As the world celebrates 'Ozone Day', the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, found a low concentration of Ozone over Guwahati.
The scientists of that institute have assessed the near-surface ozone in the Brahmaputra River Valley (BRV) and found that the concentration of near-surface Ozone (Tropospheric) over Guwahati to be relatively low compared to the other urban locations in India.
ARIES, which is an autonomous research institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) Government of India, recently published their work in the journal ‘Atmospheric Pollution Research’.
Chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) basically create this specific layer. When the pollutants released by cars, chemical plants, and other sources chemically react in the presence of sunlight, it increases the tropospheric layer, impacting human health.
Dr. Umesh Chandra Dumka, a scientist at ARIES who led the research along with his team members, examined the ozone variability and other air pollutants over the region.
In this very study, the examination of nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone concentrations made it very clear that this site is well influenced by local origins. Also looking at the photo-stationary state of the region during day time ensured a low impact of organic species on the ozone concentrations.