Pyeongtaek air quality map

What type of information is found on the air pollution map for Pyeongtaek?

The air pollution map for Pyeongtaek is very easy to find once the main city page is open. The map icon appears at the very top of the city page and clicking anywhere on the amp will open up that new page with all information relating to air quality.

Possibly the first thing to notice will be the overall background colour of the map. It is currently green which denotes generally “Good” air quality. The meaning behind the various colours used on the map can be seen in the legend at the foot of the page. Colours range from pale green through to dark maroon which would mean “Hazardous” air quality for some. The viewer will also notice a large number of coloured discs dotted across the map. These circles represent the position of the ground-level air monitoring stations and reveal the US AQI reading which is displayed as a number in the centre of the circle. These discs may at first appear to overlap each other, but once the map is expanded, they will start to separate and become more defined. Each one can then be selected to reveal the concise information collected by that station.

This reading is calculated by measuring the levels of six of the most commonly found air pollutants and can then be used as a metric when comparing levels of air quality in different cities across the globe. This system is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

At the beginning of September 2022, Pyeongtaek was enjoying a period of “Good” air quality with a US AQI reading of 25. The main pollutant measured was PM2.5 with a recorded level of 6 µg/m³. This is slightly over the target level of 5 µg/m³ as recommended by the WHO.

Immediately underneath the air pollution map for Pyeongtaek can be seen the number of stations which currently provide the data about air quality. There are currently five stations all of which are operated by a government department. Korea Environment Corporation and the Air Gyeonggi-Do are the departments involved in providing air quality data.

Can any other interesting information be found on the air pollution map for Pyeongtaek?

When the air pollution map for Pyeongtaek is opened in full-screen mode, four icons will appear on the far left-hand side of the screen. These are the options to gain access to certain pieces of information, all of which can be turned on or off, as required.

The first option shows the location of all the ground-level air monitoring stations in and around Pyeongtaek and its environs. They appear as coloured discs, displaying their US AQI number. They will separate once the map is expanded.

The second option shows the position of any fires which might be burning in the vicinity. In early September 2022, there were two fires burning towards the west of the city. Option four needs to be considered at the same time because it shows the wind speed and direction and, as such, will give a good indication as to whether or not the smoke will affect the city.

The third option will appear to be the most theatrical as it can change the entire background colour of the map to reflect the current situation regarding air quality. The colour is currently a darkish green which would indicate “Good” air quality. If the map is difficult to read when it is all this colour, then it can be deactivated and the colours will revert to a more subdued hue.

Looking across to the far right-hand side of the page can be found a table which ranks world cities according to their level of air pollution. The dirtiest appear at the top of the table.

Scrolling down the page just below the air pollution map for Pyeongtaek will be seen a table of all the stations, ranked according to their pollution level. Currently, the station at Pyeongtaek Port is at the top of the list with a US AQI reading of 86 or “Moderate” quality air.

Below that list is another which lists the stations according to the number of followers they each have. The most popular station with the highest number of followers is at Bijeon-dong with more than 155,000 followers.

Are areas of high air pollution east to find on the air pollution map for Pyeongtaek?

Areas of higher levels of pollution can be identified in two ways. Just by looking at the map and finding the discs with the highest number and darkest colour will show you where the dirtiest area is. However, it is easier and less likely to lead to mistakes, to look at the printed table below the air pollution map for Pyeongtaek where all the stations are ranked according to their pollution level. As stated in the previous paragraph, the most polluted station is at Bijeon-dong.

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

The source of air pollution is not directly shown on the air pollution map for Pyeongtaek. Pyeongtaek Port is the largest trading port in Gyeonggi-do, large container ships constantly come and go. The problem is that the amount of fine dust generated by these large ships is considerable. According to a survey by the Korea Maritime and Fisheries Development Institute (KMI), air pollutants emitted by one container ship are equivalent to that of 50 million diesel cars and 500,000 diesel trucks. Container ships use fuel even while moored. In order to use the electronic devices on the ship, fuel must be burned to turn the generator on the ship. In the case of a container ship anchored in a port, it is not an exaggeration to say that a small thermal power plant stays there.

Are measures being taken to reduce air pollution in Pyeongtaek?

Among the thermal power plants in Poseung-eup, western Pyeongtaek, 4 heavy oil generators (Pyeongtaek Units 1 to 4) were replaced with liquefied natural gas (LNG), a clean fuel. The fuel conversion was originally planned for 2024, but Pyeongtaek City completed the conversion in February 2020, four years earlier.

Korea Western Power, which operates the power plant, believes that the generation of fine dust and air pollutants will be greatly reduced through fuel conversion. According to Korea Western Power's April 2020 announcement, the fuel switch will reduce fine dust emissions from the generator by 84 per cent.