Spatiotemporal Distribution of Air Pollutants across Indo Gangetic Plain: A Multi-Regional Comparative Analysis

Elevated air pollution endangers the environment, climate, and human health, creating significant socioeconomic challenges. These pollutants harm ecosystems and exacerbate climate change. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of air quality variations across the Indo Gangetic Plain (IGP) of North India, examining spatial patterns of multiple pollutants across five distinct sub-regions over the four major seasons, namely, Summer, Monsoon, Post-monsoon, and Winter. Data across the major IGP monitoring stations reveal significant regional and seasonal differences in pollutant concentrations and Air Quality Index (AQI). The Middle-Indo Gangetic Plain (MIGP) exhibited the highest particulate matter concentrations (PM 10: 160.23±8.47 μg/m³, PM 2.5: 71.5±4.68 μg/m³), while the North Eastern region (NE) demonstrated the lowest levels (PM 10: 61.72±27.23 μg/m³, PM 2.5: 32.07±14.01 μg/m³). Notable variations were observed in gaseous pollutants, with the Lower-Indo Gangetic Plain (LIGP) showing the highest SO2 (18.55±4.68 μg/m³) concentrations. Major urban centers emerged as pollution hotspots with AQI values exceeding 175, while Aizawl in the cleaner and less populated northeast India maintained AQI below 42. These findings indicate a west-to-east pollution gradient with significant influence from local emission sources, topographical features, and weather conditions. The pronounced inter-regional differences over various seasons highlight the need for tailored air quality management strategies addressing region-specific pollution characteristics rather than uniform approaches across the entire IGP region.