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AuthorBilal, Muhammad
AuthorHassan, Mujtaba
AuthorTahir, Danyal Bin Taufiq
AuthorIqbal, Muhammad Shahid
AuthorShahid, Imran
Available date2022-09-07T07:40:23Z
Publication Date2022-02-01
Publication NameEnvironmental Monitoring and Assessment
Identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09674-y
CitationBilal, M., Hassan, M., Tahir, D.B.T. et al. Understanding the role of atmospheric circulations and dispersion of air pollution associated with extreme smog events over South Asian megacity. Environ Monit Assess 194, 82 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09674-y
ISSN01676369
URIhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85122486816&origin=inward
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/33749
AbstractThe winter fog/haze events in northeastern Pakistan and surrounding regions of India are often mixed with pollutants to form smog, and consequently damage human health and hampers daily life in the form of fatalities through road accidents, road blockages, and flight delays. The persistent anti-cyclonic conditions can further trigger the temperature inversion and prolong the smog event from days to weeks. The present study provides characteristics and lasting mechanisms of two persistent winter fog events (2016–2017) in Lahore, Pakistan, by using the fifth generation of European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) ERA5 reanalysis data and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model simulated with Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) meteorological data. The results showed the presence of strong low-level anti-cyclonic circulations with wind speed less than 1.5 m/s from November to January over Eastern Punjab for two foggy winter seasons. The deep inversion during the fog events was observed that prevented the natural ventilation of air in the upper atmosphere and ultimately the smoke and heavy pollutant accumulated in the lower atmosphere. Furthermore, high relative humidity greater than 83% near the ground indicates a high condensation rate for water vapors to form fog near the ground. The analysis of the NOAA HYSPLIT trajectory model at different vertical heights revealed that smoke from stubble crop burning in the first week of November 2017 in Punjab and Haryana mixed with fog under favorable stable conditions that lead to intense smog over Lahore. This study will help to understand and to develop a forecasting mechanism of fog events by characterizing the meteorological conditions of the study area and to minimize the adverse impacts of smog on public health.
SponsorImran Shahid was partially supported by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (Grant No. 17-PBAIRP-WS-18).
Languageen
PublisherSpringer
SubjectAtmospheric dispersion
Northeastern Punjab
Temperature inversion
Wind circulations
TitleUnderstanding the role of atmospheric circulations and dispersion of air pollution associated with extreme smog events over South Asian megacity
TypeArticle
Issue Number2
Volume Number194
ESSN1573-2959
dc.accessType Full Text


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