UNDERSTANDING AIR QUALITY DATA DURING MONSOON SEASON
In many Countries, the monsoon has a significant impact on air quality. Whereas air pollution causes may be man-made (industrial activity & car traffic) or natural (bushfires & pollen), the way we perceive the weather heavily influences air quality data. The weather may either be a friend, clearing pollutants and improving air quality, and sometimes it’s an enemy, helping to produce pockets of extremely polluted air or spreading wildfire smoke, making air pollution much worse.
Because the obvious effect of weather affects air quality api data, our team utilizes this data (along with various other data sources) to properly calculate and forecast air pollution (real-time & forecast).
Wind & air pollution
Wind may assist to ‘clear the air by dispersing pollutants rather than enabling them to concentrate or build up in urban areas. Pollutants, including dust particles, may collect in stagnant air, resulting in poor air quality. Cities near coastlines may occasionally get an advantage in this manner if the wind brings in cleaner air from the sea.
Wind, however, may be a double-edged weapon whenever it comes to high pollution. In other instances, the impact of wind is to bring new contaminants to your region while also assisting in the spread of air pollution from afar.
In the case of fast-expanding bushfires, this is often the case. The wind was a major factor in the California fires & smoke spreading thus far in the July of 2019. Warm winds, known as the Diablo or Santa Ana Winds, often blow along the West Coast of America and Mexico at this time of year. During fire season, dry, warm weather coupled with strong winds may provide ideal circumstances for air pollution to spread, affecting individuals even if they are not near the fire (Jain et al., 2020).
Weather & air quality
We’ve seen how weather affects air pollution; however new study indicates that the relationship also works the opposite way. Because particle aerosols like dust & ash help disperse sunlight, air pollution may affect the quantity of sunlight that reaches the Earth.
Because of the tight relationship between weather and air quality data, we’re seeing weather providers like WeatherBug turn to us for accurate air quality needed data to educate their clients and improve their overall product offering effectively.
However, data on air quality over the past two years indicates that monsoon air pollution levels are still considerably higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended limits (WHO). Even though monsoon air is healthier than air in other seasons, air pollution levels are still higher than what is deemed acceptable, posing a health concern to the population. The monsoon is famously difficult to forecast, and many elements of monsoon dynamics, from the start through development and decline, are very little known and reflected in model simulations (Shahid et al., 2019).
Rain may spoil a picnic, but it may be beneficial to air pollution. This is because most of the typical air pollutants & pollen throughout the air are wiped away during rainy days, helping to improve air quality. Wet deposition is the term for this phenomenon.
To be more technical, ‘wet deposition’ depends on the natural operations through which heat is deposited (‘scavenged’) and brought to the Planet’s crust by air hydrometeors (cloud or fog droplets, rain, snow). Various names, such as ‘precipitation scavenging,’ ‘wet removal,’ ‘washout,’ and ‘rainout,’ are used interchangeably to describe this process (Jayamurugan et al., 2013).
Consequently, getting daily steps in on gloomy and chilly days may be particularly essential, especially given the significance of exercise for health.
To illustrate how ‘washout’ works in action, compare how air pollution levels decreased in the following areas when it was raining to typical recorded levels.
Seasonal variation of air
Air pollution varies seasonally due to several reasons. For one thing, post-monsoon and winter wind speeds are lower, and air tends to collect at lower altitudes without mixing, causing pollutants to persist. Furthermore, greater emissions are seen throughout certain seasons, particularly during holidays like Diwali & New Year, where fireworks cause pollution. Post-harvest burning pollutes the air in winter and early summer, particularly in Delhi, which gets particle pollutants from burning agricultural waste.
However, it’s critical not to lose track of the larger picture. Even the “reasonably good” “During the monsoon, the air quality is hazardous to one’s health. It is merely “hygienic.” “When contrasted to the polluted winter or post-monsoon air, it’s not quite as pure as it has to be called healthy. Summer and monsoon air quality may not cause acute symptoms such as worsening shortness of breath, asthma, sore throat, headaches, or blocked lungs that are prevalent during winter & post-monsoon air quality, but long-term exposure to sunlight containing PM 2.5 over 25 g/m3 has much greater consequences (Mahmood et al., 2018). Asthma, stroke, neurological system damage, high blood pressure, renal damage, lung and other kinds of cancer, and even poor cognitive functioning are among them.
Protection from air pollution
What can one do to defend themselves against pollution in the air? People may use apps like Plume Labs’ or AQIcn.org to find out how hazardous their air is. These applications may also suggest times of day when recreational activities, particularly exercise, are most appropriate.
While feasible, use an N95- or N99-certified mask (effective against particulate matter by 95% and 99%, respectively) to minimize exposure, which is particularly essential when spending time outside in traffic or exercising. If rooms are properly sealed from outside air, air purifiers with high-efficiency particulate air filters may offer protection inside. The research on outside air indicates that we should take these measures all year. Taking precautions just during the winter, whenever the air is filthy, may not be sufficient to prevent long-term health hazards.