AQI ‘poor’ in Delhi-NCR, may worsen as winds slow down

NOIDA: The air quality index (AQI) of Noida and Ghaziabad improved marginally on Monday as it was recorded at 298 (poor) and 293 (poor), respectively. The AQI in Greater Noida was recorded at 280 (poor).
A day earlier, the AQI of both Noida and Greater Noida was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category with the reading on the scale as 321 and 320, respectively. It was 279 (poor) in Ghaziabad. System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said that overall Delhi-NCR’s AQI on Monday indicated ‘very poor’ air quality. Fine particles (size < 2.5 micrometer) contributed 56% to PM10. “For the next three days, calm/low surface wind speed and temperature (max 32-29 degrees Celsius; min 13-12 degrees Celsius) are likely to worsen air quality. Mixing layer height is likely to be1.5 km that causes moderate ventilation of pollutants,” it said.