NOx (NO and NO2), SO2

and CO at high altitude region in Western Ghats of Nilgiris

• To assess the impact of elevated levels of O3 on plant species of

shola forest and grassland ecosystem at Ooty

 Salient Achievements Observational site

Instruments

N 11o 25.445
E 076o 43.448
Modified Sample Altitude : 2550m AMSL
conditioning System
SO2 Western Ghats of Nilgiris
Ozone
NOx CO
Multi gas AWS
calibrator Data acquisition
Zero Air (ENVIdas)
 Diurnal and Annual variation of Ozone(2010-2016)
70  Maximum Ozone conc. observed
60
during Feb. to May, whereas
minimum during July to September
50


Ozone,ppb

40
Low ozone conc. observed during
day time, higher values observed at
30 night time
Sum
20 Mon
PM 100
Win
10 Ozone (ppb)
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
Hours 80

 Annual variation of monthly mean

ozone concentrations depicts a 60

Ozone (ppb)
systematic pattern with the lowest
value in July – Nov. and highest during 40

Feb. - April
20
Seasonal mean values of ozone(ppb)
 Summer (54.43±7.47)
0
 Monsoon (20.40±2.4)

Jul.15
Oct.10

Jan.13

Jun.13
Feb.12

Feb.15
Mar.11

Sep.11

Nov.13

Sep.14

Dec.15
May.10

April.14
 Post Monsoon (29.43±6.7)
Months
 Winter (43.03±5.38)
 Frequency distribution of Ozone
24 Sum m er 24
M onsoon
20 20

16 16
Freq Count (%)

12 12

8 8
 summer, more than 90 %
4 4
of ozone values remain above
0 0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 the annual mean (38.98 ppb),
24 24 while during monsoon most of
Post M onsoon W inter
20 20 the ozone values remain below
the annual mean
Freq Count (%)

16 16

12 12

8 8

4 4

0 0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Ozone,ppb Ozone,ppb
 Diurnal and Annual variation of NOx
4.0

3.6 Summ

3.2
Mon
PM  Diurnal pattern of NOx conc. rises
Win
2.8 after morning and attained maximum
NOx,ppb

2.4 around evening which may be due to

2.0
local emission and transport from nearby
1.6
areas
1.2

0.8

0.4 3.5
0.0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 NOx
3.0
Hours
2.5
 Mean Monthly variation (Seasonally)
2.0
over the years showed higher value
during summer (1.85 ppb) and low in

NOx (ppb)
1.5
monsoon (0.19 ppb)
1.0

0.5

0.0
Jul.10

Oct.11

Oct.12

Oct.15
Mar.12

Mar.13

Sep.13
Dec.10

May.11

May.15
Feb. 14

July. 14

Dec. 14
Months
 Diurnal
1.4
and Monthly Variation of SO2 and CO for 2012- 2015
1.2 1.4 SO2 (ppb)

1.0 1.2

1.0
0.8
S O2,ppb

0.8
0.6

SO2 (ppb)
0.6
0.4
0.4
0.2
0.2

0.0 0.0

03:45 07:30 11:15 15:00 18:45 22:30 -0.2

April. 14

April. 15
Dec. 14

Feb. 15

Jun.15
Nov.12

Jan.13

Mar.13
May.13

Oct.13

Dec.13
Feb.14

Jun. 14
Auf. 14

Oct. 14

Aug.15

Dec.15
Jul.13

Oct.15
Time, IST (Hours)
600 Months

CO (ppb)
500 Diurnal variation of SO2 conc. Increased
after morning hrs and reached maximum
400
at evening hrs.
300
CO (ppb)

Maximum value found during summer

200 (March & April) recorded 1.00ppb
100
&0.6ppb and minimum value of 0.10
ppb observed in the month of November
0

The average value of CO found to be

Dec.15
Jun.15

Oct..15
Aug.15
Feb. 2014

Jun. 2014

Oct. 2014

Dec. 2014

Feb. 2015
April. 2914

April. 2015
August. 2014

160.92±58.52 ppb
Months
 Strong diurnal and seasonal mean values of trace
gases attributed to ABL dynamics
Backward Air Trajectories

Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian

Integrated Trajectory Model (HYSPLIT)

 HYSPLIT back-trajectories during Summer (maroon) and Monsoon

(blue)
 South-westerly advection during Monsoon
 Strong easterly contribution during Summer
 AMBIENT AND ELEVATED OZONE (O3) IMPACTS ON POTATO
GENOTYPES (Solanum tuberosum L.) OVER A HIGH ALTITUDE WESTERN
GHATS LOCATION IN SOUTHERN INDIA

Assessing the impact of ambient O3 on potato genotypes through field experiments by

calculating long-term and short-term exposure indices during spring and summer seasons
(2011-2013) of crop

Summer Potato Spring Potato

(April – July) (January – April)
 Long – Term Exposure Indices
(AOT40 & SUM 60)
n
AOT40 = ∑ ([O3] – 40)i for [O3] > 40 ppb.
i=1
Sum of differences between the hourly mean concentrations (O3) and 40
ppb for hours when O3 > 40 ppb, for each daylight hour with global
radiation ≥ 50 Wm-2 over a 3 months period
n
SUM60 (ppmh) = ∑ (CO3)i for [CO3] ≥ 60 in3
months
i=1
SUM60 is defined as the sum, over a 3 months period, of the hourly O3
concentration for daylight hours (0700-2100 h) when the concentration (O3) is at
or above 60 ppbh
COMPARING THE EFFECT OF AMBIENT OZONE ON YIELD OF POTATO GENOTYPES
DURING TWO SEASONS BY EXPOSURE INDICES (AOT40 & SUM60 VALUE)
Bar diagram showing critical levels and calculated AOT40 and SUM60 in ppbh
24000 AO T 40 Values (ppbh)
30000
22500 SUM 60 Value (ppbh)
21000 28000

19500 26000
Seasonal AOT 40 Value (ppbh)

18000 24000

16500 22000

15000 20000

SUM60 Value (ppbh)

13500 18000
12000 16000
10500 14000
9000 12000
7500 10000
6000 8000
4500 6000
3000 4000
1500 2000
0 0
Critical Level Summer 2011 Spring 2012 Summer 2012 Spring 2013 Critical level Spring 2012 Spring 2013

Potato Growing Seasons Potato Growing Seasons

 The latent injury could be noticed by the calculated AOT40 values of 21,479 ppbh and
23,625 ppbh during spring 2012 and spring 2013 which were 4-4.5 times higher than the
critical level (5000 ppb) as well as the SUM60 values for potato at the observational site
was found to be 25,800 ppbh and 29,483 ppbh which were much higher than the critical
levels for potato (9,900-20,300ppb)

 The highest yield reduction was noticed in the potato genotype Kufri Himalini (25.5%)
grown in spring season 2013
 Comparison of short-term exposure indices bydaily AOT values for four
seasons (2 Spring and 2 Summer)

400 Daily AOT40 Value (ppbh) 600

Daily AOT40 Value (ppb)
350
500

 Highest AOT 40
Daily AOT 40 Value (ppbh)

Daily AOT 40 Value (ppbh)

300
400
250
during March
200 300
coinciding with
150
200 the tuber
100
100
initiation stage
50 of potato might
0
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
be the reason for
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Potato Growth Period Summer (April- July 2011)
Potato Growing Season Spring (Jan-April 2012) lower yield of
potato crop
700
400
which were
600 Daily AOT 40 Value (ppbh)
D aily AOT 40 Value grown during
350
Jan to April
500
Daily AOT 40 Value (ppbh)
300
(2011-2013)
250
Daily AOT40 Value (ppbh)

400

200
300

150
200
100

100
50

0 0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Potato Growth season- Spring (January-April 2013) Potato Grow ing Season Sum m er (April- July 2012)
 Evaluation of potato genotypes based on their growth and yield
parameters during Jan-Apr and Apr-July during the years 2011-2013

Potato Plant Height (cm) Above ground Biomass (t/ha) Average Tuber Fresh Weight
Genotypes (Kg//Plant)

Seasons S1 S2 S3 S4 S1 S2 S3 S4 S1 S2 S3 S4

K.Swarna 96.2 76.5 97.5* 79.0 2.92 1.55 2.97* 1.7 2 1.25 0.49 1.35* 0.62

K.Jyothi 95.8 75.2 96.8 77.1 2.78 1.45 2.95 1.70 1.08 0.42 1.28 0.56

K.Giridhari 95.4 79.2 95.8 76.0 2.68 1.75 2.75 1.50 0.95 0.65 1.10 0.45

K.Himalini 93.2 77.5 94.0 75.0** 2.55 1.74 2.65 1.42** 0.92 0.58 1.05 0.40**

* Significantly the highest at 5% level, ** Significantly the lowest at 1 % level

(Seasons- S1-April-July 2011, S2- January-April 2012, S3-April-July 2012, S4- January –
April 2013)
Evaluation of potato genotypes based on their Yield reduction (t ha-1) and
percentiles during Spring (Jan-Apr) and Summer (Apr-July) during the
years 2011-2013

Potato Yield (t ha-1) Yield Reduction (%)

Genotypes

Seasons S1 S2 S3 S4 S1 S2 S3 S4

K.Swarna 23.58 22.28 23.86* 22.26 5.65 10.85 4.56** 10.95

K.Jyothi 23.57 22.19 23.84 22.01 5.70 11.25 4.66 11.95

K.Giridhari 23.19 20.02 23.26 19.66 7.25 19.90 6.98 21.35

K.Himalini 23.13 19.69 23.24 18.63** 7.45 21.25 7.05 25.50*

*Significantly the Highest at 5% level, **Significantly the lowest at 5 % level

(Seasons- S1-April-July 2011, S2- January-april 2012, S3-April-July 2012, S4-
January – April 2013)
 Evaluating the effect of elevated O3 @ 100ppb, 150ppb &200ppb at
Critical stages of Potato Genotypes
6
Injury
5 Index(100
4 ppb)
Injury
3 Index(150
ppb)

ible

Ind
ury
Vis
2

Inj

ex(
1-
5)
1
0
a a hi a r j u a ri ni
ury a rn y ot son a ha rira uth so n ha a li
K
.S Sw
. .J hip a w .Gi d
. M im i r i H i m
K K . C . J K K . H .G K.
K K K K

 Kufri Himalini – Lowest Photosynthetic rate

with 70.2 - 99.5 % Visual injury ( Susceptible
– 100ppb), showed 83.33% reduction in tuber
weight at 100 ppb O3 level and no tuber
formation at 150 and 200 ppb O3 levels
Potato Speckle leaf
symptom as intervienal
necrosis  K.Surya – Highest Photosynthetic rate with
l4.25 - 15.25 % Visual injury

K.Surya showed 13.3, 21.3 and 32.0 %

reduction in fresh tuber weight at 100,150 and
200 ppb O3 levels whereas.
Physiological parameters
measured by IRGA PPS
 Assessing the impact of Elevated Ozone on Potato Genotypes through Protectant Chemicals

90
TREATMENTS
T1 T1- 0.1 M Diphenylamine
80
T2 T2- Benofit /Benlate fungicide @2g/lit
70 T3
T4 T3- Bavistin @1.5g/lit .
60 T5
T4- 5 % Manchurian Tea Extract
Visual Injury (%)

T6
50 T5- 3% Panchagavya solution
40 T6- Control
30  Replications : 6 
20

Photosynthetic rate (µmol CO2 /m /s )

30 T1
T2
10 T3
25 T4
0 T5
T6
K.Swarna K.Himalini K.giridhari K.Jyothi K.Surya
20
Potato Genotypes
15

10

0
K.Sw arna K.Him alini K.giridhari K.Jyothi K.Surya
Potato Genotypes

Foliar spray of 0.1MDiphenylamine showed upto 67% reduction in visible injury

and recorded higher fresh tuber weight of 90.4% than control
 Different Ozone protectant chemicals on No of Tubers and Yield of five
Potato Genotypes under Open-Top chamber Experiment
10
T1
T2 600 T1
T3 T2
8
T4 T3
N o.of Tubers/P lant

500 T4
T5
T6 T5

Y ield /P lan t
6 400 T6

300
4
200

2
100

0 0
K.Swarna K.Him alini K.giridhari K.Jyothi K.Surya
K.Sw arna K.Himalini K.giridhari K.Jyothi K.Surya
Potato Genotypes
Potato Genotypes

K. Surya recorded the highest leaf area index (1.58), lesser visual injury
(9.95% ), highest stomatal conductance (0.805cm/s) photosynthetic rate
(29.75µmol CO2 /m /s ), no of tubers/ plant (8 nos) and tuber yield 625g/plant
when treated with 0.2M Diphenylamine foliar spray than the other genotypes
 OUTCOME
 AOT 40 value observed 21,292ppb and 5,900ppb, which are above the
critical level (5000ppb) of ozone

 SUM 60 value was found to be 25,000, which is higher than the critical
levels for Norchip Potato Variety (9,900 – 20,300ppbh)

 Elevated ozone at 100,150 and 200 ppb levels showed reduced stomatal
conductance, photosynthetic rate and yield reduction

 Kufri Surya recorded highest yield in elevated ozone level and showed
moderately resistant to ozone damage, whereas Kufri Himalini
susceptibly to elevated ozone levels

 0.1M Diphenylamine foliar spray in Kufri Surya variety recorded 50-90 %

higher yield, high photosynthetic rate and fresh tuber weight
 To assess the impact of elevated levels of tropospheric ozone (O3 )
on plant species of shola forest and grassland ecosystem at Ooty

 Totally 53 species were used for this study, including 38 shola forest tree
seedlings, one silver oak, four variety of tea species and 10 grass species of each
species replicated as three and the plants were continuously exposed for five days
period at each level of tropospheric ozone (O3) (50,100 & 200ppb) in open top
chamber
 Symptoms were identified and investigated by visual observation techniques after
the exposure period were documented to identify at field levels to conclude for
ecosystem studies and policy implication to reduce menance of tropospheric ozone
and increase the forest productivity and ecosystem stability.

 The symptoms of tropospheric ozone were gradually increasing from 50 ppb levels
to 200ppb levels for all plant species
 Tea plant variety TRF 4 was exposed to tropospheric Ozone

50ppb O3 100ppb O3 200ppb O3

Bronzing of tea leaves intervienal and margin shows black and brown color
Intervienal necorosis on Glochidion neilgherrense
Ozone injury –Yellowing , chlorosis and bronzing of leaves in Delinia Pentagyna
and Madhuca longifolia

Delinia Pentagyna Madhuca longifolia

Principal Investigator visit to Ph.D Student Trial at Wood House , HRS, Ooty
 Based on the Ozone Injury Index (OII) in percentage, the following species
were
moderately tolerant at 50,100 & 200ppb levels of tropospheric ozone (O 3)
compared to control plants

Shola species namely Ligustrum perrottetii (8.33, 9.09,&10.86)

Grass sepecies viz., Poa annua (25,36.36 & 38.46),
Pennisetum clandestinum(20,20 & 16.66),
Ergrostis unioloides (30,37.5 & 40),
Ergrostis spp (25,13.33,&30.43)
Vetiveria zizanioides(16.66,16.66 &16.16)

The ozone injury at severity were observed in all levels of ozone exposure
for
 Cederela toona(66.66,66.66 & 75)
 Rhododendron nilagiricum (55.55,60 & 57.14)
 Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (53.33,57.14 & 61.11)

 The study concluded that the species in high altitude region of the specified
ecosystem act as bioindicators for tropospheric ozone(O3) at elevated levels

However, it is confirmed with detailed analysis of plant physiological and

 
Other Activities
Publications
 
1. Udayasoorian.C., R.M.Jayabalakrishnan, A.R.Suguna, S.Venkataramani and Shyam Lal,
2013. Diurnal and Seasonal Characteristics of Ozone and NOx over a High Altitude
Western Ghats location in Southern India. Advances in applied science research,
4(5):309-320
 
2. Suganthy. V.S., C.Udayasoorian and Shyam Lal., 2013. Assessing the Impact of Ambient
ozone (O3) on the Growth and Yield of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes
during Spring and Summer seasons at Western Ghats of Nilgiris. International Journal
of Tropical Agriculture, 31(3-4): 237-244

3. Suganthy.V.S. and C.Udayasoorian. 2013. Physiological and Yield Responses of Different

Genotypes of Potato under Elevated Ozone (O3) Levels in Open-Top Chamber. J.of Eco
Toxicology and Environmental Monitoring, 23(3): 201-208
 
Title of the scheme : Assessing Aerosol Radiative Forcing Over India
at Ooty Centre
 
Duration : 2008 to 2013 and extended every year
(up to 2015-16)

Principal Investigator : Dr. C. Udayasoorian, PhD.,

Professor and Head,
Dept. of SS&AC,
AC&RI, TNAU
Killikulam, Vallanad – 628 252

Location : Wood House

Horticultural Research Station
Ooty

 
Manpower
Sl.No. Categories Sanctioned Filled position
Position (Nos.) (Nos.)
1. Senior Research Fellow 1 Vacant from
(SRF) 29.05.2015

Financial details (1.4.2015 to 31.3.2016)  

Sl.No. Budget head Sanctioned Received Funds utilized
(As per EFC) so far till date

1. Salary head 3,00,000 3,00,000 47,581

2. Recurring 7,03,509 7,03,509 3,12,849
3. Non recurring - - -
Total 10,03,509 10,03,509 3,60,430
 Details of experiments

 Aethalometer AE-31 has been used for continuously recording time series

data on BC mass concentration, diurnal and seasonal variations at high

altitude centre

 The columnar AOD is measured using Multi Wavelength Solar Radiometer

for different seasons. Angstrom exponent (α) values were compared to
assess the changing aerosol source types

 Radiation measurements continued

Salient Achievements Instruments
BC - Aethalometer AE -31 Solar radiation and Far infrared -
(Magee Scientific) Pyranometer & Pyrgeometer (CNR 1 Net Radiometer)

Spectral AODs
AWS
Multi Wavelength Solar Radiometer (SPL, VSSC)
 Diurnal and Annual variation of BC (2010 – 2015)
4000 STDEV
BC Summer (MAM) 1044 ng m-3
3500
Monsoon (JJA) 334
3000 ng m-3
2500
Autumn (SON) 504 ng
m-3
BC(ng/m3)

2000
HighWinter (DJF)µg m-3) 862
(1.48±0.38 ng2012
March,
1500 m-3
Low (0.25± 0.13 µg m-3) August, 2010
1000
2 4

500 2 2

2 0
0 MB (ng m-3)
10-Dec

11-Dec

12-Dec

14.Aug
14-Nov
Feb.15

Dec.15
10-Jun
10-Sep

11-Jun
11-Sep

12-Jun
12-Sep

13-Jun
13-Sep
11-Mar

12-Mar

13-Mar

May.15
Sept.15
14-May

1 8 2 1 0 0
2 0 0 0
1 6 1 9 0 0

T im e ,IS T (h o u r s )
Months 1 8 0 0
1 7 0 0
 Diurnal variations of BC reveals a evening peak 1 4
1
1
6
5
0
0
0
0

(during 17:00 to 22:00 h local time) during Feb. to 1 2 1

1
4
3
0
0
0
0

May., decrease gradually towards morning and 1 0

1
1
2
1
0
0
0
0

become lowest during the early morning hours 8

1
9
0
0
0
0
0

8 0 0
(05:00 h) 6
7 0 0
6 0 0
5 0 0
4 4 0 0
3 0 0
2 2 0 0
1 0 0
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2

M o n th s
 Absorption properties of aerosols (αabs )

0 2 4 6 8 10
10

1.05

8
1.00
Highest in Summer (1.02±0.04)

0.95 6 Lowest in Monsoon(0.84±0.03)

Alpha abs

0.90
4

0.85

2
0.80
This indicates the dominance of
0.75 0 fossil fuel aerosol in modifying the
Nov.10 Jun.11 Jan.12 Aug.12 Mar.13 Oct.13 Oct.14 May.15Dec.15 aerosol absorption properties at
Months Ooty
 Frequency occurrence of αabs (2010-2015)
80 80
Monsoon Summer
70 70
Freq of O ccurences (% )

60 60

50 50
Backward air trajectories
40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

0 0
0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6
abs abs

Values of αabs ~ 1 in most cases and > 85%

of the daily mean values remained < 1
This clearly indicates the dominance of
fossil fuel aerosols in modifying the
aerosol absorption properties at Ooty

HYSPLIT back-trajectories during summer

(maroon) and monsoon (blue)
South-westerly advection during monsoon
Easterly contribution during summer (Polluted
metropolitan cities i.e Chennai, Bangalore etc)
 Spectral variation of AOD 2012-2015
May.12
Nov.12
Dec.12
Jan.13
Feb.13
0.55 2.0 Mar.13
Apr.13
Dec.13
JAN.14
Feb.14
0.50 Mar.14
1.5 Feb.15

0.45

1.0
AOD

E
0.40

0.5
0.35

0.30 0.0  AODs are high in Summer

Moderate in Winter
300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 Low in Post monsoon
Wave Lenght (nm)

 Monthly mean AOD at 500nm is found

to be 0.4±0.29 for all clear sky days
 Angstrom Parameter
Alpha
Beta
3.0 1.4

1.2
2.5

1.0
2.0
Mean value of α (Alpha)
0.8
1.5 Summer 0.63 ± 0.06,
Alpha

Beta
0.6

1.0
Post monsoon 1.52 ± 0.03
0.4
Winter 0.85± 0.08
0.5
0.2

0.0 0.0

12-Jan12-Feb12-May12-Nov12-Dec13-Jan13-Jan13-Mar14-Feb --
Month

 Angstrom coefficient (α) shows opposite trend as compared to the β values

 Estimated α value in the present study ranges from 0.4 to 2.6. Higher value of
α implies relative dominance of smaller aerosol particles
 CNR 1 Net Radiometer-Radiation measurements

 Regarding net solar radiation, the highest value of 310wm-2

recorded in March while the lowest in July (105wm-2)

 The lowest value might be due to insufficient solar radiation

during rainy season, where as the incoming radiation values
gradually increased after November and attains its peak during
summer duration
 Other Activities
Publications

1. Udayasoorian.C., R.M.Jayabalakrishnan, A.R.Suguna, Mukunda

M.Gogoi ,and S.Suresh Babu, 2014. Aerosol black carbon
characteristics over a high-altitude Western Ghats location in
Southern India. Ann.Geophys., 32:1361-1371
THANK YOU