KANPUR: Thick fog and haze that envelops the city every morning and evening is an indicator of high pollution levels in the city. Experts have suggested that high concentration of pollutants in the air results in dense haze and smog formation that lasts throughout the day, thus restricting sunlight to reach the surface.
According to data collected from Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), particulate matter of size 10 micrometre (PM 10) levels at 5 locations of the city were found to be double to its permissible level of 100 microgram per cubic metre throughout the year. This clearly indicates high air pollution level in the city. Dr. Anirudh Dubey, weather scientist at Chandra Shekhar Azad Agriculture University (CSAU), said that fog, smog and haze, are all linked to atmospheric pollution that causes dimming of the sun's rays reaching the surface, leading to drop in day temperature.
"During winters dirt particles sublimate with water vapours and become heavy, thereby hanging at lower level of the atmosphere. When sun rays break during the day, this smog absorbs the heat energy and starts evaporating. But, by the time they evaporate completely, it is already evening and the vapour formation begins again. In other words, heavy smog
formation traps all sun energy, without letting it reach the surface. This results in drastic dip in temperature during afternoon hours," he explained.
The highest PM 10 levels were recorded from Panki area (217.9 microgram per cubic metre) which were over two times the standard, while the lowest levels were recorded at Kidwai Nagar (184.5 microgram per cubic metre) and Avas Vikas Kalyanpur (194.4 microgram per cubic metre).
However, these levels were nearly twice more than the normal level. Jareeb Chowki and Shastri Nagar also recorded high pollution levels with 215.8 and 208.3 microgram per cubic metre respectively.
Talking about weather conditions in near future, the expert said that similar foggy conditions would prevail for another few days. However, the arrival of easterly winds in the first week of January will result in cloud formation. "As soon as the easterly winds arrive, the sublimated water vapours with dirt will begin to condense and form clouds.
It will give way to light showers at few isolated areas of the city. This will bring down foggy conditions and slight relief from the dipping temperatures," he concluded.
