Abstract

The recent advancements in low-cost gas sensing technology has completely changed the way in which the routine observations are carried out. Though, such low-cost technologies suffer from various challenges pertaining to data quality. But there is a strong need to test these low cost, light weight sensors installed in the instruments in field campaigns. In the present work, we discuss the use of developed gaseous monitoring system (350gm, 7” *3” *2”) equipped with electrochemical gas sensors for understanding and quantifying major gaseous pollutants. Alpha sense sensors were used to measure gas pollutant species like CO, SO₂, NO₂, and O₃. The developed system was operated over Delhi (28.38° N, 77.10° E; urban site) and Sunderpur, Kurukshetra (29.96° N, 76.87° E, rural site) during monsoon season of 2017. The monthly averaged mean value of SO₂, NO₂, CO, and O₃ concentrations over the entire study period in Delhi were found to be 6.07ppb, 70.27 ppb, 0.43ppm, and 53.49ppb, respectively while the same has been observed to be 4.04ppb, 50.02 ppb, 0.25ppm, and 40.25ppb, respectively in Sunderpur, Kurukshetra. SO₂ and CO concentrations were observed to be decreased by 72% and 33%, respectively while NO₂ and O₃ by 50.24% and 40.48%, respectively at Sunderpur, Kurukshetra relative to that of Delhi. Monthly uncertainties of field measurements associated with four electrochemical sensors have been calculated for Delhi and Sunderpur, Kurukshetra. The results were found to be in good agreement with that of other reported studies during the monsoon season.

Keywords: Gaseous pollutants; Electrochemical sensors; LWGSS; Testing; Urban; Rural