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A study by scientists found that industrial pollution can trigger a phenomenon that results in more snowfall in nearby areas.
In some cases, the snowfall generated by industrial pollution could cover large areas. (Image: Shutterstock/PTI)
In recent years, Delhi has been grappling with hazardous levels of air pollution, especially during the colder months. The combination of industrial pollutants and fog often results in poor visibility, creating serious health risks for residents. However, a recent scientific study has revealed an unexpected consequence of this pollution: snowfall. It turns out that emissions from factories may be influencing local weather patterns, leading to more frequent snowfall in areas close to industrial sites. Here’s how it works and what this means for the environment.
Pollution and Snowfall: An Unlikely Connection
The air quality in Delhi, and many other industrial areas around the world, is deteriorating due to increased pollution from factories, power plants, and other industrial sources. While the air may seem to clear up momentarily when it rains, new research suggests that this could also be linked to snowfall – but not in the way most people would expect.
A study conducted by an international team of scientists found that industrial pollution, specifically the tiny particles emitted by factories, can trigger a phenomenon that results in more snowfall in nearby areas. This happens through a process known as cloud glaciation, which takes place under specific temperature conditions.
How Factory Pollution Triggers Snowfall
Clouds typically form when water vapour condenses into droplets. In colder conditions, these droplets can freeze and form ice crystals, creating snow. However, this process doesn’t always occur naturally. The new study suggests that pollutants, such as aerosols emitted by factories, can play a crucial role in this transformation.
When the temperature drops between -10°C and -24°C (14°F to -11°F), these pollutants serve as ‘nuclei’, providing a surface on which water droplets can freeze. This is known as cloud glaciation. The study also highlights that emissions from industries, including coal-fired power plants, can release heat and water vapour into the atmosphere, which might further contribute to the process.
Unexpected Snowfall Around Industrial Sites
Researchers observed satellite images of clouds near 67 industrial sites, analysing near-infrared data from NASA’s Terra satellite. The data revealed something unusual: while clouds were forming, they were not composed of the typical liquid water droplets. Instead, the pollution-laden clouds were turning into ice clouds, even in places where such snowfall wouldn’t usually occur.
In fact, snowfall levels in these areas were higher than in surrounding regions, with snowfall reaching up to 15 mm (over half an inch) in some cases. The intensity of the snowfall was also greater, averaging 1.2 mm per hour. This means that, in some cases, industries are not just contributing to air pollution but may also be causing significant weather changes in their immediate surroundings.
Potential Health and Environmental Impacts
The findings are concerning for both public health and the environment. While the harmful effects of air pollution have been well-documented, this new research suggests that the pollutants from factories could also lead to unexpected weather events, like snowstorms, in areas that might not typically experience such conditions.
Professor Nicolas Bellouin, one of the study’s co-authors, pointed out the broader implications: “We already knew about the health effects of air pollution, but now we know that emissions from factories can turn rain clouds into ice clouds. This can lead to unexpected snowfall that does not occur in other areas.” The impact of such snowfall could be severe, particularly for local communities who might not be prepared for heavy snowfalls in the middle of winter.
Snowfall Threat That Could Affect Larger Areas
In some cases, the snowfall generated by industrial pollution could cover large areas. A single snow event could potentially drop more than 1.3 cm (half an inch) of snow over an area larger than a typical city. This raises concerns for people living near industrial sites, who may need to adapt to the possibility of sudden snowstorms.
There’s also a broader environmental concern at play. Clouds are known to play a crucial role in reflecting sunlight back into space, helping to regulate the Earth’s temperature. Ice clouds, however, reflect less sunlight than liquid clouds, meaning that as more ice clouds form, they could contribute to changes in global weather patterns.
Need for More Research
While the study’s findings provide compelling evidence of the connection between factory pollution and snowfall, the researchers emphasise that more research is needed. Understanding how industrial pollutants affect cloud formation and precipitation is complex, and scientists are keen to explore the full extent of their impact on the global climate.
The study, published in *Science*, concludes that aerosols from industrial sites may have a far-reaching impact on both local weather and the wider climate system. However, much remains to be understood about how these particles interact with clouds and what long-term consequences they might have for our environment.
This new research provides valuable insight into the unexpected consequences of industrial pollution, shedding light on the complex relationship between air quality and weather. While the snow generated by pollution may seem like a minor inconvenience, its implications for public safety, health, and the environment could be far-reaching. As the study shows, it’s not just the air we breathe that’s at risk – it’s also the weather patterns that affect our daily lives. With further research, we may better understand how to mitigate these effects and prepare for the impact of pollution-driven snowfall.
