Ko Samui air quality map

What information is available on the air quality map for Ko Samui?

The air quality map for Ko Samui can be accessed from the main city page. Scroll down until the choice for the map appears, then select it. A new page will open which is dedicated to air pollution in Ko Samui.

The first thing the viewer will notice is the overall colour of the background of the map. This is a reflection of the air quality. The meaning of the various colours is explained in the legend at the bottom of the screen. Colours range from pale green for good air quality to dark maroon which is used to depict hazardous air quality. These colours are standardised and are used throughout the entire IQAir website for simplicity.

Viewers will also see a round disc with a number on it. The colour of the disc is the same as the background of the map, green. The number on it is the US AQI reading which is a set of metrics endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is calculated by taking measurements of the six most prolific pollutants and is then used when comparing the air quality in cities across the globe.

On the left-hand side of the screen are found four choices which can be deactivated if desired. The first choice shows the position of the ground-level monitoring stations. The second option reveals the location of any fires that are burning in the vicinity. The third option turns off the overall background colour of the map which some people might find easier to read with more recognisable colours. The last option shows the interactive direction of the wind which can be useful when fires are burning as it can give a good idea if the smoke will affect certain areas.

On the right-hand side of the screen is a table which shows the ranking of other cities throughout the world. The city with the worst air, at present will appear first. This information can be very useful if you are curious to see how your city compares with others.

Is there other information on the air quality map for Ko Samui?

For the most comprehensive information about air quality in Ko Samui, the main page and the air quality map should be consulted together. During the second quarter of 2022, Ko Samui was enjoying a period of “Good” quality air with a US AQI reading of just 4. The main pollutant was PM2.5 which measured a very small 1 µg/m³ which is well within the target figure of 5 µg/m³ as recommended by the WHO. With a level as low as this, people are encouraged to enjoy outdoor activities and open doors and windows to allow clean fresh air into the rooms.

Directly beneath the air pollution map for Ko Samui can be found the current weather conditions together with the temperature, humidity, wind speed and air pressure. And following that forecast is the AQI forecast which predicts the level of air quality over the next few days.

Having selected the air pollution map page for Ko Samui it can be seen that there is just one station providing the data. This station is KAYA at Bophut Hills and is operated by an individual who has 98 followers who will be alerted when there is a major change in conditions.

Does the air pollution map for Ko Samui show where the most heavily polluted areas are?

The numbers on the discs are a good indication as to where the heavily polluted areas are because the higher the number, the worse the air quality is. Because there is only one station providing data on Ko Samui, this is certainly not easy to see. If that station is selected, then a dedicated page will open with more details about that area. There is a concise weather forecast and a graph which shows how the level of PM2.5 has varied over the past 24 hours.

Is the source of the air pollution shown on the air pollution map for Ko Samui?

Air pollution is air that contains impurities or toxins that exceed the standard until the air quality is at a critical level. There are forms of toxic mists such as PM10, and PM2.5, including ozone gas. During the season when the wind is calm these toxic smogs are so densely floating that the air in the area has a quality that is harmful to health. Most are found in traffic congested urban areas industrial areas or in the provinces that are in the mountains where forest fires occur.

Open burning is one of the main sources of air pollution that cause air pollution. Including dust, smoke and ash, which all affect human health and cause trouble. The open burning behaviour causes problems for people suffering from respiratory diseases, asthma, allergies, and coronary artery disease. It especially creates problems and may cause fires to spread, causing damage to the lives and properties of the people. There are many harmful chemicals used when growing rice and the residue of such chemicals often remains in the stems of the rice plant. When these stems or stubble is burned, the residual chemicals are released into the atmosphere causing unknown health issues.

We see PM2.5 often mentioned on the air quality map for Ko Samui, but what is it?

PM2.5 dust is particulate matter that is smaller than 2.5 microns or approximately 1/25^th the diameter of a human hair. This dust is produced from a variety of activities, such as the internal combustion engine and the construction industry, which are the two main causes of air pollution in large cities.

PM2.5 dust is harmful to health because it can easily travel through the respiratory tract to the lungs and bloodstream where it can increase the chance of heart disease and respiratory disease.

Even healthy people can suffer from health impacts of polluted air including respiratory irritation or breathing difficulties during strenuous exercise or prolonged outdoor activities. The actual risk of adverse effects depends on a person’s current health status, the pollutant type and concentration, and the length of exposure to the polluted air.