Ground-Level Ozone: Why Air Can Be Unhealthy on Clear, Sunny Days
Ground-level ozone forms in sunlight, peaks in the afternoon and can push AQI up on clear days. What it is, safe limits and how to protect yourself.
PM2.5 vs PM10: What’s the Difference and Which Matters More for Your Health?
PM2.5 and PM10 aren’t interchangeable. Here’s what actually separates them, why size determines health risk, and how India’s air quality limits compare to WHO guidelines.
Delhi’s Worst October Start Since 2022: What the AQI of 166 and the Tighter GRAP Mean for You
Delhi’s AQI hit 166 on October 1, its worst start to October since 2022. Here’s what the numbers show, what changed in this year’s GRAP, and how to prepare.
Ventilation Index Explained: Why Calm Days Trap Smog Over Your City
Why does air get dirtier on calm days even when emissions haven’t changed? The ventilation index explains it in plain language.
Indonesian Fire Smoke Reaches Manila: Why Peat Fires Make Haze So Hard to Escape
Haze from Kalimantan fires reached Manila on October 4. Here’s why peat fires are so harmful, what El Niño has to do with it, and how to protect yourself.
Will This Week’s Rain Clear Delhi’s Air? What Western Disturbance Showers Can and Can’t Do
IMD expects scattered showers over Delhi, Punjab and Haryana on October 6-8. Here’s what light rain really does to smog, and why the relief is usually short-lived.
Why Do Two AQI Apps Show Different Numbers for the Same City?
One app says 100, another says 155. Neither is broken. Here’s why AQI numbers differ by scale, sensor, location and timing, and which one to trust.
Monsoon Leaves Delhi Early: What Its Earliest Exit Since 2002 Means for Your Air
The monsoon withdrew from Delhi on 23 Sept 2026, its earliest exit since 2002. AQI climbed from 118 to 178 in days. Here’s what it means for your air.
Punjab’s Farm-Fire Season Begins: What 84 Fires in a Day Mean for Delhi’s Air
CAQM logged 84 farm fires in Punjab in one early-October day, 30 confirmed. Here’s how that compares with last year and what it means for Delhi’s AQI.
Temperature Inversions Explained: Why Cold, Still Mornings Trap Smog
A plain-English guide to temperature inversions: how a layer of warm air traps pollution near the ground, when it happens, and how to plan around it.
Delhi’s Cleanest September in Five Years: What an AQI of 102 Does and Doesn’t Tell You
Delhi’s September 2026 AQI averaged 102, a five-year low, yet a separate analysis shows the year so far is worse. Here’s how both can be true and what to expect in October.
N95 vs Surgical vs Cloth Masks: Which One Actually Protects You From Smog?
A plain-English guide to smog masks: why a sealed N95-type respirator beats cloth and surgical masks, how to check the fit, and when to wear one.
India’s Monsoon Fell Short and October Looks Dry: What It Means for Winter Air
India’s 2026 monsoon ended 13% below normal and IMD expects a dry, warm October. Here’s what that could mean for smog season, in plain language.
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) Explained: The Coal Gas Behind India’s Power-Plant Pollution Debate
What SO2 is, how it affects your lungs, how it becomes PM2.5, and why India is debating scrubbers on coal power plants after the 2025 rule change.
Heat and Wildfires Are Eroding Air-Quality Gains, WMO Warns: What California’s Heat Wave Shows
WMO’s September 2026 bulletin says wildfire smoke and heat-driven ozone are undoing clean-air progress. Here’s what it means and how to protect yourself.
How Air Quality Monitoring Stations Really Work (and Why Your AQI Differs From Your Neighbour’s)
A plain-English look at how India’s air quality stations measure pollution, where low-cost sensors fit in, and why readings differ across a city.
ISPU vs India’s AQI: Why the Same Smoke Gets a Different Label in Indonesia
Indonesia’s ISPU and India’s AQI use different tiers, so ‘Moderate’ and ‘Unhealthy’ don’t mean the same thing. Here’s how to translate haze readings between the two scales.
Delhi-NCR’s New 50 mg/Nm³ Industrial Dust Limit Kicks In on October 1: What Changes
CAQM’s Statutory Direction No. 98 sets a uniform 50 mg/Nm³ particulate emission limit for Delhi-NCR industries, fully in force from October 1, 2026. Here’s who it covers and why it matters.
Centre Puts Five States in ‘Mission Mode’ on Stubble Burning as MP and Rajasthan Fires Surge
Farm fires are up about fivefold in Madhya Pradesh and have tripled in Rajasthan, while Punjab, Haryana and UP decline. Here’s what the Centre’s mission-mode push means for winter air.
Dust, Drought and 40 mph Gusts: Why Minnesota Issued an Air Quality Alert for Blowing Soil
Minnesota’s air quality alert on October 10 wasn’t about smoke. Dry soil and strong gusts lifted coarse PM10 dust. Here’s how it works and what to do.
