Studies on atmospheric turbidity over a tropical urban environment

The particulate pollution in the atmosphere can be assessed using various methods like measuring aerosol mass concentration, aerosol optical depth, number density of airborne particles, etc. In the present study, measurements on aerosol optical depth using sunphotometer, aerosol mass concentration in different size ranges using QCM particle analyzer and black carbon aerosol using Aethalometer have been carried out during January to May, 2003, to characterize the atmospheric turbidity over Hyderabad. Spectral variation of aerosol optical depth suggests dominance of accumulation mode particles over the study area. Frequency analysis of turbidity coefficient suggests that polluted atmosphere is prevailing over the study area. Measured values of turbidity parameters in the present study have been compared with that in other major cities of the world and the results are discussed in the article. Copyright. (C) 2004 Royal Meteorological Society