ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nitrogen pollution is an upcoming concern in both developed and developing countries. It is linked with human health as well as biodiversity loss. Reactive nitrogen species in their oxidized (NOx) as well as reduced forms (NHx) are responsible for turning Nitrogen from a limiting nutrient to a pollutant in excess enriching ecosystems all over the world. In India, IGP is considered to be a global hotspot for Ammonia, a short-lived gas lasting for only a few hours, arising from the agricultural activities in the area. In the atmosphere, it reacts with nitrogen di oxide to form particulate matter which can live for longer and can cause transboundary impacts. Himalayas, being a zone of ecological importance became an area of interest given the close proximity to IGP. The agenda of this study is to assess the ammonia trends in the Western Himalayas of Uttarakhand as well as its impacts on pollution sensitive indicator species; Lichens. Time series analysis has been conducted for NH3 as well as NO2 using the satellite sensors IASI and OMI respectively. The analysis shows that ammonia concentrations in the atmosphere peaks every July and nitrogen dioxide peaks every April. This finding is in accordance with ground reality as well since fertilizer application leading to NH3 emissions and vehicular activities and biomass burning leading to NO2 emissions also occur around the same months. Lichens were shortlisted from non-vascular cryptogamic forms as the most ideal specimen for studies on Nitrogen deposition and its impacts on biological forms.
Key words: Remote sensing, Nitrogen, IASI, OMI, Ammonia, Lichens.
