Air Quality & Pollen
-
Air quality and pollen maps on meteoblue provide real-time and forecasted environmental data for air pollution, atmospheric particles, and pollen concentrations. These maps are useful for health monitoring, environmental assessment, and planning outdoor activities.
1. Air Quality (CAQI)
• Displays the Common Air Quality Index (CAQI) in five classes, colour-coded according to the legend.
• Lower values = better air quality; values >100 (pink) indicate polluted air.
• See: Air Quality.
2. Desert Dust
• Shows expected desert dust concentration in micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m³).
• Select different altitudes to view dust at various atmospheric levels.
• Example: Saharan dust can travel to the Amazon, replenishing nutrients in the ecosystem.
• See: Desert Dust Concentration.
3. Ozone Concentration
• Displays expected ozone concentration (μg/m³) with colour coding.
• Can be combined with Wind Animation to track ozone transport.
• Ground-level ozone = harmful pollutant; stratospheric ozone = protective layer against UV.
• See: Ozone Concentration.
4. Aerosol Optical Depth
• Shows total aerosol optical depth (dimensionless) for light at 550 nm wavelength.
• Indicates how much incoming solar radiation is attenuated by atmospheric particles.
• See: Aerosol Optical Depth.
5. Particulate Matter
• Displays PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations (μg/m³).
• Particulate matter consists of microscopic solid or liquid particles suspended in air.
• See: PM10 and PM2.5.
6. SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)
• Shows expected sulfur dioxide concentration (μg/m³) with colour coding.
• 99% of SO₂ comes from human activities; contributes to acid rain.
• See: SO₂.
7. NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)
• Displays expected NO₂ concentration with colours according to the legend.
• Sources include natural processes (e.g., volcanoes, lightning) and human activities.
• See: NO₂.
8. CO (Carbon Monoxide)
• Shows expected CO concentration (μg/m³).
• CO is colourless, odourless, and slightly less dense than air.
• Sources include volcanic activity, wildfires, and combustion processes.
• See: CO.
9. Pollen
• Displays expected concentrations for different pollen types, colour-coded.
• Pollen can travel long distances via air currents.
o Grass Pollen
o Ragweed Pollen
o Birch Pollen
o Olive Pollen
