Indo-Gangetic plain
NASA Research Reveals Shift in Stubble Burning Timing Worsens North India's Air Pollution Crisis
Dec 16, 2025 05:44 pm CST
NASA scientists have identified a significant shift in stubble burning patterns across northern India, with farmers now setting fires later in the evening rather than afternoon. This timing change complicates pollution monitoring efforts and may worsen air quality as evening conditions allow pollutants to accumulate more efficiently overnight. Satellite data shows this pattern shifting from 1-2 PM to 4-6 PM burning times, contributing to hazardous air quality levels across the Indo-Gangetic Plain during post-harvest seasons.
Satellite Monitoring Fails to Detect 90% of Farm Fires in Punjab and Haryana: iFOREST Report Reveals
Dec 09, 2025 02:18 am CST
A new report by iFOREST reveals that over 90% of large farm fires in Punjab and Haryana go undetected by official monitoring systems due to farmers shifting stubble-burning to late afternoons. Despite this monitoring gap, burnt areas have decreased by 25-35% in recent years, though approximately 30,000 sq km of paddy fields were still burnt in 2025, significantly impacting air quality in Delhi-NCR and the Indo-Gangetic region.