Geochemical, stable isotopic, palynological characterization of surface dry soils and atmospheric particles over Jodhpur city (Thar Desert, Rajasthan) during peak summer of 2013

Agnihotri, Rajesh and Sawlani, Ravi and Narayanan, T and et al, . (2020) Geochemical, stable isotopic, palynological characterization of surface dry soils and atmospheric particles over Jodhpur city (Thar Desert, Rajasthan) during peak summer of 2013. MAPAN-Journal Metrology Society of India, 35 (1). pp. 53-67. ISSN 0970-3950

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Abstract

Atmospheric dust originating from the Thar Desert (India) acts as the local source of mineral dust in South Asia, spreading over an area of 0.32 × 106 km2. Regional studies conducted during peak boreal summer are required to characterize this mineral dust that blows in form of episodic dust storms towards Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), using a multi-tracer approach. To achieve this goal, atmospheric PM10 particles were collected along with surface dry soils between 3 and 11 June, 2013, from in and around the Jodhpur city (26.2389°N, 73.0243°E) to glean elemental composition, stable isotopic and palynological (pollen types) database. Typical crustal elemental ratios, e.g. Si/Al, Ca/Al, Fe/Al, K/Al, Mg/Al, Ti/Al, varied in narrow ranges 8.1 ± 1.21, 1.02 ± 1.53, 0.50 ± 0.14, 0.34 ± 0.06, 0.19 ± 0.06 and 0.06 ± 0.02, respectively. Average Sr/Al, Rb/Al and Zr/Al ratios were found to be 39.70 ± 12.24, 18.00 ± 2.0 and 70.83 ± 13.11 (μg gm−1/wt%), respectively. Average δ13C, δ15N, δ34S values of surface soils were − 10.5‰ ± 4.0, 11.4‰ ± 1.6 and 3.6‰ ± 2.1, while δ13C and δ15N of atmospheric PM10 particles varied in ranges − 25.6‰ ± 0.67 and 9.9‰ ± 1.7, respectively. Observed palynoassemblage indicated the open nature of vegetation that usually grows under warm-humid conditions with traces of few allergens and pathogens. Generated chemical-isotopic-pollen database could be utilized for deciphering origin of dust storms in IGP. Detailed multi-proxy characterization of mineral dust from the Thar Desert can further help to determine its role in influencing air quality and human health.

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IITH Creators:

IITH Creators	ORCiD

Item Type:

Article

Additional Information:

We thank Directors of CSIR—National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, and Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, for facilities. This work is a part of project sanctioned by the CSIR under its XII Five Year Plan network project ‘AIM_IGPHim (PSC-0112)’.

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Atmospheric aerosols; Carbon isotopes; Nitrogen isotopes; Pollens; Sulphur isotopes; Surface soils; Thar Desert

Subjects:

Physics

Divisions:

Department of Physics

Depositing User:

Team Library

Date Deposited:

03 Sep 2019 04:38

Last Modified:

07 Nov 2022 04:57