Influence of Biomass Burning on Temporal and Diurnal Variations of Acidic Gases, Particulate Nitrate, and Sulfate in a Tropical Urban Atmosphere

The present study investigated the temporal and diurnal distributions of atmospheric acidic gases (sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrous acid (HONO), and nitric acid (HNO3)) and those of particulate nitrate (NO3-) and sulfate (SO42-) through a comprehensive field campaign during the largest smoke haze epis...

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Main Authors: Sailesh N. Behera, Rajasekhar Balasubramanian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Advances in Meteorology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/828491
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author Sailesh N. Behera
Rajasekhar Balasubramanian
author_facet Sailesh N. Behera
Rajasekhar Balasubramanian
author_sort Sailesh N. Behera
collection DOAJ
description The present study investigated the temporal and diurnal distributions of atmospheric acidic gases (sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrous acid (HONO), and nitric acid (HNO3)) and those of particulate nitrate (NO3-) and sulfate (SO42-) through a comprehensive field campaign during the largest smoke haze episode in Singapore, a representative country in Southeast Asia (SEA). To identify the atmospheric behavior of these pollutants during the smoke haze period, the data generated from the measurement campaign were divided into three distinct periods: prehaze, during haze, and posthaze periods. The 24 hr average data indicated that ambient SO2, HONO, and HNO3 during the smoke haze episodes increased by a factor ranging from 1.2 to 2.6 compared to those during the prehaze and posthaze periods. Similarly, in the case of particulates SO42- and NO3-, the factor ranged from 2.3 to 4.2. Backward air trajectories were constructed and used to find the sources of biomass burning to the recurring smoke haze in this region. The air trajectory analysis showed that the smoke haze episodes experienced in Singapore were influenced by transboundary air pollution, caused by severe biomass burning events in the islands of Indonesia.
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spelling doaj-art-09e15b3a39174653992f9ed0d34237222025-02-03T01:26:46ZengWileyAdvances in Meteorology1687-93091687-93172014-01-01201410.1155/2014/828491828491Influence of Biomass Burning on Temporal and Diurnal Variations of Acidic Gases, Particulate Nitrate, and Sulfate in a Tropical Urban AtmosphereSailesh N. Behera0Rajasekhar Balasubramanian1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117576, SingaporeDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117576, SingaporeThe present study investigated the temporal and diurnal distributions of atmospheric acidic gases (sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrous acid (HONO), and nitric acid (HNO3)) and those of particulate nitrate (NO3-) and sulfate (SO42-) through a comprehensive field campaign during the largest smoke haze episode in Singapore, a representative country in Southeast Asia (SEA). To identify the atmospheric behavior of these pollutants during the smoke haze period, the data generated from the measurement campaign were divided into three distinct periods: prehaze, during haze, and posthaze periods. The 24 hr average data indicated that ambient SO2, HONO, and HNO3 during the smoke haze episodes increased by a factor ranging from 1.2 to 2.6 compared to those during the prehaze and posthaze periods. Similarly, in the case of particulates SO42- and NO3-, the factor ranged from 2.3 to 4.2. Backward air trajectories were constructed and used to find the sources of biomass burning to the recurring smoke haze in this region. The air trajectory analysis showed that the smoke haze episodes experienced in Singapore were influenced by transboundary air pollution, caused by severe biomass burning events in the islands of Indonesia.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/828491
spellingShingle Sailesh N. Behera
Rajasekhar Balasubramanian
Influence of Biomass Burning on Temporal and Diurnal Variations of Acidic Gases, Particulate Nitrate, and Sulfate in a Tropical Urban Atmosphere
Advances in Meteorology
title Influence of Biomass Burning on Temporal and Diurnal Variations of Acidic Gases, Particulate Nitrate, and Sulfate in a Tropical Urban Atmosphere
title_full Influence of Biomass Burning on Temporal and Diurnal Variations of Acidic Gases, Particulate Nitrate, and Sulfate in a Tropical Urban Atmosphere
title_fullStr Influence of Biomass Burning on Temporal and Diurnal Variations of Acidic Gases, Particulate Nitrate, and Sulfate in a Tropical Urban Atmosphere
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Biomass Burning on Temporal and Diurnal Variations of Acidic Gases, Particulate Nitrate, and Sulfate in a Tropical Urban Atmosphere
title_short Influence of Biomass Burning on Temporal and Diurnal Variations of Acidic Gases, Particulate Nitrate, and Sulfate in a Tropical Urban Atmosphere
title_sort influence of biomass burning on temporal and diurnal variations of acidic gases particulate nitrate and sulfate in a tropical urban atmosphere
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/828491
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