Winds of change: Light breeze next week could help dispel Delhi smog, says Skymet

   

There’s some hope glimmering through the thick Delhi smog. As pollution hangs low over the national capital, and tempers run high in administrations, it’s a private weather forecaster that has brought some good news—that light breeze next week is likely to help blow away some of the poisonous air.  

 

Mahesh Palawat, who works at the private weather forecaster Skymet, said that “light winds will begin over the region around November 3, gain some more speed over November 4, blowing away the deadly, poisonous Particulate Matter hanging low over the skies”. Also, “some light rains can be expected on November 3, but not much”, he said. 

 

Winds at 15 kmph had managed to keep the particulate matter in the air within acceptable range before Diwali. But the winds stopped altogether at 5 pm on October 27—the day of Diwali. As a result, particulate matter from Diwali crackers, stubble burning and construction all accumulated to make a thick blanket of smog over Delhi and the National Capital Region, turning the city and neighbouring areas into a gas chamber, Palawat said, adding that the north could expect more respite around November 6-7 in the form of rains.

 

Air quality index (AQI) dropped to “severe plus” or “emergency” category for the first time since January this year on Friday. Declining air quality over Delhi has triggered a blame game between the central government and governments of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana.     

 

As air quality plummeted to alarming proportions, a Supreme Court committee, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, declared a health emergency in the national capital, and banned all construction activity in Delhi-NCR region until November 5.

 

An AQI between 0-50 is considered “good”, 51-100 “satisfactory”, 101-200 “moderate”, 201-300 “poor”, 301-400 “very poor”, and 401-500 “severe”. Above 500 is “severe-plus or emergency” category.