Vagaries' Views:
Mumbai has witnessed extreme "smog" quality air since the last 8 days. Various explanations from "construction Pollution" to " vast releases of gases".
But let us see and try to analyse the possible reasons for this through the meteorology lens.
Factually, construction or repair works or any burning of gases has commenced from 21st onwards, nor all these activities were "Banned" prior to 21st December.
From 20th, there was a severe dust storm blowing sand and dust over the Iraq region, which gradually increased and moved Eastwards. Now, in Meteorology terms, there was a strong "anticyclone at 3.1kms and 5.8 kms levels, centred over Arabian Peninsula, but having strong wind s blowing over Gujarat and into Maharashtra from the Arabian Sea . The dust was sucked in the Anticyclone.
Due to weight and partly from "temperature inversion", this moist dust was settling down and ground levels ( over Mumbai) and over the region.
(Under normal atmospheric conditions, air is warmer near the ground and colder at higher altitudes. In a temperature inversion, the situation “inverts,” and cold air at the surface gets trapped under a layer of warmer air.
A surface temperature inversion is likely to be present if: mist, fog, occurred. smoke or dust hangs in the air and moves sideways.)
Some areas and vulnerable parts of Mumbai saw heavier settlements of this combination due to the urban topography.
It was also noticed (for this reason), that though this combination smog was "suffocating'" and troublesome, the AQI was moderate...not severe.
The Dust Patch seems to have increased as per image on 29th December.
Inputs from Ashok Patel.
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