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Air pollution is a pressing issue in India, particularly during the winter months when incidents of stubble burning in northern states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh exacerbate air quality. The phenomenon of farm fires is often closely monitored using satellite data, which provides insights into their frequency and intensity. However, there is often a noticeable discrepancy between the satellite-recorded data on farm fires and the observed levels of air pollution.
For UPSC aspirants, understanding this gap is crucial for addressing questions on environmental governance, technology in policymaking, and sustainable agricultural practices. This eBook explores the causes of this discrepancy, its implications, and strategies for bridging the gap.
1. What are Farm Fires?
Farm fires, commonly referred to as stubble burning, occur when farmers burn agricultural residue—mainly paddy straw—left behind after harvesting. This practice is widespread in northern India due to mechanized harvesting, which leaves stalks that are costly and labor-intensive to remove.
2. Contribution to Air Pollution:
Stubble burning releases harmful pollutants, including:
These pollutants worsen air quality, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, where meteorological conditions like low wind speeds and temperature inversions trap pollutants.
Satellites equipped with remote sensing technology detect heat signatures from active fires. Tools like the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) capture farm fire data, providing real-time maps of fire hotspots.
Despite these benefits, satellite data is not always perfectly aligned with observed air quality, leading to a discrepancy.
Meteorological Factors:
Variability in Emission Estimates: Satellite data provides a count of fire incidents but does not quantify the precise amount of emissions. Factors like the type of crop residue, moisture content, and burning conditions can significantly influence the actual pollutant release.
Limitations of Satellite Technology:
Non-Fire Sources of Pollution:
Cumulative Effects: Air pollution is cumulative, with multiple sources interacting. A single pollutant source, like farm fires, may not fully explain observed pollution levels, especially when compounded by local and regional emissions.
Policy Challenges: The discrepancy complicates policymaking, as it creates uncertainty about the proportionate responsibility of farm fires in overall pollution. Policies targeting stubble burning may face opposition if perceived as unfairly attributing blame.
Public Perception: Public discourse often disproportionately blames farmers for pollution, overshadowing other contributors like urban emissions. This can alienate farming communities and hinder cooperative solutions.
Judicial Interventions: Courts have frequently directed governments to act against stubble burning, but discrepancies in data may undermine the effectiveness of such rulings.
Global Implications: India’s reliance on satellite data for international reporting (e.g., under the Paris Agreement) may require reconciliation of such discrepancies to ensure credibility and accuracy.
Improving Satellite Data:
Comprehensive Air Quality Monitoring:
Targeted Policy Measures:
Public Awareness and Farmer Support:
Seasonal Action Plans:
The discrepancy between satellite data on farm fires and air pollution underscores the complexity of environmental management in India. While satellite technology is a powerful tool for monitoring and policymaking, it must be complemented by ground-based observations, robust data integration, and a nuanced understanding of pollution sources.
For UPSC aspirants, this topic provides insights into the interplay of technology, environmental policy, and social dynamics. A balanced approach, recognizing both the strengths and limitations of satellite data, is essential for crafting effective solutions to India’s air pollution crisis.
By addressing these gaps, India can not only improve its air quality but also set an example for leveraging technology in sustainable development—an important theme in the UPSC syllabus.
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