Delhi Air Quality update: Good news for Delhiites as AQI improves to…, air quality to remain ‘very poor’ due to…

Delhi Air Quality update: Delhiites literally breathed a sigh of relief on Saturday as air quality in the national capital witnessed a marginal ‘improvement’ with the city’s average AQI settling at 305, in the ‘very poor’ category for the 16th consecutive day.

Why Delhi air quality improved?

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 305 on Saturday after logging 369 on Friday, 377 on Thursday, 327 on Wednesday, 352 on Tuesday, and 382 on Monday.

The slight improvement in Delhi air quality was driven by favourable wind direction and speed, and the winding down of stubble burning in neighbouring regions, amid surface winds from the northwest blowing at speeds of up to 15 kmph, through the afternoon and evening, according to monitoring agencies.

Data from CPCB’s Sameer app showed that none of the 38 active monitoring station in Delhi recorded AQI in the ‘severe’ range on Saturday, compared to eight stations which displayed ‘severe’ readings a day earlier. However, despite the improvement, Delhi’s AQI continued to remain in the ‘very poor’ category for the 16th consecutive day, which is considered ‘unfit’ to inhale.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’, according to CPCB standards.

Delhi AQI to remain ‘very poor’

Meanwhile, Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, AQI in the national capital will remain in the ‘very poor’ zone over the coming week.

However, Delhi AQI is unlikely to slip into the ‘severe’ category for at least the next two days as wind speeds are likely to remain on the higher side, according to Mahesh Palawat, Vice President (Meteorology and Climate Change) at Skymet Weather.

The air quality is expected to remain in the ‘very poor’ zone for the next few days. With wind speeds likely to remain on the higher side, the Air Quality Index (AQI) may not slip into the ‘severe’ category for at least the next two days, Mahesh Palawat, Vice President (Meteorology and Climate Change) at Skymet Weather, said.

According to the Decision Support System of the India(BHARAT)n Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, vehicular emissions contributed 18.7 percent to Delhi’s pollutants on Saturday, and is projected to be around 18.6 percent on Sunday.