NTU STUDY ON AIR POLLUTION

Source: The Hindu

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Context

• Pollution from PM 2.5 particles, intensified by climate events like El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole, is linked to around 135 million premature deaths globally between 1980 and 2020.
• Asia, particularly China and India, experienced the highest number of premature deaths attributable to PM 2.5 pollution, highlighting the urgent need for regional and global air quality management strategies.

Details

Key Points

• Study Findings:
  • PM 2.5 pollution linked to 135 million premature deaths from 1980 to 2020, with weather patterns increasing deaths by 14%.
• Major Contributors:
  • Vehicle and industrial emissions, wildfires, and dust storms are primary sources of PM 2.5.
• Regional Impact:
  • Asia, especially China and India, saw the highest premature deaths due to PM 2.5 pollution.
• Climate Influence:
  • Climate events like El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole exacerbate air pollution by increasing pollutant concentration.
• Data Sources:
  • Research utilized satellite data from NASA, death statistics from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, and weather data from NOAA.

About Indian Ocean Dipole:

Definition:

• The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is a climate phenomenon characterized by differences in sea surface temperatures between the western and eastern Indian Ocean.

Positive IOD:

• Warmer sea surface temperatures in the western Indian Ocean and cooler temperatures in the eastern Indian Ocean, leading to altered weather patterns, including reduced rainfall in Australia and increased rainfall in East Africa.

Negative IOD:

• Cooler sea surface temperatures in the western Indian Ocean and warmer temperatures in the eastern Indian Ocean, causing opposite weather effects compared to positive IOD.

Impact on Climate:

• The IOD influences monsoon strength, droughts, floods, and other significant weather events in surrounding regions.

Global Interaction:

• The IOD can interact with other climate phenomena like El Niño, amplifying or moderating their impacts on global weather patterns.

About El Niño

Definition:

• El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by the warming of surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

Frequency:

• Occurs irregularly every 2 to 7 years, typically lasting 9 to 12 months.

Global Impact:

• Causes significant changes in weather patterns worldwide, including increased rainfall in the southern United States and Peru, and droughts in Australia and Indonesia.

Temperature Rise:

• Contributes to higher global surface temperatures, often resulting in record-breaking heat.

Economic and Environmental Effects:

• Can lead to severe economic impacts, particularly in agriculture and fisheries, and exacerbates environmental issues such as coral bleaching and forest fires.

Sources:

The Hindu

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Discuss the impact of PM 2.5 pollution on global health, with a focus on premature deaths. How do climate phenomena like El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole exacerbate these impacts?