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

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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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Acknowledgements

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)’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53-University Road, Lucknow, 226007, India

    Rajesh Agnihotri & S. K. Basumatary

  2. CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, Dr. K.S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Rajesh Agnihotri, Ravi Sawlani, C. Sharma & S. K. Mishra

  3. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-NPL Campus, Dr. K.S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Ravi Sawlani, C. Sharma & S. K. Mishra

  4. School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India

    M. M. Azam & Jayant Tripathi

  5. CSIR-Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute, Bhopal, 462026, India

    Rajeev Kumar

  6. Department of Physics, IIT Hyderabad, Kandi, Telangana, 502285, India

    T. Narayanan

  7. Jay Narayan Vyas University, Jodhpur, 342001, India

    J. S. Rathore

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Agnihotri, R., Sawlani, R., Azam, M.M. et al. Geochemical, stable isotopic, palynological characterization of surface dry soils and atmospheric particles over Jodhpur city (Thar Desert, Rajasthan) during peak summer of 2013. MAPAN 35, 53–67 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12647-019-00337-5

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