Murky Christmas may lead National Capital to a ghastly 2019

The national Capital woke up to choking levels of hazardous pollution on Monday morning as the air quality remained severe for the third consecutive day. The city is facing the highest pollution levels since Diwali. While the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed the overall air quality index (AQI) at a ‘severe’ 448, the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) showed an AQI of 468.

Delhi and the National Capital Region continued to battle pollution as the AQI plunged to ‘severe plus’ category even as several places in the city recorded Particulate Matter (PM) 10 levels way beyond permissible safe limits.

SAFAR has warned in its daily pollution that the overall air quality in Delhi, which is currently in the severe plus zone, is expected to remain severe until Tuesday. It may return to very poor levels thereafter. 

The current meteorological condition of minimum temperature plummeting sharply is being attributed as the main cause of pollution rising to hazardous levels. Drop in temperature increases amount of moisture near the surface manifold and high humidity levels also prevent dispersal of pollutants. “There is a significant fall in temperature which has brought down the boundary layer significantly with huge amount of moisture beneath,” SAFAR said. 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded the minimum temperature at 4.6 degrees Celsius from Sunday’s 3.7°C. The weatherman has forecast a chilly weekend ahead as mercury will dip to 3°C around New Year. The maximum temperature was likely to hover around 22 degree Celsius and might remain the same over the next few days. 

A Bad Reason 

Drop in temperature increases amount of moisture near the surface manifold and high humidity levels also prevent dispersal of pollutants