Panipat air quality map

What information about air pollution can be found on the air pollution map for Panipat?

The air pollution map for Panipat is very easy to access from the main city page. It is found on the upper left-hand side of the main page.

The first thing to notice is the relatively dark colour which indicates the overall air quality in the area. It is currently a dark orange/brown colour which indicates air quality that would be “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”. Generally speaking, the darker the colour, the worse the air quality. The meaning of the various colours is explained in the legend at the foot of the page. Colours range from pale green to dark maroon.

The viewer will also notice some coloured discs dotted across the map. These show the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations in the surrounding area. The ones seen on the air pollution map for Panipat are actually not over Panipat because the city has no air monitoring stations at ground-level. Instead, Panipat relies on information gathered by satellites.

The coloured discs display a number which is the US AQI reading from that station. Panipat has to rely on the satellite data for that information. It is calculated by measuring six of the most commonly found air pollutants and is then used as a metric when comparing air quality in different cities across the globe.

Looking back at the main city page, it can be seen that in August 2022, Panipat was experiencing a period of “Unhealthy” air quality with a US AQI reading of 151. The main pollutant measured was PM2.5 with a level of 56.2 µg/m³ which was more than eleven times higher than the WHO recommended figure of 5 µg/m³.

Is there much more information about air quality on the air pollution map for Panipat?

Once the pollution map for Panipat is viewed in full-screen mode, there will be four options that will appear on the left-hand side of the screen. These can be turned on or off, as wanted.

The first option would show the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations, but as already mentioned in the first paragraph, there are none in Panipat because it relies on satellite data for its information.

The second choice shows the location of any wildfires that may be burning in the vicinity. In August 2022, there were no fires to be seen. Option four shows the direction of the prevailing wind which is very useful if there are any fires as it can give a good indication as to whether or not the city will be affected by the ensuing smoke.

The third choice can be the most surprising as it can change the entire background colour of the map. The background colour is a direct reflection of the current air quality. Just now it is a dark reddish/brown which indicates poor quality air that is “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”. If the colour is too intense, by deactivating it, the map will revert to a more standard set of colours.

Across on the right-hand side of the page can be seen a table which ranks world cities according to their current level of air pollution. This information can be very interesting when used to compare one city with another.

Can areas of higher pollution be identified on the air quality map for Panipat?

When there are ground-level monitoring stations, areas of high pollution can easily be identified, but this is not so easy when the information is produced by satellite imagery. A rough guide to air quality would be to identify darker areas on the map but this method would not be very accurate.

Can the source of air pollution be seen on the air quality map for Panipat?

The main cause of air pollution in Panipat is vehicular smoke and the illegal burning of fuel in industries. Despite the ban, illegal fuel is being burnt continuously in the industries. Brick kilns are also running secretly, producing copious amounts of visible pollution. Action is taken against them but they often reopen secretly.

Studies to identify the sources of pollution had been planned in the past, but they were never acted upon. Last year, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) had planned to conduct such a study in four NCR districts of the state, but it was called off due to the pandemic. The study is important because once the sources of pollution are identified, it will pave the way for officials to formulate a long-term plan for the area.

Haryana will identify hotspots and then work on reducing air pollution in these areas. If implemented, it would be the first time that a study would be conducted listing the sources of pollution and their contribution.

Coal power stations have once again failed to meet the deadline to stop the emission of harmful sulphur dioxide gas. Power companies, which have failed to install sulphur control technology within the time frame set by the government, have now said that it will take about three more years to achieve this target.

PM2.5 is used as a benchmark on the air pollution map for Panipat, but what is it?

PM10 is called particulate matter. The size of these particles is 10 micrometres or less in diameter. This includes dust, dirt and fine particles of metal. PM10 and PM2.5 increase more due to dust, construction and burning of garbage and stubble.

PM2.5 is a small substance dissolved in the air. The diameter of these particles is 2.5 micrometres or less. The haze only increases when the level of PM2.5 is high. The visibility level also drops.

There is no system in our body to stop these particles while breathing. In such a situation, PM2.5 reaches deep inside our lungs. PM2.5 harms children and the elderly the most. This increases the discomfort of the eyes, throat and lungs. There is also coughing and difficulty in breathing. Lung cancer can also occur due to continuous exposure.

Particular matter 2.5 and 10 are used to measure the particles present in the air. After increasing the level of PM2.5 and PM10 in the air, the problem of shortness of breath, burning in the eyes etc. starts, the most problem comes to those people who are respiratory patients and asthma patients. Along with this, breathing in bad air continuously can also lead to the problem of lung cancer.