Even as citizens are inhaling less pollution now as the activity of bursting firecrackers has reduced post-Diwali, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) predicts a rise in the next three days following a dip in temperature.
IITM has forecasted the city’s air pollution conditions for the upcoming winter by recording real-time weather information and air pollution levels through its System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).
The institute’s experts told dna that a dip in mercury leads the cold air present near the Earth’s surface to get trapped under warmer air. As a result, hot and cold air does not mix easily in the upper atmosphere and pollutants get trapped in the lower atmosphere, resulting into rise in pollution level in the city’s air.
In order to get real-time air quality information, IITM has introduced the SAFAR project in the city that not only records the pollution level at nine locations but also issues health advisory based on the air quality of that area.
With the help of SAFAR, IITM has also started predicting the possible air quality for the next three days so that preventive measures can be taken to avoid health problems. The institute had recorded a rise in air pollution during Diwali.
Speaking to dna, SAFAR programme director Gufran Baig said, “Bursting of crackers had led to rise in air pollution in the city during Diwali. But SAFAR showed pollution level of the city as normal on Friday.”
According to Baig, there is a strong relation between cold weather, inversion layer in the atmosphere and air pollution. As the temperature increases, the inversion layer goes up allowing air pollution to go upwards. But dip in temperature brings the inversion layer down trapping air pollution to remain on the Earth’s surface.
“The air pollution level may rise as the city’s temperature is likely to go down in the next three days,” Baig said.
