A vast blanket of haze and smoke spreading across northern India and Pakistan has been captured by a NASA satellite, highlighting the growing air pollution problem across the region as winter approaches.
The image, captured by NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and made available through its Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), shows a dense grey layer of haze covering large parts of the Indo-Gangetic plains. The pollution belt stretches from Pakistan across northern India towards the eastern regions.
The haze is particularly prominent over Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, while the Himalayan mountain range remains visible in the northern portion of the satellite image. The striking contrast between the snow-covered mountains and the pollution-covered plains illustrates the extensive spread of atmospheric haze across the region.
The satellite image also features several red markers indicating detected fire hotspots, particularly across the northwestern agricultural belt. These detections are consistent with seasonal agricultural residue burning, commonly known as stubble burning, which contributes to deteriorating air quality in parts of northern India.
Every winter, northern India and neighbouring Pakistan witness a significant decline in air quality as multiple pollution sources combine with unfavourable weather conditions.
Stubble burning, vehicle emissions, industrial activities, construction dust and other sources contribute to the region’s pollution levels. However, the problem becomes more severe during winter when lower temperatures, weak winds and a shallow atmospheric boundary layer restrict the movement and dispersion of pollutants.
As a result, harmful particles and smoke remain trapped closer to the ground, creating dense and persistent layers of smog over heavily populated areas.
The recurring pollution crisis poses serious environmental and public health concerns, particularly for people living in urban centres and agricultural regions across the Indo-Gangetic plains.
The NASA satellite image provides a broad view of the geographical extent of the haze, underscoring the cross-border nature of seasonal air pollution affecting India and Pakistan.