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Program for Computational Reactive Mechanics (PCRM)

Transport of air pollutants over the Indian Region

10. Hot Spots in Reference to Peak Values

Ozone hot spots are identified as the areas where the surface ozone concentration is higher than 60 ppbv at any time of the day during January 16 to May 29, 2000. These are described below for areas that cover some of the main Indian metropolitan cities, viz., Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkatta, Mumbai, and Varanasi. The concentration values are based on the results from the computer model discussed earlier. The numbers in red indicate the number of days the peak ozone concentration was greater than 90 parts per billion by volume (ppbv). Blue indicates the number of days the peak ozone concentration was between 80 and 89 ppbv. Green indicates the number of days the peak ozone concentration was between 70 and 79 ppbv, and the purple indicates the number of days the peak ozone concentration was between 60 and 69 ppbv.

The Chennai region covers between 10.5º N to 15º N and 75º E to 82.5º E. In the area between 14.5º N to 15º N and 79.5º E to 80º E, there were 32 days when the peak value of the ozone concentration in the surface air was between 60 - 69 ppbv, 7 days when the peak value was between 70 - 79 ppbv, and only 1 day when the peak value was between 80 - 89 ppbv. In the period, January 16 to May 29, 2000, the ozone concentration was never more than 90 ppbv in this area, though there were 2 days when the peak value of the ozone concentration in the surface air was greater than 90 ppbv in the area between 10.5º N to 11º N and 75º E to 75.5º E.

The Delhi region covers the area between 25º N to 30º N and 75º E to 80º E. According to present estimates there were 2 days when the peak value of the ozone concentration in the surface air was greater than 90 ppbv, 10 days when the peak concentration was between 80 - 89 ppbv, 23 days when it was between 70 - 79 ppbv, and 54 days when it was between 60 - 69 ppbv in the area covering 27º N to 27.5º N and 78º E to 78.5º E, which includes Agra, the city of Taj Mahal. In the area covering New Delhi between 28º N to 28.5º N and 77º E to 77.5º E, the corresponding days are 1, 6, 11, 54 for the same period. The National Physical Laboratory (New Delhi) measurements for 1997-2002 period have shown that only 25 days in the year 2000 had ozone concentrations of more than 80 ppbv (Jain S.L.; Personal Communication). This number has been fluctuating, with the highest of 158 days of 2001 with ozone concentrations more than 80 ppbv. In our ozone hotspot figure for Jan 16 to May 29, 2000, this analysis shows only about 7 days when values were above 80 ppbv. This is a good comparison.

The Hyderabad region covers the area between 15º N to 20º N and 75º E to 80º E. In the area between 17º N to 17.5º N and 78º E to 78.5º E which includes the city of Hyderabad, there were 36 days when the peak value of the ozone concentration in the surface air was between 60 - 69 ppbv, 15 days when the peak value was between 70 - 79 ppbv, and only 1 day when the peak value was between 80 - 89 ppbv.

The Kolkatta region covers the area between 20º N to 25º N and 85º E to 89.5º E. In the area between 22º N to 22.5º N and 87º E to 87.5º E, which includes the city of Kolkatta, there were 38 days when the peak value of the ozone concentration in the surface air was between 60 - 69 ppbv, 26 days when the peak value was between 70 - 79 ppbv, 22 days when the peak value was between 80 - 89 ppbv, and 4 days when the peak value was greater than 90ppbv. In the neighboring area between 22º N to 22.5º N and 88º E to 88.5º E which includes the city of Midnapur, there were 34 days with peak value between 60 - 69 ppbv, 24 days between 70 - 79 ppbv, 28 days between 80 - 89 ppbv, and 18 days when the peak value was greater than 90ppbv.

The Mumbai region covers the area between 15º N to 23.5º N and 70º E to 75º E. In the area between 18º N to 18.5º N and 73.5º E to 74º E which includes the city of Pune, there were 23 days with peak value between 60 - 69 ppbv, 12 days between 70 - 79 ppbv, 3 days between 80 - 89 ppbv, and none when the peak value was greater than 90ppbv. In the Arabian sea, near the shore of Mumbai (Mud Island), the area between 17.5º N to 18º N and 71.5º E to 72º E had 26 days with peak value between 60 - 69 ppbv, 16 days between 70 - 79 ppbv, 10 days between 80 - 89 ppbv, and 5 days when the peak value was greater than 90 ppbv. The wind transports the ozone produced on the surface. It remains there for a long time as there is no loss mechanism.

The Varanasi region covers the area between 23.5º N to 30.5º N and 80º E to 85º E. This area encompasses parts of the eastern Utter Predesh (UP), Nepal, and a small segment of China. Present estimates show that the surface ozone concentration is very high in certain parts of Nepal. For example, in the area between 28.5º N to 29º N and 83º E to 83.5º E, there were 49 days with peak value between 60 - 69 ppbv, 27 days between 70 - 79 ppbv, 12 days between 80 - 89 ppbv, and 17 days when the peak value was greater than 90 ppbv in the four and a half month period (Jan 16 to May 29, 2000). At present, we do not have access to any measurement data for surface ozone concentrations for Nepal. In the area between 25º N to 25.5º N and 83º E to 83.5º E which includes the city of Varanasi, there were 52 days with peak value between 60 - 69 ppbv, 39 days between 70 - 79 ppbv, 21 days between 80 - 89 ppbv, and 6 days when the peak value was greater than 90 ppbv.