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Damoh occupies a strategic position in central India's Madhya Pradesh state, situated at approximately 23.84°N latitude and 79.44°E longitude within the tropical wet-and-dry climate zone. The city rests at an elevation of around 400 meters above sea level on the Vindhya Range's northeastern fringes, creating a gently undulating terrain that influences local air circulation patterns. Damoh's urban character blends traditional market town functions with emerging administrative services, positioned along National Highway 39 that connects it to larger urban centers like Jabalpur and Sagar. This highway corridor contributes significantly to vehicle exhaust pollution while facilitating regional agricultural trade. The surrounding landscape transitions from urban settlement to extensive agricultural zones where rice, wheat, and soybean cultivation dominate, with post-harvest burning practices directly impacting air quality. Damoh lies approximately 50 kilometers northeast of the Sonar River basin, though no major water bodies immediately border the city, reducing natural cleansing effects from water bodies. The region forms part of the Bundelkhand plateau's eastern extension, characterized by rocky outcrops and seasonal streams that create dust-prone surfaces. Damoh's position within India's agricultural heartland means it experiences both urban pollution sources and rural biomass burning influences, creating a complex air quality profile exacerbated by its inland location away from coastal cleansing winds. The city's growth along transportation routes has created distinct pollution gradients from central commercial areas to peripheral agricultural lands.

Damoh's air quality follows distinct seasonal patterns shaped by its tropical wet-and-dry climate. During winter months from November through February, pollution reaches its peak due to multiple converging factors. Cooler temperatures create frequent temperature inversions that trap pollutants near the surface, while calm winds from the northeast fail to disperse accumulated contaminants. This period coincides with extensive agricultural burning after the kharif harvest, combined with increased domestic biomass burning for heating, creating hazardous haze conditions. Sensitive groups should minimize outdoor activities during these months, particularly during morning hours when inversions are strongest. The pre-monsoon season from March to May brings extreme heat that accelerates photochemical reactions, though stronger surface winds provide some dispersion benefits. Summer thunderstorms occasionally clear the air temporarily but can also kick up construction and road dust. The monsoon from June to September dramatically improves air quality as heavy rainfall scrubs pollutants from the atmosphere and southwesterly winds bring cleaner maritime air. This represents the best period for outdoor activities, though flooding hazards require consideration. Post-monsoon October sees deteriorating conditions as agricultural burning commences and wind patterns shift, creating a transition to the winter pollution peak. Throughout the year, road dust remains a persistent concern due to Damoh's dry conditions and unpaved surfaces, exacerbated by vehicle movement along its transportation corridors.