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Program for Computational Reactive Mechanics (PCRM)Transport of air pollutants over the Indian RegionEnergy activities, such as vehicular transport and power generation from combustion of fossil fuels and burning of biomass as domestic fuel, together are estimated to account for most of the atmospheric polluting agents, such as CO2, NOx, SO2, CO, volatile organic compound (VOC), and suspended particulate matter (SPM), including fine particulate matter of diameter less than 2.5 microns (PM 2.5) that affect the climate, human health, and agriculture. Carbon monoxide (CO) peaks of more than 140 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) have been recorded at street level at important intersections. Ozone is secondary pollutants generated by photolysis of VOC1 and NOx. Table 1 gives the emissions (million tons) for the year 1997 from vehicular transport and power generation (coal based power plants) and for the year 1996-97 from biomass burning. Table 1: Mass emissions (million tons) from energy activities in India
Although the major categories of sources that contribute to air pollution in the Indian subcontinent are intuitive, the regional distribution of specific sources, i.e. locations of coal-burning power plants, industrial facilities, etc. have yet to be addressed in an organized and comprehensive manner to ascertain their contribution in the atmospheric concentrations of pollutants. 1VOC stands for a group of chemical substances of which the most important are: methane, butune, ethene, isoprene, methylbenzene, and butane
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