NASA satellite captures massive blanket of smoke over northern India, Pakistan

A NASA satellite has captured a massive blanket of haze and smoke stretching across northern India and Pakistan, showing the widespread air pollution affecting the region as winter sets in.

The image, captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and made available through NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), shows a thick layer of greyish haze covering the Indo-Gangetic plains. The pollution belt extends from Pakistan through northern India towards the eastern parts of the country.

The haze is particularly visible across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The Himalayan mountain range can also be seen in the northern part of the image.

Several red markers indicate detected fire hotspots, including areas across the northwestern agricultural belt. These detections are consistent with agricultural residue burning, which contributes to seasonal pollution.

Northwestern India and neighbouring Pakistan experience a sharp deterioration in air quality every winter. Stubble burning, vehicular emissions, industrial activity and construction dust add to the pollution burden.

The situation worsens when colder temperatures, calm winds and a shallow atmospheric boundary layer prevent pollutants from dispersing. This causes emissions to accumulate close to the ground, creating persistent smog.

Delhi-NCR has been among the worst-affected regions, with air quality deteriorating during night and early morning hours. However, the satellite image highlights that the pollution problem extends far beyond the national capital.

NASA's MODIS instrument, aboard its Earth-observing satellites, provides wide-area observations to help scientists monitor fires, atmospheric conditions, vegetation, and changes to Earth's surface.