Atlanta air quality map

Do pollution readings show up on the air quality map for Atlanta, Georgia?

The air quality maps in use for Atlanta have a variety of readings, with some areas of the city showing much cleaner readings, whilst others start to drift up into slightly more polluted ratings. Despite some areas being more polluted, as a whole, Atlanta maintains a good level of air cleanliness, and for information regarding the city as a whole, the city pages can also be referred to, in conjunction with the air quality map pages, for an even more accurate look into how the air quality of Atlanta truly is. Whilst the air quality map pages show different pollution readings from around the city (thus making it easier for users to determine which areas may best to avoid during certain times of the day or even the year), the city pages show an average reading for the city as a whole, as well as the various concentrations of different pollutants in the air, which will be delved into in more detail in the following question.

To gain some insight into what pollution levels are currently present, as of early May of 2022 (and for users reading this at any time beyond, the figures shown on the map will be updated accordingly to match with the current pollution readings), some US AQI readings shown on the colored discs present on the air quality maps will be mentioned. The northern region of the city tended to have a cleaner level of air quality during mid-2022, with an active fire being detected on the map to the far west in between Villa Rica and Bremen. In the very city center, many 'good' air quality readings were seen, with figures such as 24, 25 and 27 all being present. These fall into the 'good' air quality classification bracket, which is color-coded as green (for ease of reference when looking at both the air quality maps as well as the forecasts present on the city pages, with each level of air pollution getting darker as it goes up in pollution concentration and subsequent danger levels associated with them). Readings of 53 and 54 were seen further out from the city center, with 53 having been recorded near Scottdale and 54 near Panthersville. In the same fashion as the 'good' rating, a 'moderate' rating on the air quality map requires a US AQI figure of anywhere between 51 to 100 to be classified as such, whilst the good rating requires a much more optimal reading of 0 to 50, making it the best air quality rating to have for Atlanta. In closing, the pollution levels will show up constantly on the air quality map for Atlanta, and as such, they can be referred to at any time throughout the day for more up-to-date information regarding air cleanliness.

What can air quality maps tell us about the types of pollution in the air in Atlanta?

The air quality map that covers Atlanta city and its neighboring cities can tell users about the level of air pollution that they may be exposed to, particularly when in an area that is counted as a pollution hotspot, having higher US AQI readings throughout the year than many of its other counterparts. Whilst the air quality map pages do not show the concentrations of air pollutants as the city pages do, one can gain insight into what pollutants they may be exposed to simply by referring to the US AQI figure on the map. US AQI itself is aggregated from several main chemical compounds and particle-based pollution. These are carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and ozone. PM2.5 and PM10 make up the two forms of particle-based pollution that can be found in Atlanta, and as such when the US AQI readings are elevated, these dangerous particles may be found in higher concentrations in the air, containing many hazardous materials such as black carbon or soot, silica, metals, nitrates and sulfates, along with mold spores and oil vapors. Whilst the information regarding the types of pollutants is not explicitly mentioned on the air quality map page for Atlanta, knowledge of what the US AQI figure consists of can give users better insight into what pollutants they are being exposed to.

Will air quality maps help to prevent certain illnesses caused by breathing polluted air in Atlanta?

The air quality map page can be of great assistance in helping to reduce any illnesses that people may suffer from as a result of excessive pollution exposure, particularly during times of the year when levels become higher due to a number of reasons (low wind speed, lack of rain, natural disasters taking place such as forest fires, and other polluting elements). When users refer to the air pollution maps for information as to which areas have the highest level of pollutants in Atlanta, by avoiding them they may avoid incurring some of the health issues that come with being in areas of higher air pollution.

How is data gathered for the air quality maps in Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia?

The various figures shown across the air quality map for Atlanta are all pollution readings in the form of the previously mentioned and expanded upon US AQI. For these readings to be fed into the map in an effective and continuously updated fashion, there are many pollution monitoring stations in place across the city to read the current air cleanliness levels (or lack thereof, during certain times of the year or more polluting events such as nearby forest fires). These stations all feed their data into the air quality maps, or air pollution maps as you can see above on this page. As was also touched upon, the data is classified by how high its particular reading is, with Atlanta predominantly showing readings that fall within the aforementioned 'good' and 'moderate' air quality rating brackets, shown across the various sites on the air quality map.

As the air quality is perpetually monitored by these sites, the air quality map updates itself as the level of air pollution falls or rises, or is more likely the case for many days of the year in cleaner cities such as Atlanta, hover around similar readings. As such, data is gathered for the air pollution maps in Atlanta by a number of different air pollution monitoring stations, all of which feed their relevant readings to the air quality map. Some of these monitoring stations may be set up by governmental agencies that track air quality, with the data providers being visible on the air quality map page, just below the map itself. As can be seen, the current monitoring stations that feed to the air pollution map mainly from independent, or anonymous sites, with one government one in use. Data provided by individual or anonymous users can be calibrated to be just as effective as ones set up by governing organizations, and many individuals who wish to contribute to the air quality monitoring cause for Atlanta can set up their monitoring stations. The most prominent air quality stations that feed into the air quality map for Atlanta are ones such as Confederate Avenue station, as well as NR-Georgia Tech, having a significant amount of followers amongst the two of them. Whilst there are six other monitoring stations in use throughout the city, they have significantly fewer followers, although regardless of their following they are still providing vital information to the air pollution map and are aiding in forming a bigger picture for users to see the level of pollution in each area across the city, as the number of stations may be likely to increase as time goes in due to higher demand for air quality information.