Jammu air quality map

What information about air quality can be seen on the air pollution map for Jammu?

The air pollution map for Jammu is very easy to find because the map icon on the main city page doubles up as a link for its own page which is filled with information about the air quality in the city and its environs.

When first opened, the viewer cannot fail to notice the strong colouration of the map. This colour is a direct indication of the state of the air at that time. For Jammu, the colours range from yellow to a quite dark orange. Which indicates that the air quality is “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”. The full meaning of these colours is explained in the legend at the foot of the page. The colours go from pale green to dark maroon and are used throughout the entire IQAir website to keep things standard. The darker the colour, the worse the air quality.

There are also many coloured circles across the map which represent the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations. These each display a number as well as a colour. This figure is the United States Air Quality Index number or US AQI for short. It is calculated by taking measurements of the six most prolific pollutants found in city air. These are usually both sizes of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. In the absence of ground-level air monitoring stations, the data for air quality is collected by overhead satellites as is the case for Jammu. Once the US AQI number is calculated, it is used as a standard when comparing air quality for different cities. It is fully endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

At the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2022, Jammu was experiencing a period of air quality that is classified as being “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” with a US AQI reading of 103. The main pollutant measured was PM2.5 with a level of 36.2 µg/m³ or microns per cubic metre. With a reading such as this, it is over seven times higher than the target figure of 5 µg/m³ as recommended by the WHO.

What other interesting information can be gleaned from the air pollution map for Jammu?

The rest of the information on the air pollution map for Jammu can be clearly seen when the map is viewed in full-screen mode. In this way, a list of four options becomes visible on the left-hand side of the screen. These can be deactivated individually to give a clearer picture of what each choice does.

The first option would show the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations, but as previously stated, Jammu has no physical stations and relies on overhead satellites to obtain its data. Some of these coloured discs can be seen over the state border around Lahore in Pakistan.

The second option shows the location of any wildfires that might be burning in the vicinity. In October 2022, there were no such icons on the air pollution map for Jammu. Option four needs to be consulted if there are any fires burning as it shows the speed and direction of the wind which would give a good indication as to where the smoke would blow.

The third option is the most dramatic as it changes the background colour of the map to reflect the current state of the air. Currently, the colours are very intense which indicates overall very poor-quality air. If the colours are too intense, the option can be turned off and the map will revert to a more subdued colour palette.

There is more information on the right-hand side of the page where a table will be seen. This table shows the rankings of the world cities according to the level of air quality. By default, only seven cities are shown, but this can be expanded to include the rest of them.

Is it possible to see the source of the air pollution on the air quality map for Jammu?

The source of air pollution is not directly shown on the air quality map for Jammu, however, in the city and surrounding areas, air pollution levels are rising 50 per cent above the norm due to pollution emanating from vehicles plying on the roads, construction works and industrial areas. The age of the vehicles tends to be older than in other countries and therefore their levels of technology are not high as they lack the modern systems which regulate emissions.

At certain times of the year, especially around the Diwali festivities, the air pollution in Jammu can double. Despite a ban on the sale of highly polluting bombs and firecrackers and a two-hour limited firecracker timeframe, fireworks broke out on Diwali night, doubling the air pollution level in Jammu. Last year there were fewer fireworks over the Diwali celebrations, which did not have any significant effect on the environment, but this time people broke all the records for fireworks and burst firecrackers till midnight. Last year, due to rain on the next day of Diwali, the air pollution had also reduced but this time it did not. “Green” firecrackers are available but were largely ignored as people chose the more traditional ones.

Stubble burning of the residual crop waste is another seasonal cause of air pollution. This can be particularly harmful as it still contains the pesticides used on the growing crop which now remain in the stalks.

PM2.5 is used as a benchmark on the air pollution map for Jammu, but how dangerous is it?

PM2.5 are atmospheric aerosols with a diameter not greater than 2.5 micrometres or microns. This type of suspended dust is considered to be the most dangerous for human health. All because the dust is very fine and, in this form, it can get directly into the bloodstream. It is this type of particulate matter that is responsible for the exacerbation of many respiratory and circulatory diseases such as asthma. This can lead to a reduction in the lungs’ capacity to function.

PM10 is a mixture of airborne particles, the diameter of which does not exceed 10 micrometres. It is harmful due to the content of such elements as benzopyrene, furans, and dioxins - in a word, carcinogenic heavy metals.