NEW DELHI: The city’s air quality continued to remain in the “poor” category for the fifth consecutive day with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 232 on Thursday. The air quality at two weather stations, NSIT Dwarka and Shadipur, was in the “very poor” category, while Anand Vihar fluctuated between “very poor” and “severe” categories through the day. Track the pollution level in your cityThe overall air quality is likely to deteriorate and reach the “very poor” category on Saturday. The share of stubble burning in Delhi’s air was only 1% due to unfavourable wind direction. A Met official said, “As wind speed drops to almost nil at evening and night, it hampers the process of dispersion of pollutants. The air quality is likely to deteriorate due to calm conditions.” The minimum temperature dropped below 17 degrees Celsius for the first time this season. The night temperature was recorded at 16.9 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal. According to Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the forecasting model under the Union ministry of earth sciences, the overall air quality is likely to remain in the “poor” category on Friday and in the “very poor” category on Saturday and Sunday. Air quality would remain largely in the “very poor” and “poor” categories for the next six days. System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said, “Fine particles (size above 2.5 micrometres) contribute 45% to PM10. For the next three days (October 21 to 23) peak surface wind speed is likely to be 8-15 kmph causing moderate dispersion.” “Moderate temperature (maximum 32-34 degrees Celsius, minimum 16-17 degrees) and a mixing layer height (1.5km) maintain vertical dispersion and dilution of near surface pollutants. Fire counts over the northwest region are gradually increasing, but its impact on Delhi’s air quality is negligible due to unfavorable transport-level wind flow,” added SAFAR. With nights starting to turn colder, the IMD forecast says minimum temperature is likely to dip to 16 degrees Celsius on Saturday. The day temperature was recorded at 34.5 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal, on Thursday.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/air-quality-may-turn-very-poor-tomorrow/articleshow/94997313.cms
