Negative impact of delayed La Niña and late monsoon on air quality in north India

Source: The post negative impact of delayed La Niña and late monsoon on air quality in north India has been created, based on the article “The La Nina and North India’s pollution” published in “Indian Express” on 1st October is 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- environmental pollution

Context: The article discusses the negative impact of delayed La Niña and late monsoon on air quality in north India. It highlights the importance of understanding climate change’s role in pollution, advocating for broader strategies to improve air quality and protect public health.

For detailed information on the Impact of La Nina on Air Quality in Indiaread this article here

What is the Impact of La Niña and Late Monsoon on Air Quality?

1. The delayed onset of La Niña and the late monsoon retreat will worsen air quality in north India this winter.
2. Without La Niña, stagnant surface winds will trap pollutants, raising PM2.5 and PM10 levels.
3. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, combined with stagnant winds, will further deteriorate air quality in November.
4. Recent studies link climate change and meteorological phenomena like La Niña to fluctuating air quality. For example, the National Institute of Advanced Science (NIAS) found that these factors greatly affected Delhi’s air during the winter of 2022-23, which was the best in a decade due to timely La Niña effects.
5. The NIAS-SAFAR model predicts that if La Niña starts in December, air quality may improve slightly, but a longer, severe winter could still limit benefits.

For detailed information on El Nino read this article here

What Could Improve Air Quality Later in the Winter?

1. If La Niña begins by December or January, it might improve air quality slightly. This is due to expected stronger winds and dynamic atmospheric conditions which help disperse pollutants.
2. However, a longer and severe winter could offset these benefits by lowering the atmospheric layer that traps pollutants, limiting their dispersion.

What should be done?

1. Addressing air pollution should go beyond local emissions and include larger meteorological and climatological factors.
2. Need to shift focus from individual cities to larger airsheds, incorporating broader factors into air quality strategies to enhance public health protection.
3. The emphasis should be on PM2.5 reduction from fossil fuel emissions.
4. There’s also a need for integrated scientific approaches and health-focused measures to tackle air pollution effectively.

Question for practice:

Discuss how the delayed onset of La Niña and the late monsoon retreat contribute to worsening air quality in north India, and what measures can be taken to mitigate this impact.