NEW DELHI: A recent study by Climate Trends has indicated that while there has been a slight improvement in air quality across Delhi-NCR, pollution levels may stagnate at the ‘very poor’ level. The report emphasizes that, although multiple factors contribute to pollution, meteorological conditions play a critical role in determining air quality.
Earlier in the season, favorable wind conditions helped improve air quality, but now, those same meteorological factors are contributing to high AQI readings. The early onset of fog over the north-western plains, coupled with the absence of winter rains, has worsened the air quality in the capital.
Professor S. N. Tripathi, Dean of the Kotak School of Sustainability at IIT Kanpur, explained that particulate matter changes its properties when it interacts with fog, which leads to more fog formation. “When particulate matter comes in contact with fog, a chemical reaction occurs, oxidizing the particles. Oxidized particulate matter is more efficient in forming fog, leading to a vicious cycle of smog, where the fog lingers for days,” Tripathi said.
Experts also pointed to the growing influence of climate change on air quality. “Delhi and its surrounding areas are already facing the impacts of changing climatic conditions. Climate change, combined with unfavorable meteorological factors, has amplified the effects of pollution,” said Professor Sagnik Dey from IIT Delhi’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences. “Erratic winter rains and altered western disturbances, which are the main sources of rain in the region, have worsened the situation,” he added. “If global temperatures continue to rise, the problem will only intensify, and unless emissions are controlled, pollution will escalate further.”
On Thursday, there was a slight improvement in air quality, but the AQI remained in the ‘very poor’ category, following five consecutive days of ‘severe’ pollution. Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends, explained, “There is no single source of pollution contributing to this. Multiple factors such as black carbon, ozone, fossil fuel burning, and stubble burning are at play. We need to assess the contribution of each source and act accordingly.”
Another study by Respirer Living Sciences highlighted the severe pollution levels in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and across northern and central India, with Delhi emerging as the most polluted city. The study stresses the significant impact of regional and seasonal factors in exacerbating the air pollution crisis.
