Dust transport from NW India, Pakistan & Arabian Sea main Aerosol pollution

• Dust transport from NW India, Pakistan & Arabian Sea – main aerosol sources in central Himalayan region.
• According to a study conducted by researchers at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, mineral dust, biomass burning, secondary sulfate, secondary nitrate from northwest India and Pakistan, polluted cities like Delhi, the Thar Desert, and the Arabian Sea area, and long-range transported marine mixed aerosols are the main sources of aerosols in the central Himalayan region.
• This dust transport and forest fires are the main sources of total suspended particles (TSP), particularly in pre-monsoon period (March-May) when TSP concentration peaks in the region.
• With a unique role in the Asian climate, the Himalayan region is considered a vulnerable environment.
• There was predominance of mineral dust in spring and summer and biomass burning and secondary sulfate in winter.

Aerosol pollution:

• Aerosol pollution refers to particles in the air emitted by vehicles and factories that burn fossil fuels.
• This pollution contributes to asthma, bronchitis, and long-term irritation of the respiratory tract, which can lead to cancer.
• Aerosols can be tiny droplets, dust particles, bits of fine black carbon, and other things, and as they float through the atmosphere they change the whole energy balance of the planet.