Delhi has been seeing foggy days due to the heightened levels of air pollution. While there did not seem any rays of hope, showers from the sky helped get a clear view. Rain on the night of November 9 and the next day proved to be beneficial for Delhi as it gave the National Capital improved air quality and a clear view of the sky.
The rains were not expected, especially when the month of November came with a high Air Quality Index of 471 for Delhi. The air quality before the rain fell under the "Severe" category. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a 24-hour average measurement. On Thursday, the AQI read to be 437. However, by the evening of Friday, the AQI fell down to 279.
How does rain help with air pollution?
Rain helps with air pollution as it washes away dust. However, the twist is that this relief is short-lived. The AQI measured some key pollutants in the air. Pollutants named PM 10 and PM 2.5 are washed out to a great extent due to rain. Moreover, if it rains for a few more days, the relief from these pollutants will be long-term. However, some pollutants are not easily washed out by rain. Sulfur dioxide and Ozone are just to name a few.
When rain falls on the surface of the earth, the raindrops attract numerous micro aerosol particles to its surface from the atmosphere even before touching the ground. This process can help in clearing the air of pollutants such as organic particles, soot, and more.
Thus, rain for a long period of time can actually help in clearing the air from particulate matter. However, it is important to note that particulate matter is not the only contributor to air pollution. There are many more pollutants present in the air that cause pollution.
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