Skymet predicts spike in pollution as light north-westerly winds can’t sway away pollutants

The stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is not the sole reasons for air pollution in the national Capital. The weathermen have predicted a spike in pollution levels in Delhi-NCR due to entirely different factors.

“Presently the western disturbance is moving away, and the north-westerly dry winds are settling over the areas of northwest plains and Delhi. These north-westerly winds are very light in intensity that they are unable to sway away the pollutants or lower down their concentration in the air,” Skymet said.

Moreover, these light winds are likely to bring in pollutants from the northwest plains, specially Haryana region, as during this time stubble burning is actively taking place in these areas.

Apart from this, recent rain over north Haryana and hills during the last few days have helped gather moisture in the Delhi air. This moisture holds pollutants. This can be an added trigger to the already growing pollution levels.

The air quality in Delhi dipped to poor level on Saturday with drop in wind speed, and the authorities predicted further fall in the air quality index of the national Capital in the coming days. In the upcoming 24 hours, Delhi and NCR will witness mainly pleasant mornings with thick mist and haze.

“Pollution during morning hours and evening hours will be on its peak as the moisture levels are quite high during the time in the form of haze or mist. Again, October 15 onwards a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect north-west India which may further worsen pollution levels due to the increasing light winds and moisture which will hold up the aerosol in the lower level,” the Skymet said.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi on Saturday morning was 699, which is considered way above hazardous. Adjoining Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram and Noida too recorded “very poor” air quality levels.

“The overall air quality index (AQI) recorded at 4 pm on Saturday stood at 300, which falls in the poor category and is just one point from being ‘very poor’, according to Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). The PM10 level (presence of particles with diameter less than 10 micrometres) in Delhi stood at 243 and the PM2.5 level was recorded at 122, according to the data. On Friday the AQI of the national Capital stood at 154.

Meanwhile, recent satellite images from the NASA have showed that farmers in Punjab and Haryana have started burning crop residue. The NASA, on its official website, stated that burning crop residue in Punjab and Haryana has increased significantly over the past 10 days in and near Amritsar, Ambala, Karnal, Sirsa and Hisar.

Burning of paddy straw every year during October and November and wheat straw during April in Punjab and Haryana are the major contributors to air pollution in Delhi-NCR as the smoke travels towards the national Capital. In Delhi, it mixes with the fog and creates a toxic smoggy winter every year.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a warmer winter this year as a result of formation of El Nino, the periodic weather phenomenon associated with the warming of surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean thought to be responsible for drought in India and other parts of South Asia.