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Atmospheric CH 4 observations from two ground-based stations within Indian subcontinent, namely, Sinhagad (SNG) and Cape Rama station (CRI) showed a strong seasonality with a minima (∼1800 ± 20 ppb) during southwest monsoon (SWM; i.e. June–September, JJAS) and a maxima (2000 ± 30 ppb) during northeast monsoon (NEM i.e. December–February, DJF) with a peak-to-peak seasonality close to 200 ppb. The Indian summer (winter) monsoon is characterized with strong southwesterly (northeasterly) winds of oceanic (land) origin at the surface level and strong easterly (westerly) jet streams aloft. The monsoon dynamics has pronounced impact on CH 4 variability over India and is analyzed with winds, Lagrangian trajectories, and 3-dimentional distributions of CH 4 simulated by a general circulation model. The model simulations suggest a consistent annual vertical structure (mean and sub-seasonal uncertainty) of CH 4 over India with a stark contrast in concentration from summer to winter at surface levels (below 750 mb) in confirmation with what is identified by the ground-based observations. During SWM (NEM) the air with comparatively lower (higher) CH 4 concentrations from southern (northern) hemisphere reduces the CH 4 over India by 1814 ± 26 ppb (enhances by 1950 ± 51 ppb). The contribution of local fluxes to this seasonality appears to be albeit weak as the synthesized CH4 fluxes (from EDGAR dataset) of the Indian peninsula itself show a peak in summer and a dip in winter. Similar property of CH 4 is also common to nearby oceanic region (i.e. over Arabian Sea, 1765 ± 10 ppb during summer) suggesting the role of monsoon dynamics as the controlling factor. Further the mixing and convection carries the CH 4 to the upper atmosphere and advect inward or outward aloft according the seasonal monsoon dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have examined the impact of droughts on the atmospheric CO 2 spatial variability and changes its emission scenario over India. Surface monitoring over India is very sparse and have started recently. Satellite retrievals from AIRS/Aqua during 2004–2011 are used here to understand CO 2 variability over India. During recent decade, Indian region witnessed two drought years 2004 and 2009 and no flood. Year 2009 was mega drought for India ever seen, when actual rainfall was approx −23% below the mean rainfall over most part of India. Satellite retrieved mid-tropospheric CO 2 indicates increase of about 3 ppm during summer monsoon drought. Enhanced impact of drought conditions is also seen on subsequent seasons, winter (JF) and hot pre-monsoon season (MAM). Post-monsoon season (OND) does not show any clear impact, as rainfall during this season has its own variability quite different than summer monsoon (JJAS) may be compensating changes in CO 2 values. Decrease in vegetation and weak circulation patterns during drought conditions may have influences on distribution of CO 2 over Indian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the role of Asian monsoons on transport and spatial variability of atmospheric CO 2 over the Indian subcontinent, using transport modeling tools and available surface observations from two atmospheric CO 2 monitoring sites Sinhagad (SNG) and Cape Rama (CRI) in the western part of peninsular India. The regional source contributions to these sites arise from the horizontal flow in conduits within the planetary boundary layer. Greater CO 2 variability, greater than 15 ppm, is observed during winter, while it is reduced nearly by half during summer. The SNG air sampling site is more susceptible to narrow regional terrestrial fluxes transported from the Indo-Gangetic Plains in January, and to wider upwind marine source regions from the Arabian Sea in July. The Western Ghats mountains appear to play a role in the seasonal variability at SNG by trapping polluted air masses associated with weak monsoonal winds. A Lagrangian back-trajectory analysis further suggests that the horizontal extent of regional sensitivity increases from north to south over the Indian subcontinent in January (Boreal winter). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper we have studied variability and growth rate of surface observed atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (CO2) concentrations over Cape Rama, west coast of India and its association with rainfall and vegetation over this region. Cape Rama is a maritime site which experiences a seasonal reversal wind pattern receiving air masses having marine (continental) signatures during summer (winter) monsoon season. This study reveals that summer monsoon (JJAS) precipitation and monthly values of atmospheric CO2 concentration during the season are well correlated. Negative correlations are seen with CO2 concentrations of concurrent months of the season as well as subsequent months. However the magnitudes of correlation coefficients are decreased till hot pre-monsoon season (MAM). Annual cycle and interannual variability show negative relationship between CO2 concentration and vegetation over the region. CO2 concentration shows increasing trend and NDVI shows decreasing trend. However, the magnitude of increasing trend of CO2 concentration is higher. Amplitude of decreasing phase of vegetation is higher than the amplitude of increasing phase. Though the results show certain link between CO2 and climate variability, further examination with dense and longer data may be needed to confirm the result. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In a study based on a data assimilation product of the terrestrial biospheric fluxes of CO 2 over India, the subcontinent was hypothesized to be an anomalous source (sink) of CO 2 during the active (break) spells of rain in the summer monsoon from June to September (Valsala et al., 2013). We test this hypothesis here by investigating intraseasonal variability in the atmospheric CO 2 concentrations over India by utilizing a combination of ground-based and satellite observations and model outputs. The results show that the atmospheric CO 2 concentration also varies in synchrony with the active and break spells of rainfall with amplitude of ±2 ppm which is above the instrumental uncertainty of the present day techniques of atmospheric CO 2 measurements. The result is also consistent with the signs of the Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) flux anomalies estimated in our earlier work. The study thus offers the first observational affirmation of the above hypothesis although the data gap in the satellite measurements during monsoon season and the limited ground-based stations over India still leaves some uncertainty in the robust assertion of the hypothesis. The study highlights the need to capture these subtle variabilities and their responses to climate variability and change since it has implications for inverse estimates of terrestrial CO 2 fluxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to human activities, the atmospheric concentration of Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) has been rising extensively since the Industrial Revolution. Indian summer monsoon (ISM) has a dominant westerly component from ocean to land with a strong tendency to ascend and hence may have role in CO 2 distribution in lower and middle troposphere over Indian sub-continent. A substantial component of ISM variability arises from the fluctuations on the intra-seasonal scale between active and break phases which correspond to strong and weak monsoon circulation. In view of the above, an attempt is made in this study to examine the AIRS/AQUA satellite retrieved CO 2 distribution in response to atmospheric circulation with focus on active and break phase. Correlation analysis indicates the increase in AIRS CO 2 linked with strong monsoon circulation. Study also reveals that anomalous circulation pattern during active and break phase show resemblance with high and low values of AIRS CO 2 . Homogeneous monsoon regions of India show substantial increase in CO 2 levels during active phase. Hilly regions of India show strong contrast in CO 2 and vertical velocity during active and break phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amongst all the anthropogenically produced greenhouse gases (GHGs), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are the most important, owing to their maximum contribution to the net radiative forcing of the Earth. India is undergoing rapid economic development, where fossil fuel emissions have increased drastically in the last three decades. Apart from the anthropogenic activities, the GHGs dynamics in India are governed by the biospheric process and monsoon circulation; however, these aspects are not well addressed yet. Towards this, we have measured CO2 and CH4 concentration at Sinhagad, located on the Western Ghats in peninsular India. The average concentrations of CO2 and CH4 observed during the study period are 406.05 ± 6.36 and 1.97 ± 0.07 ppm (µ ± 1σ), respectively. They also exhibit significant seasonal variabilities at this site. CH4 (CO2) attains its minimum concentration during monsoon (post-monsoon), whereas CO2 (CH4) reaches its maximum concentration during pre-monsoon (post-monsoon). CO2 poses significant diurnal variations in monsoon and post-monsoon. However, CH4 exhibits a dual-peak like pattern in pre-monsoon. The study suggests that the GHG dynamics in the western region of India are significantly influenced by monsoon circulation, especially during the summer season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]