Delhi air quality deteriorated on Sunday with the overall air quality index (AQI) recorded 381 micrograms per cubic on the National Ambient Air Quality Index (NAAQI).
According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), a unit of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the AQI indicated very poor air quality.
“Prevailing cold wave conditions in the north-west region with moderate winds blowing from west/northwest direction degrade air quality. However, maximum temperature shows a tendency to increase slightly for the next 2 days (3rd, 4th). Mixing layer height continues to be about 1.0 km. The net effect is likely to keep AQI in ‘higher end of Very Poor’ for the next 2 days. On 5th, AQI may touch ‘severe’ due to a likely drop in maximum temperature and consequent reduction in ventilation,” SAFAR said in its short range air quality forecast.
Meanwhile, values of Suspended Particulate Matters (SPMs) - Particulate Matters (PM) 10 and 2.5 on NAAQI were recorded at 337 and 225 micrograms per cubic.