k|ltlaDa
Nature reflects our nature
mandu must have reached the KU
site during that period. This needs
further confirmation by analyzing
different wind fields, meteorological
observations, satellite and model-
ling of air over the sites. This does
not mean the total contribution of air
pollution in KU is from Kathmandu;
there are various local emissions
over the surrounding areas, such as
pollution from waste burning, brick
kilns and pollutants emitted from traf-
fic from Banepa. However, this study
paves a way forward for air pollution
in the region and confirms KU atmo-
sphere is not safe from pollution from
the highly polluted capital valley.
Moreover, good associations among
HgP concentrations at Kathmandu
and KU site further suggested the
transport of particulate mercury from
Kathmandu to Dhulikhel (Tripathee
et al., 2019, in preparation). This is
a preliminary finding from one-year
observations of aerosols over the
middle hill site in Nepal, which needs
wide dissemination among environ-
mental professionals, students, pol-
icymakers as well as the local pub-
lic. The increasing air pollution over
the region has great impact on the
health of the human being as well
as the whole ecosystems. The at-
mospheric pollution could also im-
pact on the aquatic, terrestrial and
the Cryospheric environment of our
frazil Himalayas, as it could be long-
range transported and deposited via
wet/dry deposition. Furthermore,
black carbon aerosols deposited on
the glacier surface can decrease the
albedo and enhance glacier melting.
Therefore, KU as one of the best
Universities in Nepal should perform
the researches on such critical is-
sues of air pollution and impacts on
the Himalayan environment and the
ecosystems.
Fig. 2. Total suspended particulates (TSP) and PM2.5 in Kathmandu and
Dhulikhel and their associations during the pre-monsoon period
need for continuous long-term sampling and observation of
aerosols in order to understand: the concentrations, season-
ality and transport mechanisms of air pollution in KU, Dhu-
likhel. In addition, there is a need for spatial studies as the
air quality is variable due to its complex geography and me-
teorology of the region. Since air pollution is the hot topic in
our region due to its severe health impacts; I feel the depart-
ment of environmental science and engineering and clubs
like NSCS should give importance to atmospheric research
and formulate research-based recommendations to improve
the atmospheric environment of the University as well as the
whole nations. Moreover, long-term spatial and temporal in-
vestigation of air pollution and their sources can be helpful
to formulate new policies and acts to reduce pollution and to
understand the trans-boundary air pollution and implement
mitigation strategies. I am very hopeful that KU, DESE will
think about such serious environmental issues and start new
studies on these topics in the future. I am grateful to share
findings on air quality from the University I graduated. I would
also like to thank Dr. Kundan Lal Shrestha and his student
Kundan Yadav for their support on aerosol sampling in the
University and the head of the department of DESE, Prof.
Bibhuti Ranjan Jha for the support for this project.
Lekhendra Tripathee, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science , Northwest Insti-
tute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of
Sciences
Therefore, in my opinion, there is a
Nature and Social Concern Society
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