Study: Why Pollution Makes Winter Fog Thicker Over North India
On 9th January 2026, new research from Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) revealed that air pollution above fog layers makes winter fog thicker and longer-lasting over the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Why winter fog is a problem in north india?
- Dense winter fog is common across the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
- It severely reduces visibility for hours, affecting:
- Aviation and rail traffic
- Road safety
- Daily life and economic activity
- Fog episodes tend to last longer when air pollution is high.
What the Study Found
- Scientists analysed 15 years of CALIPSO satellite data to measure aerosols above fog layers over the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
- They defined AODFOG (Aerosol Optical Depth ....
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