Trend Analysis for Different Types of Aerosols in Conjugation with Temperatures for the Indian Region During the Post-monsoon Season (1980–2019)

Abstract

This study has made an effort to understand the long-term changes of aerosol loadings as well as temperature in the post-monsoon season (October–November) over a long period of 40 years (1980–2019) for the Indian region using MERRA-2 reanalysis data. Special emphasis has been given on the highly populated and polluted cities of the country notably, Delhi, Mumbai, Kanpur, and Jaipur. The study focuses on the trends in total column optical depth for aerosols with specific reference to black carbon, organic carbon and sulphates. The rapid urbanisation and increasing population growth of the cities have brought tremendous amount of air pollution levels, and a substantial increase in aerosol optical depth levels, especially in the recent decades. The changes in temperature were analysed by studying the air temperature at 2 m height and the surface air temperature parameters. The long-term trend analysis of aerosols showed an increasing trend in rapid rise of the aerosol optical depth levels. Corresponding increase or decrease in temperature trends have been discussed.