Study of aerosol optical properties in Lumbini, Nepal

Lumbini, Nepal's UNESCO World Heritage Site, experiences significant seasonal variations in aerosol optical properties due to heavy pollution from economic activities and urbanization. The study found that aerosol optical depth (AOD) peaks during the post-monsoon season at 0.61 ± 0.38, indicating severe pollution, while monsoon seasons see lower AOD values of 0.18 ± 0.12 with improved visibility up to 20 km. The research analyzed data from 2013 to 2019, revealing distinct seasonal fluctuations in parameters like single-scattering albedo (SSA), refractive index, and asymmetry parameter (AP). These variations are attributed to differing aerosol sources such as biomass burning, mixed aerosols, and anthropogenic activity. The study highlights the adverse impact of turbidity on visibility and the positive correlation between perceptible water and AOD, with maximum correlation at 440 nm wavelengths.

Sapkota, S., Gautam, S., Pokhrel, S., Gautam, A., Basnet, K., Mishra, R. K., & Regmi, J. (2023). Study of aerosol optical properties in Lumbini, Nepal. Bibechana, 20(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3126/bibechana.v20i1.48825