Srinagar air quality map

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

There is plenty of information about air quality on the air pollution map for Srinagar. This is easy to access from the main city page. Merely by selecting the map icon found there will open a new page which is dedicated to all things related to air quality in the city and its environs.

The first thing a viewer will notice is perhaps the colouration of the map. This colour is a direct indication of the current air quality. The colours can range from pale green through to dark maroon. Currently, the map is a greenish/yellow which denotes air quality that is “Moderate” to “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”. These colours are used throughout the entire IQAir website to avoid confusion. There will also be some coloured circles on the map which represent the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations. Displayed in the centre of these discs is a number which is the United States Air Quality Index reading or US AQI for short. This figure is derived from measurements of six of the most prolific air pollutants which are usually both sizes of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone and carbon monoxide. Once calculated, this figure is used as a metric when comparing air quality in different cities across the globe. It is fully supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The discs themselves are a gateway to more information about that specific area of the city. A left click on the disc will open a new page with all the new information on it.

Looking back at the main city page there is a coloured banner at the top. This banner shows the current air quality and the US AQI reading. During November 2022, this reading was 144 which classified the air quality as being “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”. The main pollutant which was recorded was PM2.5 with a level of 52.9 µg/m³ which is over ten times the recommended target figure of 5 µg/m³ as suggested by the WHO.

Directly below the map is shown the number of stations there are which supply the air quality data. Currently, there is one station which is supplied and operated by a local government department, the Central Pollution Control Board.

Is there much more interesting information to be seen on the air pollution map for Srinagar?

There is a lot more interesting information on the air pollution map for Srinagar but to access all of it, the screen needs to be viewed at maximum size. This can be done by selecting the “Full-screen” icon at the top of the map page.

When viewed in this way, a list of four options will appear down the left-hand side of the screen. They can all be individually turned on or off to get a full understanding of what each one does.

The first option shows the position of the monitoring stations which can each be selected for more comprehensive information about that specific area of the city.

The next option will show the location of any wildfires that might be burning in the vicinity. During November 2022, there were no icons on the map showing any fires. If fires were detected, then option four needs to be consulted as it shows the speed and direction of the prevailing winds and may help to show where the ensuing smoke might blow.

This just leaves option three which can be very dramatic as it can control the overall colour of the map to reflect the state of the air at that specific time. If some viewers find the colour saturation too confusing, it can be deactivated and the map will then revert to a more subdued set of colours which may be easier to understand.

There is some more information over on the far side of the page where a table will be found which ranks world cities according to their levels of air pollution. There are only seven cities shown on the small table but all the world cities will be revealed if the “full-ranking” choice is selected.

Are areas of higher pollution shown on the air quality map for Srinagar?

The best way to identify these areas is to look for the disc with the highest number and/or darkest colour. Because there is only one station in Srinagar, this is not difficult. Alternatively, a list can be seen just below the air pollution map for Srinagar which lists the stations according to their levels of air pollution. The station at Rajbagh, Srinagar – JKSPCB is in the most polluted area of the city and has a US AQI reading of 139 which is classified as being “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”.

Immediately below this list is another which ranks the stations in order of their popularity. This one at Rajbagh, Srinagar – JKSPCB is the most popular with 27followers.

Can the source of the polluted air be seen on the air quality map for Srinagar?

The source of air pollution is not shown on the air quality map for Srinagar, however, even though the city does not have a huge amount of local polluting industry nor does it have an excessive number of vehicles on its roads. It is located on the Gangetic plains in northern India which are well-known as being the most polluted area in the entire world. According to scientists, the Ganga plain is also like a vast valley, which is located between the Himalayas in the north and the Vindhya range in the south. Therefore, the pollutants are not able to travel very far from here, due to which their concentration is increasing here.

The region is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. The population of this region is more than 600 million. Therefore, to meet the energy requirements of such a large population, fuel is burnt on a large scale, releasing a large number of pollutants and particulate matter into the air.

PM2.5 is often mentioned on the air pollution map for Srinagar, but what is it?

PM is also called Particulate Matter which is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets present in the atmosphere. The particles present in the air are so small that you cannot see them with the naked eye. Some particles are so small that they can only be detected using an electron microscope. Particle pollution includes PM2.5 and PM10 which are very dangerous.