Air pollution: Slow winds to keep Delhi choked for 3 days
, ET Bureau|
Updated: Nov 08, 2017, 10.45 AM IST
Delhi recorded its highest air pollution level this season and pollution in the national capital region is expected to remain severe for at least three more days unless wind speed picks up significantly.
Accumulation of dust, high humidity level and no winds are major causes of deteriorating air quality, which has aggravated respiratory problems for asthma and heart patients, say experts Levels of particulate matter 2.5 – or fine particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres – over Delhi stood at a ‘severe’ 406 microgram per cubic metre compared to ‘satisfactory’ condition of 54 microgram per cubic metre in Mumbai as of November 7, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, which comes under Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, under the Ministry of Earth Science.
Levels of PM10 particles over Delhi stood at 645 microgram per cubic metre at 5 pm. The current pollution levels were at the highest, though they were better than the previous year, said scientists.
“Air pollution levels will prevail at severe (very poor) conditions for the next three days. Accumulation of dust is leading to high density of articulate matter 10 and 2.5. Added to it, calm winds and high humidity which has trapped emissions from ground level sources are aggravating the situation,” said D Saha, head air quality, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Saha said the current condition was due to weather conditions rather than man-made pollution like stubble burning. “Last year the situation was very bad. On November 6 this year, PM 2.5 concentration recorded in Delhi was 333 microgram per cubic metre, while on the same day previous year it was 709 microgram per cubic metre,” he said.
But in Punjab, stubble burning continues to be on the rise. A senior official of Punjab Pollution Control Board said the fire incidences could last 8-10 days as farmers prepare fields for wheat sowing.
“Currently, farmers in Malwa region (southern Punjab) have started burning the stubble. Farmers there have sown PUSA 44 a rice variety that has longer stem and heavy stubble,” he said.
The official said even though the satellite data showed a drop in incidence of fires compared to last year, the cases were on the rise in the last few days.
“The pollution levels are marginally better than the last year’s,” he added Scientists don’t expect any respite with light west-northwesterly surface winds to prevail over plains of north India in the next three days.
Meanwhile, in the wake of Indian Medical Association declaring "public health emergency" in the national capital due to hazardous pollution levels, experts have warned people to avoid outdoor physical activities like cycling and jogging.
Accumulation of dust, high humidity level and no winds are major causes of deteriorating air quality, which has aggravated respiratory problems for asthma and heart patients, say experts Levels of particulate matter 2.5 – or fine particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres – over Delhi stood at a ‘severe’ 406 microgram per cubic metre compared to ‘satisfactory’ condition of 54 microgram per cubic metre in Mumbai as of November 7, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research, which comes under Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, under the Ministry of Earth Science.
Levels of PM10 particles over Delhi stood at 645 microgram per cubic metre at 5 pm. The current pollution levels were at the highest, though they were better than the previous year, said scientists.
“Air pollution levels will prevail at severe (very poor) conditions for the next three days. Accumulation of dust is leading to high density of articulate matter 10 and 2.5. Added to it, calm winds and high humidity which has trapped emissions from ground level sources are aggravating the situation,” said D Saha, head air quality, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Saha said the current condition was due to weather conditions rather than man-made pollution like stubble burning. “Last year the situation was very bad. On November 6 this year, PM 2.5 concentration recorded in Delhi was 333 microgram per cubic metre, while on the same day previous year it was 709 microgram per cubic metre,” he said.
But in Punjab, stubble burning continues to be on the rise. A senior official of Punjab Pollution Control Board said the fire incidences could last 8-10 days as farmers prepare fields for wheat sowing.
“Currently, farmers in Malwa region (southern Punjab) have started burning the stubble. Farmers there have sown PUSA 44 a rice variety that has longer stem and heavy stubble,” he said.
The official said even though the satellite data showed a drop in incidence of fires compared to last year, the cases were on the rise in the last few days.
“The pollution levels are marginally better than the last year’s,” he added Scientists don’t expect any respite with light west-northwesterly surface winds to prevail over plains of north India in the next three days.
Meanwhile, in the wake of Indian Medical Association declaring "public health emergency" in the national capital due to hazardous pollution levels, experts have warned people to avoid outdoor physical activities like cycling and jogging.
