POLLUTION

Air Quality Remains Very Poor as Delhi Records Season's Coldest Winter Night on Monday

People cover themselves completely on a cold and foggy winter morning in New Delhi on Monday, January 9, 2023. (Piyal Bhattacharjee/BCCL Delhi) — People cover themselves completely on a cold and foggy winter morning in New Delhi
(Piyal Bhattacharjee/BCCL Delhi)

Monday, December 11: Delhiites woke up to a frigid Monday morning, with temperatures plunging to the lowest for the season. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature recorded at Safdarjung Observatory, the city's base station, was 6.5°C, three notches below the normal for the period.

The biting cold across the northwest plains can be attributed to the cold northwesterly winds. Moreover, the IMD has predicted that the cold spell will continue for the next few days, with nighttime mercury levels likely to witness a further drop of 2 degrees during the next two days in the region.

Shallow fog has also blanketed the city, reducing visibility to 800 meters, compared to 1100 meters on the previous day.

Adding to the winter woes of Delhi residents is the city's very poor air quality. SAFAR reported an air quality index (AQI) of over 350 at 11 AM on Monday.

Areas like Nehru Nagar (384), Mundka (365), Dwarka-Sector 8 (356), R K Puram (352), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (336), ITO (328), and Pusa (328) have all recorded 'very poor' air qualities, Central Pollution Control Board data showed. This is significantly higher than the safe limit of 50, posing a health risk to residents.

For context, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor' , 301 and 400 'very poor', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe-plus'.

While the worsening air quality can be attributed to a number of factors, the low temperatures are certainly a contributing factor. Cold air is denser than warm air, allowing it to trap more pollutants near the ground surface. Therefore, air pollution in winter remains in place for a longer time and is breathed in at a higher rate than during the summer.

Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain very poor until Wednesday, December 13. The combination of low temperatures and poor air quality is likely to exacerbate respiratory problems among residents, particularly the elderly and children.

Authorities have been urging people to take precautions against the cold and air pollution, such as wearing warm clothing, staying indoors as much as possible, and using air purifiers. They have also implemented measures to improve air quality, such as banning construction activities and restricting the entry of trucks into the city.

However, experts say that more stringent measures are needed to address the air pollution crisis in Delhi. They recommend promoting public transport, investing in renewable energy sources, and strictly enforcing pollution control laws.

It remains to be seen whether the authorities will be able to effectively tackle the dual challenge of low temperatures and poor air quality in Delhi. In the meantime, residents of the city are bracing themselves for a cold and potentially unhealthy winter.

**

For weather, science, space, and COVID-19 updates on the go, download The Weather Channel App (on Android and iOS store). It's free!

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives.