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Will it spike pollution levels? Check impact on AQI News24 –

Delhi
By Correspondent


Ethiopian volcanic ash: An ash cloud from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano has entered western India over Rajasthan, Gujarat on Monday evening and is now moving across several northern states. It is expected to reach northwest Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab by Tuesday evening and later impact the Himalayas and other regions. The ash cloud is from Hayli Gubbi volcano in northern Ethiopia’s Afar Region that erupted for the first time in at least 12,000 years on Sunday morning, according to Volcano Discovery.

The eruption sent a plume of smoke 10-15 km into the air and then drifted across the Red Sea toward Oman and Yemen on Monday. Now, the ash plume, which was sent up into the atmosphere during the volcano’s eruption, is moving at a speed of 100-120 km/h toward North India. It is travelling at altitudes between 15,000-25,000 feet up to 45,000 feet and contains volcanic ash, sulphur dioxide, and small particles of glass and rock.

Will it spike pollution levels? Check impact on AQI

As the ash cloud is set to reach Delhi today, concerns have grown over whether it will worsen the already deteriorating pollution levels. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 363 at 7 am on Tuesday, November 25, which comes under “very poor” category.

According to the IndiaMetSky Weather, the ash plume does not possess any significant risk at surface and AQI levels will remain in usual range, as it has low chances for Ash fall. The Ash cloud is between 25,000-45,000 feet above surface levels, not directly impacting the AQI. Only local persisting smoke and pollutants with smog will impact Delhi as usual. However, minor impact can be there in form of dark clouds and the sky appearing darker than usual today.

“Sulphur dioxide rich + Moderately mixed Ash Volcanic Ash plume is reaching #Jaipur and nearby areas of NW & NC #Rajasthan whereas outer thin layer is already reaching #Haryana. The dense concentrated parts of this Ash cloud will move over #Delhi after 1 hr and there is less to worry about as it is between 25,000-45,000 feet high in the atmosphere and there will be low chances for any Ash fall,” IndiaMetSky Weather wrote on X.

Ethiopian volcanic ash: DGCA Advisory

Meanwhile, in view of the drifting ash clouds, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a safety advisory to all airlines, directing them to avoid altitudes and regions affected by volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi eruption, which occurred on Sunday.




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