Winter air bad despite rain | Latest News Delhi
Despite the wettest winter in several decades, the capital saw only a modest reduction in pollution compared to last year, according to the Center for Science and Environment (CSE). Although Delhi experienced its wettest winter in decades, this time around Delhi saw only a modest reduction in pollution compared to last year, according to an analysis released by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) on Wednesday. Analyzing a five-month period from October 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022, the citywide average PM 2.5 level was found to be 172 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) — more than four times the national annual standard of 40μg/m3. m3 and the daily standard of 60μg/m3. This is 9% lower than the seasonal average in the corresponding period of 2020-21 (189 μg/m3) and similar to the pollution level of 2019-20 (173 μg/m3). In the winter of 2018/19, an average PM2.5 value of 190 μg/m3 was recorded. The analysis also revealed that the seasonal PM 2.5 peak (516 μg/m3) was 5% lower than in 2020-21 (542 μg/m3) and 2019-20 (549 μg/m3). “Meteorologically, this winter was the wettest in recent years, with almost two to three times more precipitation than previous winters, the bulk of which fell in January, making it the January with the least pollution since real-time air quality monitoring began in the city power. But this meteorological advantage didn’t give the city much respite, as a rapid build-up between rainy spells and the formation of smog episodes during rainless periods kept the overall seasonal average very high,” the analysis said. Delhi recorded 217mm of rainfall this winter – almost double the previous winter’s 114mm. The capital was 74 mm in winter 2019-20 and 86 mm in winter 2018-19.