File:Aerosols in Kashmir Valley (MODIS 2024-01-15).jpg

English: On January 10, 2024, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image centered on heavy haze in the Kashmir Valley.

Also known as the Vale of Kashmir, this intermontane valley is the economic and demographic heartland of Kashmir. The valley’s fertile fields are completely hidden from view by the heavy layer of aerosols hovering over the valley. The gray haze appears to fill the valley, leaving clear skies over the surrounding snowcapped peaks of the Himalayas. Another thick layer of haze (gray) and fog (white) covers the Punjab Plain south of the Himalayas, with haze creeping far into the upper reaches of the mountain valleys.

Poor air quality driven by aerosol pollutants is a seasonal occurrence in this region. Small particulate matter (aerosols) has many sources, including smoke from crop fires, emissions from heating and cooking fuel, urban pollution from traffic and industry, and windblown dust all can add to haze. In addition, chilly weather can create temperature inversions. These meteorological conditions act like a lid that prevents polluted air from rising high in the atmosphere, where it could dissipate. Instead, the air is trapped near the surface, further intensifying haze buildup.