Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality remained in the “poor” category on Monday, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 272 recorded at 9 am, marking a slight improvement from Sunday’s reading of 285. This comes after 32 consecutive days of “very poor” or worse air quality, with the last “poor” AQI recorded on October 29.
Weather Conditions Supporting Pollution Dispersion
Meteorological experts highlighted that consistent dry northwesterly winds and bright sunshine helped disperse pollutants. Mahesh Palawat, vice president of meteorology at Skymet, stated that wind speeds reaching 15 kmph on Sunday and minimal fog have aided in pollutant dispersion.
“The mixing height is high due to adequate sunshine, further allowing pollutants to disperse,” he added. Conditions are expected to remain favourable until at least Wednesday, with cold northwesterly winds predicted to increase, potentially causing a further dip in temperatures.
Monday’s minimum temperature was 10.4°C, slightly above normal but lower than Sunday’s 11.4°C. The season’s lowest minimum of 9.5°C was recorded on Friday.
AQI and Pollution Levels
At 9 am on Monday, none of Delhi’s 38 air quality stations recorded “severe” AQI levels. Nehru Nagar reported the highest AQI at 336 (“very poor”), while Chandni Chowk recorded the lowest at 188 (“moderate”).
November saw Delhi experience severe pollution, with an average AQI of 374 and eight “severe” air days. On November 18, the AQI peaked at 494, the joint second-highest in the Capital’s history. However, reduced stubble burning and lower fog intensity contributed to recent improvements in air quality.
CPCB AQI Classifications
•Good: 0–50
•Satisfactory: 51–100
•Moderate: 101–200
•Poor: 201–300
•Very Poor: 301–400
•Severe: Above 400
Looking Ahead
Cold northwesterly winds and favourable meteorological conditions are likely to support further improvements in air quality. However, experts caution that pollution levels can fluctuate, requiring continuous monitoring and proactive measures.
