Rourkela, situated in the Sundargarh district of Odisha, India, occupies a strategic position within the mineral-rich Chota Nagpur Plateau region at an elevation of approximately 200 meters above sea level. This industrial city lies along the banks of the Koel River, a tributary of the Brahmani River system, which influences local humidity patterns and occasionally contributes to flooding during monsoon seasons. Rourkela's urban character is dominated by the massive Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), operated by SAIL, which anchors the city's economy and shapes its spatial layout with distinct industrial, residential, and administrative zones. The surrounding landscape transitions from urban core to rural hinterlands marked by mining activities, forests, and agricultural patches, creating a pronounced urban–rural gradient that affects pollution dispersion. Proximity to dense forests and the Simlipal Biosphere Reserve to the southeast offers some natural air filtration, but this is counterbalanced by the city's location within India's industrial belt, where emissions from steel production, coal-based thermal power, and vehicular traffic accumulate in the valley-like terrain. The city's position in a tropical wet-and-dry climate zone, with its relatively low elevation and enclosed topography, traps pollutants, especially during cooler months when temperature inversions are common, exacerbating air quality issues from both local industrial sources and regional dust from mining operations.

Rourkela's air quality follows a distinct seasonal pattern driven by its tropical wet-and-dry climate and industrial activity. During the winter months from November to February, pollution peaks sharply due to a combination of meteorological factors: lower temperatures lead to frequent temperature inversions that trap emissions from the steel plant, thermal power stations, and vehicle exhaust near the ground, while reduced wind speeds and morning fog further inhibit dispersion. This period poses significant health risks, especially for sensitive groups like children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, who should limit outdoor activities and use protective masks. The summer season from March to June brings extreme heat and increased wind, which helps disperse pollutants somewhat, but dust from mining and road construction remains a concern, making late evenings the best time for outdoor exertion. The monsoon from July to October offers the cleanest air, as heavy rainfall from the southwest monsoon washes away particulate matter and industrial emissions, though thunderstorms can temporarily stir up dust. Post-monsoon months see a gradual return of pollution as industrial output ramps up and meteorological conditions deteriorate, marking a transition back to the hazardous winter period.