Air Quality in Delhi to Remain “Poor” Till Jan 2, May Further Deteriorate
Air quality in the national capital Delhi is likely to continue in the “poor” category till January 2. That may be poor enough, but forecasts say it could deteriorate to the “very poor” category for the next six days. The air quality index of the capital graded at 225-a “poor” rating-that is, according to the daily report by Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS)-up until 4 PM yesterday, December 30. AQEWS monitors the real-time air quality and visibility level.
The AQEWS forecast of air quality in Delhi shows that the same is likely to be in the “poor” category throughout January 2. For Delhi, the AQI of January 3 onwards is likely to be between “poor” to “very poor” for at least six days.
There have been reports of poor air quality in Delhi since the last week of December. The AQI had frequently moved between the “poor” and “very poor” categories. AQEWS had also forecast earlier that the capital’s AQI would remain in the same categories from December 26 and it would even persist into the first few days of January.
AQI is rating the air quality from 0 to 500. AQI between 0 and 50 is rated as “good,” 51 to 100 as “satisfactory,” 101 to 200 as “moderate,” 201 to 300 as “poor, “301 to 400 as “very poor,” and 401 to 500 as “severe.”
Outlook over the next two days
The latest bulletin from AQEWS shows temperatures are declining further in Delhi-NCR, the minimum temperature in some areas has been as low as 3 degrees in the last 24 hours. Now under such a scenario coupled with smog and fog during the next two days with poor visibility and extremely bad air quality.
It then makes the ventilation index unfavorable by reflecting the atmospheric ability in regards to flushing out pollutants. As per AQEWS, Delhi had its wind speed lower than 10 km/h with an average wind speed less than that, making its ventilation index lower than 6,000 m²/s, meaning that the same shall not clear up easily—adverse for dispersion of pollutants.
Ventilation index is going to be low for the next couple of days. Forecast is at 4,500 m²/s for Dec 30, while that of Dec 31 at 4,400 m²/s and, respectively, 4,800 m²/s of January 1. More alarmingly, it may breach down to 4,000 m²/s at January 4 signifying that poor air quality might lingers for a considerably long period.
Detailed weather forecast and air quality for tomorrow and the day after
30 December: Likely to fall below 14 km/hr by evening and deteriorates as the nighting deepens in. Under winds of less than 6 km/hr. One possibility of smog formation with shallow fog conditions likely to prevail over the city during the time span of the evening and night tomorrow and would make travelling strenuous.
Fogs and smogs would blanket all evening and nighttime hours and linger in the air. The morning wind speed on December 31 would be less than 6 km/h with some improvement late afternoon to 10-12 km/h before it dropped back below 8 km/h at night.
January 1: Strong day-wind to gale-force at 16-20 km/h. Below 8 km/h during early morning and evening. Probable feature to be in place today is smoke and fog.
January 2: It would be almost windless in the morning; less than 6 km/h. Betterment at afternoon would remain only during 16-20 km/h whereas evening and night periods would see falling down even below to 8 km/h; city would remain under smoggy and foggy cover.
Delhi has been suffering from the critical condition of extreme air pollution for decades. The worst case that the city is witnessing is during winters when temperatures are not too high and the wind speed is quite moderate, so that the pollutants get trapped into the atmosphere. According to the latest update, there is every chance of improvement in the air quality if only cautions are taken at this moment.
This creates many issues. Such pollution becomes sensitive to the respiratory patients, children, and elderlies. On this matter, the government cautioned people not to be too careless in terms of their movements, place air purifiers at home, and to have masks on oneself if they go out for whatever reason.
Health Effects of Air Quality
This will badly affect the quality of air for people with asthma or other heart-related problems. Chronic exposure to this kind of air is believed to cause respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and even death. Smog or fog that does not lift off for a long time in Delhi does not clear vision; hence, it makes it unsafe to stay during sunset and nighttime.
At present, in large part due to prevailing anxieties, the Delhi government has increased surveillance and attempts at controlling source pollution. Conditions cannot improve since low-pressure patterns do persist and get worse, which does inhibit relative ease in improvement.
Source: Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS), Delhi Government