New Delhi: The national capital's air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category on Friday, while a government forecasting agency said some improvement is likely due to favourable wind speed.
On Thursday, the city's air quality index (AQI) touched 'severe' levels for a brief period before slipping back into the 'very poor' category. According to Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitoring agency, SAFAR, the share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution was 36%on Thursday, the maximum in this season.
Delhi recorded a 24-hour average AQI of 374 on Friday. It was 395 on Thursday, 297 on Wednesday, 312 on Tuesday, 353 on Monday, and 349 on Sunday.
Several monitoring stations, including at Shadipur (417), Patparganj (406), Bawana (447) and Mundka (427), recorded air quality in the 'severe' category.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. On Thursday, PM10 levels in Delhi-NCR peaked to 424 microgram per cubic meter (µg/m3) at 10 am, the highest this season so far, according to CPCB data. PM10 levels below 100 µg/m3 are considered safe in India.
PM10 is particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometers and is inhalable into the lungs. These particles include dust, pollen and mold spores.
The levels of PM2.5 - finer particles which can even enter the bloodstream - were 231 µg/m3. PM2.5 levels up to 60 µg/m3 are considered safe.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitor, SAFAR, said the share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution was 19 per cent on Friday.
It was 36 per cent on Thursday, the maximum so far this season, 18 per cent on Wednesday, 23 per cent on Tuesday, 16 per cent on Monday, 19 per cent on Sunday and nine per cent on Saturday.
The number of farm fires in neighbouring states dropped from 2,912 on Wednesday - the highest so far this season - to 1,143 on Thursday.
Delhi's overall air quality index (AQI) has improved marginally as predicted and remains in the high end of the 'very poor' category, it said.
The wind speed is expected to pick up and the improved ventilation is likely to influence air quality positively, SAFAR said.
A significant improvement is predicted by November 1 and the air quality is likely to slip back into the 'poor' category, it said.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the predominant wind direction was northerly and the maximum wind speed was 10 kilometers per hour. The minimum temperature was recorded at 13.1 degrees Celsius. It was 12.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday - the lowest in October in 26 years.
Calm winds and low temperatures trap pollutants close to the ground, while favourable wind speed helps in their dispersion.
The city's ventilation index - a product of mixing depth and average wind speed - was around 10,000 meter square per second on Friday - favourable for dispersion of pollutants.
Mixing depth is the vertical height in which pollutants are suspended in the air. It reduces on cold days with calm wind speed.
A ventilation index lower than 6,000 sqm/second, with the average wind speed less than 10 kmph, is unfavourable for dispersal of pollutants.
On Thursday, the Centre introduced a new law through an ordinance that put in place a powerful oversight body to curb air pollution.
Under the ordinance released by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, the 22-year-old Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has been dissolved and replaced by a powerful commission comprising 18 members.
The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas will specifically look at Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas only and it will be binding on the states to follow its directions.
Chandigarh: Smog produced due to burning of paddy stubble in Punjab fields is highly unlikely to travel 300-400 km to adversely impact Delhi's air quality, Ludhiana-based Punjab Agricultural University's (PAU) experts said on Friday. In the plains of northern India, especially paddy-growing states, each state is saddled with its own pollutants.
The creation as well as avoidance of smog in any area is in the hands of residents. Concerted local efforts are the key to solving this problem, she said.
Her fellow researchers, including Sukhjeet Kaur and Sandeep Singh Sandhu, compiled average wind speed at 10 stations -- Gurdaspur, Ballowal Saunkhri, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Ambala, Bathinda, Faridkot and Abohar.
For the northern states, October is very critical as the temperatures are reduced and the air pollution level goes up due to stubble-burning and bursting of firecrackers during Dussehra and Diwali.
The study revealed that the number of smog days in Punjab over the years had increased.
In 2012, smog was recorded for two days -- November 11 and 14. Diwali was celebrated on November 13 that year.
In 2017, smog was recorded for 12 consecutive days. Diwali was celebrated on October 19. But the smog was concentrated from November 1 to 13. On November 14-15 the smog dissipated when the wind speed increased up to 4-8.5 km/hr.
Next year witnessed smog for 11 days, i.e., three consecutive days during the end of October and eight consecutive days in November. Diwali was celebrated on November 7 in 2018. On November 14, smog dissipated when the wind speed increased to 5.7 km/hr.
Last year, smog was witnessed for 10 days, i.e., five consecutive days during the end of October and five consecutive days in November. Diwali was celebrated on October 27 last year.
On November 6-7, the smog scattered when the wind speed increased by 8.9 to 10.5 km/hr.
Sidhu said that it was evident that the formation of smog in the lower atmosphere occurs when the wind is calm. As soon as the wind speed increases, automatic dissipation of smog occurs.
As per the report, out of 77 days from October 1, calm wind conditions in Punjab were recorded for 58 days (75.3 per cent) in 2017; 42 days (54.5 per cent) in 2018 and 44 days (57.1 per cent) in 2019.
During this period, light breeze blew only on November 7, 2019, with a speed of 5.9 km/hr.
