Breathe Easy: Delhi’s Air Quality Takes a Turn for the Better Thanks to Strong Winds!

This signifies a notable fifth "moderate" air quality day this December, marking one of the best starts to the month since the Central Pollution Control Board began daily AQI reporting in 2015.

P24 News Media

December 12, 2024

1 minute

Breathe Easy: Delhi’s Air Quality Takes a Turn for the Better Thanks to Strong Winds!

India

Recent weather conditions have positively influenced the air quality in New Delhi, shifting the air quality index (AQI) from a previously recorded "poor" level of 234 on Tuesday to a more favorable "moderate" AQI of 199 as of Wednesday. This data, released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in their daily 4pm bulletin, reflects a notable improvement over the past couple of days.

With this change, December has already experienced its fifth "moderate" air quality day, which is a promising start to the month. Since the CPCB began documenting daily AQI statistics in 2015, this month is shaping up to be one of the better Decembers. In previous years such as 2015, 2019, and 2022, December also witnessed three "moderate" air quality days.

However, it is important to note that despite these improvements, there has yet to be any day categorized as "good" or "satisfactory" air quality in December since the records began. The most favorable AQI recorded for this month historically was 140, noted on December 26, 2015. The CPCB defines AQI ratings on a scale: "good" for values between 0 and 50, "satisfactory" for 51 to 100, "moderate" for 101 to 200, "poor" for 201 to 300, "very poor" for 301 to 400, and "severe" for anything above 400.

Weather forecasting services have indicated that the AQI's improvement was achieved despite sustained winds averaging 8-10 km/h on Wednesday, attributed to cold wave conditions, with Delhi's minimum temperature plunging to 4.9°C—five degrees lower than the seasonal average.

The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for the region has issued a forecast indicating that air quality is likely to deteriorate, returning to the "poor" category over the next two days. The AQEWS advised that from Thursday through Saturday, conditions are expected to remain in the "poor" range, with similar outcomes anticipated for the following six days.

The average AQI on Wednesday was derived from data acquired from 38 air quality monitoring stations across the city. By the evening hours, 20 of these stations had already recorded AQI levels in the "poor" range. The lowest AQI of the day was registered at 135 in Pusa, whereas Mundka recorded the highest at 284.

December has shown a pattern of moderate air quality with recorded AQIs of 178 on December 4, 165 on December 5, 197 on December 6, and 186 on December 9. In comparison, December 2023 saw an alarming average AQI of 348, which included three days classified as “severe.” The lowest AQI last December was measured at 286, with the highest alarming figure reaching 450. It is common for pollution levels to rise in the latter half of December, attributed to falling temperatures, decreased wind speeds, and dense fog that typically envelops the region.

This fluctuation in air quality underscores the ongoing challenges that cities like Delhi face regarding environmental conditions and public health, necessitating continued monitoring and responsive measures to mitigate pollution levels.