Anomalous variations in atmospheric carbon monoxide associated with the Tsunami

Abstract

Variations in ambient atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO) observed at an inland mining site in the Indo-Gangetic plains, Jaduguda (22o38′ N, 86o21′ E, 122m MSL, ~75 km away from the coast of the Bay of Bengal) during the Tsunami of 26 December 2004 were monitored. CO mixing ratio over this site was measured using a non-dispersive infrared analyzer (Monitor Europe Model 9830 B). Back trajectory analysis data obtained using NOAA Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) Model was also used for this study. Variations in CO mixing ratio at a coastal site, Thiruvananthapuram (8o29′ N, 76o57′ E, located ~2 km from the Arabian Sea coast) have also been investigated using CO data retrieved from the Measurement Of Pollution In The Troposphere (MOPITT) instrument. Ground-based measurements indicated abnormal variations in CO mixing ratio at Jaduguda from 25 December 2004 evening (previous day of the Tsunami). MOPITT CO data showed an enhancement in CO mixing ratio over Thiruvananthapuram on the Tsunami day. Back trajectory analyses over Thiruvananthapuram and Jaduguda for a period of 10 days from 21st to 30th December 2004 depicted that there were unusual vertical movements of air from high altitudes from 25 December 2004 evening. CO as well as the back trajectory analyses data showed that the variations in the wind regimes and consequently wind driven transport are the most probable reasons for the enhancement in CO observed at Jaduguda and Thiruvananthapuram during the Tsunami.