Dombivli air quality map

What interesting information about air cleanliness can be found on the air pollution map for Dombivli?

The air pollution map for Dombivli can easily be found on the main city page. Clicking anywhere on the map icon will open another page which is dedicated to air quality in and around the city.

When the map initially opens the viewer will be hit by an intense colour of reddish/brown which is an indication of the very poor-quality air currently experienced. The other noticeable items are the number of coloured circles or discs which are superimposed over the map. Each disc represents the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations. However, Dombivli has no physical stations monitoring air quality and instead relies on data derived from overhead satellites, but the results are the same. These discs also display a number. This is the United States Air Quality Index number or US AQI for short. This figure is calculated by taking the measurements of up to six of the most commonly found air pollutants in city air. They are usually both sizes of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Once established, this figure is then used as a metric when comparing air quality in different locations around the world. It is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Looking back to the main city page, it can be seen that at the end of November 2022, Dombivli was experiencing a period of air quality that was classed as being “Unhealthy” with a US AQI reading of 155. The main pollutant was identified as PM2.5 with a recorded level of 64.2 µg/m³. This level is almost thirteen times more than the suggested target figure of 5 µg/m³ as recommended by the WHO.

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

There is a lot more interesting information on the air pollution map for Dombivli, but in order to see it all, the screen needs to be viewed at a maximum size. This can be achieved by selecting the icon at the top right-hand side of the screen.

When viewed in this way, a drop-down list of four options appears on the left-hand side of the page. Each of these choices can be individually turned off or on to get a better idea of what each one does.

The first option shows the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations, even though they are not directly over Dombivli. Some of them are close enough to be of interest and they can be selected individually to reveal more information about that specific area of the city.

The second option shows the position of any wildfires that might be burning in the vicinity. Fortunately, in November 2022 there were no icons on the map as there were no fires burning out of control within the area. If fires were burning then option four should be considered as it shows the speed and direction of the prevailing winds and could indicate where the ensuing smoke might blow.

The third option can be very dramatic as it changes the colour of the map to reflect the current air quality. Some of the colours can be very intense if the air quality is poor. If they are too distracting then the option can be deactivated so the colours will revert to a more subdued colour palette.

More information can be found on the far right-hand side of the screen in the form of a table. This table ranks the world cities according to their levels of air pollution. there are just seven cities shown in the table, but this can be explored in depth by checking out the full ranking section.

Can the source of the polluted air be seen on the air pollution map for Dombivli?

The direct source of the polluted air is not shown directly on the air pollution map for Dombivli, but as with most large cities anywhere in the world, a major contributor to air pollution comes from the number of vehicles using the road network on a daily basis.

Increasing urbanization and human activities such as construction work are the major causes of air pollutant emissions and poor air quality. It is estimated that by the year 2030, about 50 per cent of the global population will be living in urban areas, further contributing to air pollution.

Urbanization has resulted in a massive increase in the presence of vehicles on the roads which contributes to traffic congestion and thereby affects the air quality of that particular area to a great extent.

Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels causes air pollution. These fuels include coal, oil, and gasoline, which are used to produce electricity and energy for transportation. When fossil fuels are burned, they don't just emit carbon dioxide. For example, coal-fired power stations alone account for 80 per cent of harmful mercury emissions in India. A large part of the dust (particulate pollution) in the atmosphere is emitted from fossil fuel combustion.

PM2.5 and PM10, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide are the major pollutants emitted from industries that use coal and wood as primary energy sources to produce their goods. In addition, stubble burning is also one of the major sources of air pollution in northern India, especially during the winter season.

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

Particulate matter is very small dust and gaseous particles. These particles cannot be seen with the naked eye. PM10 is called such particles, whose diameter is 10 micrometres. These types of particles include dust, gas and polluted microparticles. It is produced by dust, stubble, garbage burning, smoke emitted from vehicles, and smoke coming out of firecrackers.

Due to an increase in the level of PM10, there is a burning sensation in the eyes and nose, difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, cough, and serious respiratory diseases. The normal level of PM10 should be 100 microgram cubic meter, exceeding this is very harmful to the body. PM10 is also known as respirable particulate matter.PM2.5 are atmospheric dust particles, which cannot be seen without the use of an electron microscope. These particles include particles of dust, automobile emissions, and cooking fumes. The diameter of PM2.5 remains less than 2.5 micrometres. PM2.5 particles are smaller than PM10 particles.