Quantification and spatial analysis of gridded (0.1° × 0.1°) emission of indirect GHGs/Air pollutants from anthropogenic sources in India.

Indirect greenhouse gases (GHGs) play a key role in modulating both regional and global atmospheric chemistry and act as air pollutants that degrade air quality. The rising number of premature deaths and notable health hazards could be linked to increasing concentration of these air pollutants in the atmosphere. As a developing nation, India is often regarded as one of the most polluting countries due to increasing anthropogenic activities. Therefore, identifying the sources of these indirect GHGs gases such as CO, NOx, VOC and SO2 and quantifying their emissions has become a critical requirement for understanding regional atmospheric chemistry. In this study, we developed a comprehensive, technology-driven gridded emission inventory for India at a high resolution (0.1°×0.1°) for the base year 2020. Using the IPCC bottom-up approach, the study estimated the total emissions of CO (45 Tg/yr), NOx (22.8 Tg/yr), VOC (10.8 Tg/yr) and SO2 (15.1 Tg/yr) from all the dominating sources. Vehicle exhaust contributes the most NOx and VOC whereas the residential and power sectors are the highest emitters of CO and SO2, respectively. This newly reported surface emission data would be an essential tool for policymakers in formulating mitigation strategies and will also serve as a vital input for atmospheric chemistry and climate studies.