Influence of meteorological parameters on atmospheric CO2 at Bharati, the Indian Antarctic research station

• Published in: Polar research 2018-01, Vol.37 (1), p.1-8
• Main Authors: Pathakoti, Mahesh, Gaddamidi, Sreenivas, Gharai, Biswadip, Sudhakaran Syamala, Prijith, Rao, Pamaraju Venkata Narasimha, Choudhury, Saroj Bandh, Raghavendra, Kaila Venkata, Dadhwal, Vinay Kumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air masses; Air temperature; AT: air temperature; atmosfæren; Atmosphere; Atmospheric boundary layer; Biological activity; BLH: atmospheric boundary layer height; Boundary layers; Carbon dioxide; Climate change; Correlation analysis; Data processing; Expeditions; Greenhouse effect; Greenhouse gases; Humidity; Hydrologic data; karbondioksid; Li-Cor CO; Li-Cor CO2/H2O analyser; long-range air-mass transport; Low concentrations; Mass transport; Meteorological parameters; methane; Multiple regression analysis; NRSC: National Remote Sensing Centre; O analyser; O: water vapour; PAR: photosynthetically active radiation; Parameters; Photosynthetically active radiation; Polar environments; Precipitation; Radiation; Rainfall; Regression analysis; Relative humidity; Remote sensing; Research centers; RH: relative humidity; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Trends; Variability; Wind speed; WS: wind speed
• ISSN: 1751-8369; 0800-0395; 1751-8369
• DOI: 10.1080/17518369.2018.1442072

During the 35th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica, measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) were carried out using a Li-Cor CO 2 /H 2 O analyser at Bharati, the Indian Antarctic research station. This study examines the short-term variability of atmospheric CO 2 during the austral summer (January-February) of 2016. An average of 396.25 ± 4.20 ppm was observed during the study period. Meteorological parameters such as relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed, air temperature and atmospheric boundary layer height in conjunction with photosynthetically active radiation, the biological activity indicator which modulates atmospheric CO 2 concentration have been investigated. High wind speed (>20 m s −1 ) combined with precipitation scavenges CO 2 in the atmosphere, resulting in low concentrations at the study site. The lowest CO 2 concentration of 385 ppm coincided with heavy precipitation of 15 mm during study period. Statistical analysis of the data shows that precipitation and relative humidity independently correlated 55% (r = −0.55) and 32% (r = −0.32), respectively, with the variability of CO 2 mixing in the atmosphere at the study site. Atmospheric CO 2 was significantly correlated with precipitation alone with a p value of 0.003. Further, multiple regression analysis was performed to test the significant relation between variability of atmospheric CO 2 and meteorological parameters. Long-range air-mass transport analysis depicted that the majority of the air masses are reaching the study site through the oceanic region.