New Delhi: The city’s air quality turned very poor on Thursday. Despite being toxic, it was still seen as an improvement since the city was suffering under severe AQI for the past five days.
As the fog moved with shallow haze and a thin smog layer with winds up to 6-8 kmph, the city’s air quality began to show some improvement since late Wednesday evening. The AQI was 376 at 11 am, which, despite light winds, managed to reach 372 by 3 pm. The air quality in some areas, however, remained within severe levels. GRAP-IV measures, meant for severe-plus AQI continued to be in place.
The average AQI on Thursday was 371 against 418 a day earlier, which despite being a marginal improvement, was worse in the region as Greater Noida saw an AQI of 212, Noida 253, Gurgaon 298, Faridabad 320 and Ghaziabad 291.
Low wind speeds unfavourable for much AQI relief over next few days
However, the improvement is unaccounted for since the pollution levels are still very high and way above the normal mark even as the city continued wearing a shroud of smog and toxic haze.
According to weather analysts, chances of smog formation will be slightly less due to dry westerly winds; however, the air quality may not see substantial improvement either. “The winds may catch up marginally, the city will see westerly winds which are dry so the moisture levels will remain low. Thus, smog formation may drop as well. However, due to the drop in the temperatures, dispersion of pollution would be marginal as well,” said Mahesh Palwat, Vice Chairman, Climate Change and Meteorology, Skymet.
The air quality early warning system expects AQI to remain very poor for the next few days. “The ventilation index lower than 6000 m2/s with average wind speed less than 10 kmph is unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants. The air quality is likely to be in the very poor category on Nov 22 to Nov 24, 2024. The outlook for the subsequent 6 days: The air quality is likely to be in the very poor category,” stated IITM’s air quality early warning system.
The PM2.5 levels in the city on Thursday till 7 pm oscillated between 168.5 to 196.8 microgram per cubic metre, against a 24-hour national standard of 60 microgram per cubic metre, and 15 units for WHO standards. The PM10 levels hovered between 289.6 and 321.3 microgram per cubic metre, against a national standard of 100 units and 45 units as per WHO standards.
Meanwhile, the GRAP-IV measures continue to be in force since Monday, with a ban on construction activities barring essential projects. The entry of trucks also continues to be banned, except for those carrying essential items. Physical classes continue to be discontinued, with non-essential govt offices working at 50% strength.
In Gurgaon, mercury to drop by 2-4°C in two day
As the city woke up to a sunny day with light fog, the maximum temperature on Thursday reached 26.4 degrees Celsius, 1.2 degrees higher than Wednesday. The minimum temperature also increased slightly, settling at 11 degrees Celsius. It was recorded at 10.8 degrees the previous day.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) withdrew its ‘yellow’ alert for ‘dense’ to ‘very dense’ fog in the region.
According to IMD’s forecast, the minimum temperature may plummet by 2-4 degrees Celsius over the next two days. However, temperatures across the northern plains remain above the usual levels for this time of year, and this trend is expected to continue for the next fortnight, after which temperatures are predicted to decrease gradually.