[H-CG28] Air Pollution and Health Effects of Agricultural Residue Burning and Pathways to Solutions

[HCG28-03] Modeling analysis of impacts from Kharif crops residue burning on air quality over North India

*Kazuyo Yamaji^1,2, Mizuo Kajino^3,2, Sachiko Hayashida^2,4, Takashi Yoda⁵, Kansuke Sasaki⁵, Moeko Saito⁵, Arisu Kameda⁵ (1.Kobe University, 2.Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, 3.Meteorological Research Institute, 4.Nara Women's University, 5.Japan Weather Association)

Keywords:atmospheric pollutants, North India, chemical transport model, emission inventory

The remarkable increase in atmospheric pollutant concentrations, such as CO, O₃, and PM_2.5 over the megacities of South Asia has caused major attention from all over the world. Especially, during the dry season, from October to February, the concentration levels of these atmospheric pollutants tend to be enhanced over the megacities in North India. Our chemical transport model simulation using WRF/CMAQ could capture well the seasonal variability of observed PM_2.5 concentrations in Delhi, India, however, the model tended to overestimate PM_2.5 in the rainy season but to clearly underestimate in the dry season. The simulated underestimate in the dry season seemed be caused by uncertainties in satellite-derived biomass burning emission inventories, notably for the small-scale open burning after the Kharif harvest and the other unknown sources. A statistical-derived emission inventory for crop residue burning developed by our Aakash project provides higher emissions than satellite-derived inventory. We will show the simulated atmospheric pollutant concentrations using WRF/CMAQ simulation driven by the new statistical-derived emission inventory, and that will help to understand air pollution over North India