Shivamogga (Shimoga) Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

Karnataka, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5

Shivamogga AQI Right Now

61

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 18.19 µg/m³

PM10: 60.02 µg/m³

Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.

Shivamogga Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.518.19 µg/m³
PM1060.02 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)13.07 µg/m³
NO₂17.76 µg/m³
SO₂1.96 µg/m³
CO584.95 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Shivamogga

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Shivamogga

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 0.8 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.05 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Shivamogga

  • General Population: Acceptable air quality. Unusually sensitive people should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
  • Elderly: Minor breathing discomfort is possible.
  • Children: Should be fine outdoors with normal activities.
  • Lung Disease Patients: Consider reducing prolonged outdoor exertion.

Understanding Shivamogga Air Quality

Shivamogga (formerly Shimoga), the gateway to Karnataka's lush Malnad region, enjoys a fortunate geographic position at the transition zone between the Western Ghats and the Deccan Plateau. The Tunga River flows through the city, and the surrounding Sahyadri foothills support dense tropical vegetation that acts as a natural air filter. Heavy monsoon rainfall — averaging over 2,000mm annually — provides months of atmospheric cleansing that most Deccan Plateau cities cannot match.

The drier months (December–March) bring the area's mildest pollution, though even peak readings pale in comparison to northern Indian cities. Rice mills in the surrounding agricultural belt contribute seasonal particulates during the post-harvest processing period, and vehicular exhaust from the congested city centre adds to the local emission load. Agricultural residue burning from areca nut and paddy fields in the Malnad hinterland can create brief episodes of hazy conditions during February and March.

Shivamogga's air quality advantage lies in its extraordinary monsoon coverage — the Jog Falls, India's second-highest plunge waterfall, is just 100 km away in the same rainfall zone. From June through October, persistent rainfall keeps AQI firmly in the Good range. The city's moderate elevation, river valley ventilation, and proximity to Western Ghats forest cover make it one of Karnataka's cleaner urban centres, though growing vehicular traffic and construction activity from rapid urbanisation are gradually adding to the pollution baseline.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Road dust
  • Rice mill emissions
  • Construction dust
  • Waste burning
  • Agricultural residue burning

Geography: Malnad region of central Karnataka; gateway to the Western Ghats, Tunga River valley, tropical climate with heavy monsoon rainfall

Peak pollution months: December, January, February, March

Frequently Asked Questions — Shivamogga

Why is Shivamogga's air quality better than most Karnataka cities?

Shivamogga benefits from its location in the Malnad region near the Western Ghats, receiving over 2,000mm of annual monsoon rainfall that provides months of natural atmospheric cleansing. The Tunga River valley, surrounding tropical vegetation, and moderate elevation create favourable conditions for air dispersal. The city also lacks the heavy industrial base that drives pollution in places like Ballari or Durgapur.

What are the main pollution concerns in Shivamogga?

Shivamogga's primary pollution sources are growing vehicular traffic in the congested city centre, rice mill emissions during post-harvest processing, agricultural residue burning from areca nut and paddy fields, and construction dust from rapid urbanisation. While these keep winter AQI in the Moderate range on some days, overall air quality remains significantly better than most Indian cities.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities