Long term influence of groundwater preservation policy on stubble burning and air pollution over North-West India.

ABSTRACT: Stubble burning (SB) has been a major source of seasonal aerosol loading and pollution over northern India. The aftereffects of groundwater preservation act i.e., post 2010 era (2011-2020) has seen delay in crop harvesting thereby shifting the peak SB to May (Wheat SB) and to November (Paddy SB) by 8-10 and 10-12 days compared to pre-2010. Groundwater storage depletion rate of 29.2 mm yr^-1 was observed over the region. Post 2010 era shows an increase of 1.4% in wheat SB and 21% in Paddy SB fires over Punjab and Haryana with 70% of PM_2.5 air mass clusters (high probability > 0.8) advecting to the downwind regions leading to 23-26% increase in PM_2.5 and 4-6% in aerosol loading over National Capital Region (NCR). Although the objective of water conservation po

SUBMITTER: Kant Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8825838 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature