Moscow air quality map

What information about air quality can be found on the air pollution map for Moscow?

The air pollution map for Moscow can be easily accessed through the main city page. It can be found at the top left-hand side of the page. Once selected, another new page will open which explains everything about the current air quality.

The first thing a viewer will notice about the map is the overall colour. In June 2022 this colour was greenish/yellow which reflects the overall condition of the air. The meaning of the various colours is explained in the legend at the foot of the page. This colour could indicate “Moderate” quality air. Colours range from pale green for good air quality to deep maroon which indicates the air is hazardous. You will also see several coloured discs in various places across the map. These discs represent the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations. These carry the same colours which are used throughout the website. They also carry a number which is the US AQI reading. This reading is calculated from the measured levels of six of the most commonly found air pollutants in a city environment. It is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is used as a standard when comparing air quality in different cities.

If a single disc is selected, a new page will open which is full of information about that station and its surroundings. It will show the US AQI level as well as the level of PM2.5 which is often used as a gauge.

Immediately below the air pollution map for Moscow can be seen the number of stations that contribute their data and who operates them. There are currently five stations in and around Moscow operated by three contributors. These consist of two corporate contributors and one individual.

From the main city page, it can be seen that the air quality towards the end of the second quarter of 2022 was “Good” with a US AQI reading of 21. The main pollutant was PM2.5 with a recorded level of 5 µg/m³. This meets the target figure of 5 µg/m³ as recommended by the WHO.

Is any other information shown on the air pollution map for Moscow?

When the air pollution map for Moscow is opened in full-screen mode There will be four options on the left-hand side of the screen. These can all be turned on or off, as required. The first choice will show the positions of the ground-level air monitoring stations. As there are only six in and around the city it is fairly easy to see them as individual places. The second option would show the position of any fires that are burning in the immediate vicinity, but at the end of June 2022, there were no fires to see. The fourth choice shows the direction that the wind is blowing, this can be useful knowledge if there are any fires in the vicinity as it will help to know if the city will be affected by the smoke, or not. It is the third option that is probably the most dramatic as it can change the entire colour of the air pollution map. It does this to reflect the overall condition of the air. Once it is deactivated, the map reverts to more natural colours which some find easier to read.

Across on the other side of the screen can be seen a table which ranks the world cities according to the level of air pollution. The one with the dirtiest air will appear at the top of the table.

Can areas of higher pollution be identified on the air pollution map for Moscow?

The way to detect areas of higher pollution is to look at the numbers on the discs. The disc with the highest number has the worst air quality. Currently, the area of highest air pollution is at the Skolkovskoe highway, Moscow. But this is still classified as being “Good” with a US AQI reading of 27 and a PM2.5 level of 6.5 µg/m³.

All of the stations are listed on the map page according to their air quality, so this is another way of seeing which parts of the city suffer from poor air quality and which are the clean ones.

It then continues to list the stations according to their popularity and how many followers they each have. Breeeth! Klinskaya 6 is currently the most popular with over 28,000 followers.

Is the source of the pollution shown on the air quality map for Moscow?

The source of the air pollution is not shown on the air quality map for Moscow. Independent statistics reveal the main sources of pollution to be motor transport (in the capital - 83% of total emissions), energy enterprises (in the capital - 10%), the oil refining industry (3%), as well as ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy.

Vehicle emissions are especially dangerous because they occur in close proximity to sidewalks in an area of active pedestrian traffic.

1.5-2.5 million tons of pollutants are emitted into the atmosphere of Moscow every year, 2/3 of which is accounted for by motor vehicles. About 25 per cent of air pollution is due to malfunctioning treatment facilities and poor regulation of car engines. Of the 2,000 dust and gas trapping installations, only half are operating in the correct mode.

PM2.5 always appears on the air pollution map for Moscow, but what is it?

PM2.5 particles are suspended solid microparticles and tiny liquid droplets approximately 2.5 microns in diameter which are suspended in the air.

They are small pieces of soot, car tyres and asphalt, nitrates, sulphates and heavy metal oxides. If we talk about soot, then coal is a good adsorbent. Toxic compounds are deposited on soot particles during the operation of the internal combustion engine. As a result, soot acquires a "poisonous" content.

Fine dust is also dangerous because when it is inhaled daily, there is no instant negative reaction. They have a cumulative effect that leads to serious health problems. That is why the WHO report refers to the chronic effects of these particles on the human body, to which residents of megacities are exposed every day.