Analysing temporal variability of particulate matter and possible contributing factors over Mahabaleshwar, a high-altitude station in Western Ghats, India.

Airborne particulate matter (PM) plays a vital role on climate change as well as human health. In the present study, temporal variability associated with mass concentrations of PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and PM 1.0 were analysed using ground observations from Mahabaleswar (1348 m AMSL, 17.56 0 N, 73.4 0 E), a high-altitude station in the Western Ghats, India from June 2012 to May 2013. Concentrations of PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and PM 1.0 showed strong diurnal, monthly, seasonal and weekday-weekend trends. The seasonal variation of PM 1.0 and PM 2.5 has showed highest concentrations during winter season compared to monsoon and pre-monsoon, but in the case of PM 10 it showed highest concentrations in pre-monsoon season. Similarly, slightly higher PM concentrations were observed during weekends compared to weekdays. In addition, possible contributing factors to this temporal variability has been analysed based on the variation of secondary pollutants such as NO 2 , SO 2 , CO and O 3 and long range transport of dust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]