Estimating the Contribution of Brick Kiln Industry to PM2.5 Emission
over Northern India
Abstract
This study examines the effects of Indian brick kiln (BK) industry,
which is the second-largest in the world, to PM2.5 emission over the
northern part of the country. We analyze MODIS LAI/FPAR and global land
cover products, as well as NASA’s LDAS vegetation and soil datasets with
3887 BK plantation locations over the region for determining the
contribution of brick kiln industry to fine particulates emission,
especially during its highest concentration period in December to
February. Our preliminary results show more than 60% of BK plantations
are located in silt-rich areas for making brick kiln with more than 80%
plantations are situated over croplands on the outskirts of urban areas
(Figure 1), indicating proxies for the increase of PM2.5 emission over
Northern India.