GS-PAPER-III- IAS MAINS -ENVIRONMENT-Ozone pollution likely to spike in Capital

Context:

With rising temperatures, surface ozone pollution is expected to increase in Delhi in the next three days, according to a forecast by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

Details:

• Surface ozone can lead to cough, shortness of breath, throat pain in short term and cause corrosion of linings of lungs and make lungs vulnerable to further infections in case of long-term exposure.
• For people who already have lung and respiratory diseases, it would be further aggravated.
• Maximum temperatures are likely to rise gradually by 2-3 degrees Celsius during the next three days which will increase the production of surface ozone.

What is surface ozone?

• Surface ozone is not a primary pollutant and it is produced due to chemical reactions of NOx (nitrogen oxides), CO (carbon monoxide) in the presence of sunlight.
• When temperature increases, the rate of production of ozone also increases.
• It can cause fatigue, breathlessness, and asthma.

SAFAR:

• SAFAR stands for the state of art Air Quality and Weather Forecast system.
• The giant true colour LED display gives out real-time air quality index on 24×7 basis with colour coding along with 72-hour advance forecast.
• Based on the Air Quality Index on a particular day, health advisory and related precaution will be notified to prepare citizens well in advance.
• The system is first of its kind in India and is the most advanced system. It is installed at Chandni Chowk in Delhi.
• SAFAR is operationalized by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). It was indigenously developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
• In addition to regular air quality and weather parameters like Carbon Monoxide, Particulate Matter -PM2.5, PM10, Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxide and Ozone, it will measure Black carbon, Mercury, sun’s UV-Index (UVI) and PM1 in real time.
• It can also provide the measurement of online automatic ultrafine particles Mercury and PM1, both of which have direct relevance to human health.
• It will also monitor the existence harmful pollutants of Xylene, Toluene and Benzene.

Q; What is the Ozone Pollution ? What are the causes of the Ozone Pollution ? What are the impacts of Ozone Pollution on the health ? How can Ozone pollution be reduced ? (  250 Words  )

COURTESY 

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