The Indian Ocean Experiment: Widespread Air Pollution from South and Southeast Asia

TLDR

Fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning generate high aerosol loading. INDOEX was an international, multiplatform field campaign conducted from January to March 1999 to measure long‑range transport of air pollution from South and Southeast Asia to the Indian Ocean. The study found unusually high pollution across the northern Indian Ocean, with agricultural burning and biofuel use driving elevated CO levels, leading to widespread air quality degradation and a reduced atmospheric oxidizing capacity.

Abstract

The Indian Ocean Experiment (INDOEX) was an international, multiplatform field campaign to measure long-range transport of air pollution from South and Southeast Asia toward the Indian Ocean during the dry monsoon season in January to March 1999. Surprisingly high pollution levels were observed over the entire northern Indian Ocean toward the Intertropical Convergence Zone at about 6°S. We show that agricultural burning and especially biofuel use enhance carbon monoxide concentrations. Fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning cause a high aerosol loading. The growing pollution in this region gives rise to extensive air quality degradation with local, regional, and global implications, including a reduction of the oxidizing power of the atmosphere.