Assessment of the near surface air pollution, sources, and their potential at a tropical urban location Hyderabad, India
摘要
Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana state of India, is a rapidly growing tropical metropolis having a unique mix of industrial, vehicular, construction-related and residential emissions. This study presents a detailed assessment of major air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO, and O3) over Hyderabad using seven years (2017–2023) of data from six ground-based monitoring stations complemented by high-resolution satellite-derived hybrid PM2.5 and ERA5 reanalysis meteorological data. The PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations exceeded national air quality standards throughout the study period, peaking during the winter, while other pollutants remained within the limits. All pollutants peaked during the winter and postmonsoon except O3 which peaked during premonsoon. PM2.5, NO2, SO2, and O3 exhibited declining trends, whereas PM10 increased alongside a reduction in boundary layer height during daytime. Despite an ~ 2.86% per year decrease in PM2.5 during 2017–2023, its mean concentration remained ≈23% higher than the long-term mean (2001–2022). The mean fine-mode fraction (≈ 0.46) indicated the PM10 dominance in Hyderabad. A case study during the Covid lockdown period demonstrated the significant role of anthropogenic activities in the observed PM10 predominance over Hyderabad. However, regional-scale pollution advection dominated high-pollution events. These findings highlight the complex coupling between emissions and meteorology in shaping Hyderabad’s air quality and emphasize the need for targeted, season-specific mitigation strategies.