AQI improves to ‘Very Poor’ in Delhi as a slight shift in weather conditions brought marginal relief to the national capital on Wednesday morning. Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was 349, which puts it in the “very poor” category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board. At some monitoring sites, air quality remained near severe levels even as haze seemed to clear slightly in several areas of the city. The short-term improvement coincides with residents and officials preparing for colder weather, which usually exacerbates pollution levels in the winter.

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Pollution Levels and Major Emission Sources

Delhi’s air quality remains a major concern despite the slight improvement. A day earlier, Noida, part of the National Capital Region (NCR), was ranked the most polluted city in India, with the capital coming in second. Severe pollution was present at both locations, with the thickest haze most noticeable in the early morning. Tuesday’s 24-hour average AQI readings of 412 in Delhi and 426 in Noida demonstrate how brittle the present improvement is.

The primary causes of pollution were determined using data from the Decision Support System (DSS) for Air Quality Management:

• Vehicular emissions: The most significant source, accounting for 14.4% of Delhi’s overall pollution load, is vehicle emissions.
• Industrial emissions: 7.2% came from industries in Delhi and its environs.
• Construction-related activities: Increased pollutants by about 2%.
• Waste burning: Despite a lower percentage, it still accounted for 1.3%.

These figures underline why AQI improves to ‘Very Poor’ in Delhi does not necessarily signal a sustained turnaround, as structural sources of pollution remain essentially unchanged.

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Weather and the Upcoming Winter Challenge

Meteorological factors significantly influence trends in air quality. Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 23.2°C on Tuesday, which was almost 2.5 degrees above average, and a minimum temperature of 8.8°C, which was 1.3 degrees above average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD predicts moderate fog in the morning, with a high of about 19°C and a minimum of 9°C for Wednesday.

In the future, it is anticipated that cooler nights will increase the risks of pollution:

• Temperature drop: Over the next 24 hours, minimum temperatures in northwest and central India are expected to drop by 2-4 degrees Celsius.
• Delhi outlook: Starting Thursday, the capital’s low temperature is expected to drop to about 7°C.
• Air quality forecast: Delhi’s air quality is expected to be “very poor” for the next five days, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System.

As colder air traps pollutants closer to the surface and fog reduces dispersion, AQI improves to ‘Very Poor’ in Delhi may remain a short-lived respite. The city faces the well-known challenge of balancing weather-driven relief with enduring emissions that maintain dangerously high pollution levels as winter approaches.

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