Hyderabad is experiencing poor air quality due to the winter season. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city has reached 180 and may increase as temperatures drop.
The worsening air quality in Hyderabad is caused by several factors. Rapid city expansion, more vehicles on the roads, and growing industrial activities are key contributors to this pollution. However, the recent spike in AQI is mainly due to falling temperatures.
Cool nights with clear skies lead to higher AQI levels. As the ground cools quickly, it cools the air above, forming a stable layer that traps pollution near the surface. This “temperature inversion” keeps smoke and exhaust from dispersing, causing pollution to build up.
As pollutants become concentrated in this stagnant layer, AQI levels rise, worsening air conditions at night and early morning. Once the sun heats the ground, the inversion breaks, improving air quality.
Understanding the Air Quality Index (AQI) is essential. It measures air quality in different areas and categorizes it into six levels:
- Good (0-50)
- Moderate (51-100)
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150)
- Unhealthy (151-200)
- Very Unhealthy (201-300)
- Hazardous (301-500)
On Saturday, Hyderabad recorded a low of 13.8 degrees Celsius in Maredpally, which affected air quality. Other areas like Tirumalagiri, Charminar, Asifnagar, Himayatnagar, Bandlaguda, Nampally, and Musheerabad also had temperatures below 14 degrees Celsius.
Breathing in poor quality air, especially when people inhale around 14,000 liters daily, can cause health problems in Hyderabad.
