Shift in Burning Timings: A Possible Strategy to Avoid Detection?
Satellite Data Sheds Light on the Issue Amid Ongoing Debate
A recent analysis of satellite data has raised questions about whether farmers in north-west India and Pakistan are intentionally altering their burning schedules to avoid detection by monitoring systems. The observation comes as environmental concerns over crop residue burning continue to plague the region.
According to experts, some farmers may be timing their fires to coincide with periods when satellites are not actively monitoring the region, such as during the late afternoon hours past NASA-NOAA satellite overpasses. Hiren Jethva, a senior research scientist at NASA, pointed out that fire activity appeared to shift to the late afternoon, a period after the NASA satellites had passed over.
Jethva's analysis of GEO-KOMPSAT-2A satellite data showed that this could be one reason why some farmers may not have altered their burning patterns to avoid detection. The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and other agencies reported a significant decrease in stubble burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana recently, with Punjab recording 8,404 instances of stubble burning in 2024, compared to 33,082 the previous year.
However, despite these reductions, the concentration of aerosol particles contributing to air pollution has remained largely unchanged. Chandra Bhushan, CEO of iFOREST, pointed out that the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), which measures the concentration of particulates in the atmosphere, has remained unchanged over Punjab and Haryana for six years.
Furthermore, data from Delhi shows that stubble burning contributed 37.5% of PM2.5 levels on November 17, despite relatively low counts of reported fires compared to previous years. Bhushan suggested that relying solely on the number of reported fires may not be an accurate measurement of the problem.
Local officials have rejected the theory that farmers are deliberately changing their burning patterns to avoid detection. Professor Adarshpal Vig of the Punjab Pollution Control Board emphasized that data from both ISRO and NASA satellites captures incidents of stubble burning, including those at night.
Scientists from Punjab Agricultural University have also dismissed claims that farmers are intentionally shifting their burning times. A university scientist noted that fewer crop residue burning was reported, supporting the idea that the reduction in stubble burning is genuine.
The debate over stubble burning in north-west India and Pakistan remains complex, with experts and officials holding differing views on the extent of the problem and the reliability of satellite data. While evidence of a reduction in the number of stubble burning incidents suggests progress, continued high levels of aerosol pollution underscore that the issue is far from resolved.
As further investigation and improved data collection are essential for addressing environmental impact, calls for more accurate monitoring methods raise questions about the current effectiveness of strategies to tackle crop residue burning.