Varanasi: An international team of scientists has found in their study that nitrogen aerosols are threatening the delicate ecosystem in the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau. Dr. Kirpa Ram of the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, was part of this global research team, which for the first time has been able to identify the source of the nitrogen aerosol, which until now was unknown. The study, which indicates that a significant increase in nitrogen concentration is observed during March and April due to forest fires, has been published in the globally reputed scientific journal Environmental Science and Technology.
Ram said that Himalaya and the Tibetan Plateau (HTP) region is still quite pristine (although it has seen an increase in wind). pollution in recent years) and is unique in terms of its biodiversity.
The researchers conducted chemical and satellite-based analysis as well as field observation to arrive at the findings. Ram said, “The study explored the abundance, sources and deposition of nitrogen aerosols in the fragile and eco-sensitive Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau region. Through ground-based chemical and stable isotope analysis and satellite-based atmospheric observations at the Qomolangma Monitoring Station, located 4.3 km above sea level, the researchers provided clear evidence that wildfire emissions in South Asia can reach the Himalayas and may be in danger. HTP ecosystem. Although such wildfire events are mostly of relatively short duration in spring (March–April), they not only substantially increased the atmospheric nitrogen concentration, but also changed its composition.
According to them, the study provides a new understanding for the assessment of the impact of wildfires induced by human activities and climate change in the HTP region.
The team of scientists also included researchers from the Tibetan Plateau State Key Laboratory of Earth Systems, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), the Tibetan Plateau Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and international collaborators Geotop/Université du Québec; Montreal (UQAM), Canada.
Ram said that Himalaya and the Tibetan Plateau (HTP) region is still quite pristine (although it has seen an increase in wind). pollution in recent years) and is unique in terms of its biodiversity.
The researchers conducted chemical and satellite-based analysis as well as field observation to arrive at the findings. Ram said, “The study explored the abundance, sources and deposition of nitrogen aerosols in the fragile and eco-sensitive Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau region. Through ground-based chemical and stable isotope analysis and satellite-based atmospheric observations at the Qomolangma Monitoring Station, located 4.3 km above sea level, the researchers provided clear evidence that wildfire emissions in South Asia can reach the Himalayas and may be in danger. HTP ecosystem. Although such wildfire events are mostly of relatively short duration in spring (March–April), they not only substantially increased the atmospheric nitrogen concentration, but also changed its composition.
According to them, the study provides a new understanding for the assessment of the impact of wildfires induced by human activities and climate change in the HTP region.
The team of scientists also included researchers from the Tibetan Plateau State Key Laboratory of Earth Systems, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), the Tibetan Plateau Research Institute, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and international collaborators Geotop/Université du Québec; Montreal (UQAM), Canada.