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The air quality in New Delhi experienced a marginal improvement over the past 24 hours, although it remained within the 'poor' range. Initial reports indicated an AQI of 245 at 11 am, which slightly worsened to 263 by 7 pm. The overall improvement is noteworthy, with the AQI dropping from 289 on Friday to 255 on Saturday. This slight respite can be attributed to a combination of clearer weather conditions and the presence of light winds, which aided in dispersing pollutants. However, it's crucial to understand that this improvement was not uniform across the city, and several areas continued to struggle with very poor air quality, highlighting the persistent and uneven nature of the pollution challenge. The improvement, while welcome, is temporary.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) issued a forecast predicting a return to 'very poor' air quality on Sunday, January 19th, with a subsequent downgrade to 'poor' for January 20th and 21st. This forecast underscores the volatile nature of Delhi's air quality and the need for sustained efforts to address the root causes of pollution. The fluctuation between days of relatively better and significantly worse air quality highlights the impact of short-term weather patterns on pollution levels, underscoring the need for long-term strategies beyond immediate weather-related improvements.
Meteorological data also contributed to the overall picture. Saturday saw a minimum temperature of 10.2 degrees Celsius, 2.6 degrees above normal, compared to 8.8 degrees the previous day. The maximum temperature reached 18 degrees Celsius, 1.6 degrees below normal. Fog played a role in visibility, with moderate fog reported at Palam airport, resulting in minimum visibility of 200 meters at 3:30 am. Visibility improved gradually after 4:30 am. Safdarjung airport also reported shallow fog. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for moderate fog on Sunday, indicating continued potential for reduced visibility due to meteorological conditions.
The IITM's detailed wind forecast for Saturday sheds light on the atmospheric dynamics influencing pollution dispersal. Predominantly northwest winds with speeds below 6 kmph were observed in the early morning, accompanied by smog and fog. The wind speed increased to 10-12 kmph in the afternoon before decreasing to less than 8 kmph in the evening and night. The presence of smog or shallow fog was expected into the evening and night, with a partly cloudy sky predicted for January 19th. These varying wind speeds and the presence of fog throughout the day directly affect the dispersion and concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere, leading to the observed fluctuations in AQI.
The IMD's temperature forecast for Saturday projected maximum and minimum temperatures around 19 and 10 degrees Celsius respectively. They also issued a yellow alert for moderate to dense fog on Saturday morning. The interplay between temperature, wind, and fog significantly impacts the trapping and dispersal of pollutants, leading to the observed variations in AQI readings. The consistency of yellow alerts highlights the ongoing challenge posed by fog, particularly its effect on visibility and the potential for worsening air quality when pollutants are trapped close to the ground.
In conclusion, while the slight improvement in Delhi's AQI offers temporary relief, the forecast predicts a return to very poor air quality. This highlights the dynamic interplay between weather patterns and pollution levels and emphasizes the long-term challenge of achieving sustainable improvements in the city's air quality. The need for continuous monitoring, effective mitigation strategies, and public awareness campaigns remains paramount in addressing this persistent environmental issue.