High time and mass resolved PTR-TOF-MS measurements of VOCs at an urban site of India during winter: Role of anthropogenic, biomass burning, biogenic and photochemical sources

Abstract

This study is based on the high mass and time-resolved measurements of seven VOCs using a PTR-TOF-MS instrument at an urban site of India during winter 2013. Daily levels of OVOCs and aromatics were in the ranges of 3.5-37. ppbv and 0.85-23. ppbv, respectively with OVOCs accounted for up to 80% of total measured VOCs. The impact of long-range transport from the polluted Indo-Gangetic Plain and clean Thar desert was observed during the episodes of high and low VOCs, respectively. VOCs exhibited strong diurnal variations with peaks during morning and evening hours and lowest in the afternoon. Relatively elevated aromatics during evening hours coincided with the lowest-OVOCs indicating influence of fresh vehicular emissions. Emission ratios of isoprene and OVOCs with respect to benzene followed the diurnal cycles of temperature and solar flux indicating role of biogenic and photochemical processes, respectively. Correlation study of VOCs with benzene suggests major contribution from anthropogenic and also from biogenic and secondary sources to some extent. The higher emission ratios of {increment}methanol/{increment}acetonitrile correspond to the episodes of long-range transport from biomass burning sources located in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). In addition to the pattern of emission, the diurnal and day-to-day variations of VOCs were influenced by the local meteorological conditions and depth of planetary boundary layer (PBL).