Weekly Air Quality Update for Sri Lanka
09 - 15 Dec 2024
Summary
From the 09th – 15th December, Colombo and Battaramulla (CEA & Pelawatta) experienced unhealthy levels of air pollution (AQI 101 – 150). Moderate (AQI 51-100) in Digana, Colombo (US Embassy), Jaffna, Trincomalee, Kurunegala, Negombo, Puttalam, Ambalantota, Akurana & Nuwara Eliya.
The air pollution in the Indian subcontinent is extremely high. In mid-December, the regional large scale wind pattern from the North-East and typically polluted wind from North-East India, Bangladesh and Myanmar reaches Sri Lanka.
Last week, there was a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal with a cyclonic vortex (which rotates against the clock) that traversed from just North of the equator below the Andaman-Nicobar archipelago towards the Eastern Coast of India. This caused the pollution transport from the North-East to be enhanced from 11th to 14th. Therefore, wind transport slightly less but still polluted air from Southern India through Tamil Nadu. The risk of high air pollution in Sri Lanka remains high this week.
Weekly Average AQI for selected cities
Battaramulla (Pelawatta) recorded the highest weekly average AQI of 114. Nuwara Eliya recorded the lowest weekly AQI of 52.
Read more about AQ color scale and real-time air quality stations operated by FECT https://fect.lk/air-quality/
Observed fine particulate measurements by the minute for last days
The AQ variation at a fine temporal scale is shown in Colombo and Pelawatte for last three days. The peak value in Colombo was about 150 and Pelawatte was about 180.
Air Quality impact on human health
Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) are generally 2.5 microns and smaller in size. Such particles are inhalable and easily lodges inside the lungs reducing capacity. PM2.5 is a concern for people’s health when levels in the air are high. The levels of risk are shown in the dial shown against the US EPA air quality standards. AQ has a scale that run from 0-500, that tells you how clean or polluted your air is. Each level on the scale corresponds to a different level of health concern.