Palam Observatory reported very dense smog, dropping the visibility significantly to mere 50 meters from 7am to 9 am.
Though conditions improved gradually but there has not been complete clearance. Also, the visibility was reportedly to be the lowest for November in last many years.
Rest parts of the city and NCR has also reported similar visibility issues. At least 20 vehicles piled-up on the Yamuna expressway near Delhi today morning, injuring several people.
Pollution levels had spiked dangerously ever since the national capital celebrated Diwali on Sunday. A thick brown haze has blanketed the region, which could be observed even during peak afternoon hours.
According to Skymet Weather, extremely light winds, low temperatures and increased levels of humidity have refrained pollutants from dispersing from the air, that remained suspended in the atmosphere closer to the surface. This has taken air quality index to alarming level.
Continuous burning of crop in the adjoining states of Punjab and Haryana is also the major contributor in dispensing the pollutants in the air, taking the toxicity levels over Delhi to new highs.
Tougher times ahead
Weathermen have warned that worst is not over yet. According to Mahesh Palawat, Chief Meteorologist, Skymet Weather, “Until and unless wind speed will not increase up to 15-20 kmph, there will be no change in the existing climatic conditions and we do not foresee any change till the weekend. Bright sunshine could also help but dense smog cover has not allowed sunrays to reach the surface.”
Some relief in on cards from November 6 or 7 after the passage of the Western Disturbance, which could increase the pace of the winds. Till then pollution levels will remain severe.
According to the data released by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI was 494 in Anand Vihar on Wednesday morning, which falls into the "severe" category.
On the same day, several places across Delhi-NCR showed PM2.5 and PM10 levels were much above the safe limits. PM2.5 levels were observed between 408 microns per cubic meter and over 500 microns per cubic meter. Meanwhile, PM10 levels were in range of 392 microns per cubic meter to over 500 microns per cubic meter.
It’s Smog, not fog
This widespread cover of smog is also mistaken for fog. However, there is a huge difference between both the climatic conditions.
Fog is the pure condensation of water which does not consist of any smoke or dust particles, while smog is when smoke and dust particles along with pollutants mix up with the air.
Also, November is not the ideal period for the formation of fog, which usually takes place when the mercury plunges below 10°C. Foggy conditions are seen building up from late December till early February.
Image credit: Wall Street Journal
Any information taken from here should be attributed to skymetweather.com