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 ....
Do You Want to Read More?
Subscribe Now
To get access to detailed content
Buy March 2026 Issue

Already a Member? Login here

Take Annual Subscription and get the following Advantage
The annual members of the Civil Services Chronicle can read the monthly content of the magazine as well as the Chronicle magazine archives.
Readers can study all the material before the last six months of the Civil Services Chronicle monthly issue in the form of Chronicle magazine archives.
Be an Annual Subscriber

Related Content