Here’s Why Winter Air Quality in India Is so Bad

Winter air quality in India is hazardous, with PM2.5 pollution levels reach more than 10 times the World Health Organization’s annual limit. Hazy skies and pollution alerts have become the norm during India’s winters. But just why is this?

Analyzing India’s Summer & Winter Pollution Levels

Data analyzed by Smart Air showed that India’s winter PM2.5 air pollution is three times higher than summer in some cities. That’s a huge increase in PM2.5.

A graph of Delhi’s pollution levels shows these winter peaks in pollution. PM2.5 typically begins to rise starting in October, and it remains high until March of the next year.

Delhi's Annual PM2.5

The winter peaks and summer troughs in PM2.5 are clear, but why does it happen?

The Reason Winter Air Quality in India Is so Bad

Air quality worsens in the winter because of how the air mixes. In the winter, the surface of the earth gets cooler, and the air near the surface is also cooled. This dense layer of cool often gets trapped below a layer of warm air, which is called a “temperature inversion.” With less air mixing, pollutants are trapped near the ground, leaving cities to choke on their own pollution.

Temperature Inversion
Source: The Weather Network

Diwali, typically taking place around October and November is India’s new year festival. Firecrackers are often let off which create huge rises in air pollution during Diwali. This is another reason for an increase in PM2.5 levels during India’s winters.

India Diwali air pollution due to burning firecrackers

The winter also brings pollution from farmers burning their crop stubble, as well as people burning fires for warmth.

crop stubble burning in India creating air pollution

Bottom Line:

Air quality data shows that PM2.5 air pollution is 59% higher in winter than in summer across five major cities in India. This air quality exceeds the WHO annual limit regardless of the season.

Smart Air

How I Protect Myself From India’s Winter PM2.5

Breathing clean air doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. Here’s how I protect myself from high pollution levels during India’s polluted winters:

1. Wear a pollution mask outdoors when PM2.5 is above 10 micrograms.

Learn more: How wearing masks can benefit health »

2. Use an air purifier at home. Studies of air purifiers have found that reducing particulate indoors prevents harm to blood pressure, inflammation, and immune response—even among young, healthy twenty-year-olds.


Free Guide to Breathing Safe

Want to learn more about breathing clean air? Join thousands more and stay up to date on protecting your health.

Subscribe
Notify of

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Smart Air low cost purifiers

Smart Air is a social enterprise and certified B-Corp that offers simple, no-nonsense air purifiers and provides free education to protect people from the harms of air pollution. We are proud to be the only certified B-Corp dedicated to fighting air pollution.

Certified B-Corp air purifier company