Air Quality in Mumbai Turns ‘Poor’ as Temperature Drops

As of Tuesday, 14 November, the Air Quality Index was 202 during the day.

As temperature drops in Mumbai, its air quality will get poorer, says SAFAR.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@timesofindia)

With a significant dip in temperature since the past three days, the air quality of Mumbai has become ‘poor’, according to the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

As on Tuesday, 14 November, the Air Quality Index was 202 during the day and only marginally improved to 201 in the evening, Hindustan Times reported. SAFAR's scale rates an air quality index of 201 to 300 as poor, which, of late, is what the city has been fluctuating between.

SAFAR believes that there is a direct relationship between the temperature drop in the city and the poor air quality which it is currently experiencing. The India Meteorological Department's Santacruz observatory had recorded a minimum temperature of 19.3 degrees Celsius on Monday, 13 November, and 20.4 degree Celsius the following day, indicating the onset of winter.

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The temperatures are dropping since the past few days as winter begins to set in. The humidity levels too are higher. This causes the pollutants to remain in the air longer. The air is expected to be in poor category in the coming days as temperatures drop further.

Gufran Beig, project director, SAFAR, to <i>The Times of India</i>

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The quality of air in Mumbai has reportedly been on the poorer side since Diwali. While it is still better than other metros like Delhi, which recorded an AQI of 389 and Ahmedabad which stood 257, it is still alarming considering Mumbai’s standard air quality level.

Temperatures are likely to rise by Thursday, 16 November, suggesting a possible improvement in air quality level, said officials from the weather bureau.

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(With inputs from Hindustan Times and Times of India)