Poor air quality and dense haze/smog during 2016 in the indo-gangetic plains associated with the crop residue burning and diwali festival

摘要

Punjab state (located in north-west part) is known as food basket of India. Every year, after the crops are harvested during post monsoon (Oct.-Nov.) and summer (April-May) seasons, crop residues are burnt. The plumes of the burning during post monsoon season are transported over the Indo-Gangetic basin (IGB), upto far distances over the IGB and also over the central parts of India based on the favorable meteorological conditions. The plume greatly impacts the air quality affecting health of 900 million people living in the IGB. During 2016, crop residue burning coincided with the Diwali festival, as a result, dense haze, fog and smog were persisted for long time that affected day to day life of people. We have used satellite data to study the changes in atmospheric and meteorological parameters associated with the crop residue burning.