The online measured black carbon aerosol and source orientations in the Nam Co region, Tibet

Equivalent black carbon (eBC) mass concentrations were measured by an aethalometer (AE-31) in the Nam Co, central Tibet from 2010 to 2014. Different from previous filter-sampling studies (Ming et al., J Environ Sci 22(11):1748–1756, 2010; Zhao et al., Environ Sci Pollut Res 20:5827–5838, 2013), the first high-resolution online eBC measurement conducted in central Tibet is reported here, allowing to discuss the diurnal variations as well as seasonal variabilities of eBC. Average daily eBC concentration was 74 ± 50 ng/m3, reflecting a global background level. Meteorological conditions influenced eBC concentrations largely at seasonal scale, which are higher in February–May but lower in June–January. The highest eBC concentrations (greater than 210 ng/m3) were more associated with the W and WSW winds smaller than 6 m/s. The diurnal variations of eBC showed plateaus from 10:00 to 15:00 with seasonal variations, associated with local anthropogenic activities, such as indigenous Tibetan burning animal waste and tourism traffic. The PBLHs showed a co-variance with eBC concentrations, implicating close sources. The aerosol optical depths derived from the MODIS data over the Nam Co Observatory Station (NCOS)-included sub-area (30° N–40° N, 90° E–100° E) showed significant relationship with eBC concentrations. This suggests that nearby or short-distance sources other than long-distance transported pollutants could be important contributors to eBC concentrations at the NCOS, different from the conclusions suggested by previous studies

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Not AvailableOut of the 15.9 mha of total Wetland area in the country, the North-East (NE) accounts for 1.06 mha, which is around 4170% of the total geographic area of the region. Thereare7731 wetlands in theNEstates, besides11736 verysmall wetlands. Loktak lake is the only floating lake in the world and the largest freshwater lake of NE. The lake covers an area of about 26600 ha. It was designated as the wetland of international importance under Ramsar site in 1990. However, deterioration of the Loktak Lake due to pollution and human factor is posing a greatest threat to rural livelihood security of the region and the environment. The fishing Community directly depends on the lake for various purposes besides fishing, like food, fuel, fodder, medicinal plants. handicrafts, raw materials etc. Some efforts have been Initiated at various levels to conserve the lake. More than 600 volunteers, 32 city coordinators and 1 Worldwide coordinator are involved in organizing campaions to convev the need for Conserving the lake immediately. The campaign is supported hVmore than 20 international and national organizations which will be concluded in 2017 with a drand campaign at the vicinity of the Lake by involvind the local nhabitants local NGOs and government officials. On the other hand. manv women leaders and men representing various fishermen organizations have expressed 'concerns on the intent of the Manipur Loktak Protection Act, 2006 that directly affect the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen community (90%) surviving on the lake since. The Act overlooked the socio-economic and cultural rights of the people and ecological relationships with the lake by not giving any alternate ways of earning to the fishermen. The importance of the rights of community participation in protecting the endangered ecology of Loktak lake should also be emphasized. This paper attempts to discuss in length the fate of Loktak Lake in the context of pollution and the various measures taken by various organizations to conserve the lake for future.Not Availabl

Assessment of aerosol optical and micro-physical features retrieved from direct and diffuse solar irradiance measurements from Skyradiometer at a high altitude station at Merak

Optical and micro-physical features of aerosol are reported using Skyradiometer (POM-01L, Prede, Japan) observations taken from a high-altitude station Merak, located in north-eastern Ladakh of the western trans-Himalayas region during January 2011 to December 2013. The observed daily mean aerosol optical depth (AOD, at 500 nm) at the site varied from 0.01 to 0.14. However, 75 % of the observed AOD lies below 0.05 during the study period. Seasonal peaks of AOD occurred in spring as 0.06 and minimum in winter as 0.03 which represents the aged background aerosols at the site. Yearly mean AOD at 500 nm is found to be around 0.04 and inter-annual variations of AOD is very small (nearly +/- 0.01). Angstrom exponent (a) varied seasonally from 0.73 in spring to 1.5 in autumn. About 30 % of the observed a lies below 0.8 which are the indicative for the presence of coarse-mode aerosols at the site. The station exhibits absorbing aerosol features which prominently occurred during spring and that may be attributed by the transported anthropogenic aerosol from Indo-Gangatic Plain (IGP). Results were well substantiated with the air mass back-trajectory analysis. Furthermore, seasonal mean of single scattering albedo (SSA at 500 nm) varied from of 0.94 to 0.98 and a general increasing trend is noticed from 400 to 870 nm wavelengths. These features are apparently regional characteristics of the site. Aerosol asymmetry factor (AS) decreases gradually from 400 to 870 nm and varied from 0.66 to 0.69 at 500 nm across the seasons. Dominance of desert-dust aerosols, associated by coarse mode, is indicated by tri-modal features of aerosol volume size distribution over the station during the entire seasons

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Not AvailableInternational conference on Climate change adaptation and biodiversity: Ecological Sustainability and Resource Management for livelihood securityNot Availabl