Bitola air quality map

How much fascinating information about air quality can be found on the air pollution map for Bitola?

There are many interesting facts and figures about air quality on the air pollution map for Bitola and they are very easy to access from the main city page. Clicking anywhere on the air pollution map icon will open new pages filled with all the latest available data.

When the page is first viewed the overall background colour will be very noticeable because it’s a solid colour. It is a visualisation of the current air quality. The colours used are standard across the IQAir website and can range from pale green to dark maroon. They get darker as the air quality worsens. The full explanation of the colours can be seen in the legend at the bottom of the screen. Currently, the colour is dark green which shows the air quality as being “Moderate”.

Several coloured discs will also be seen, superimposed over the map face which shows the sites of the ground-level air monitoring stations. These coloured discs show a number at their centre which is the United States Air Quality Index reading or US AQI for short.

This figure is calculated by taking measurements of up to six of the most commonly found pollutants in the city air. These are usually both sizes of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Once calculated, the figure is used as a metric in air quality comparisons with other cities across the globe. It has the full backing of the WHO. Each station can be explored individually by selecting the corresponding disc because, when selected, they will disclose a lot of information about air quality in that area of the city. This can be valuable when travelling.

Looking back at the main city page, it can be seen in the coloured banner across the top that at the time of writing, Bitola was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 58. Five pollutants were measured and PM2.5 was found to be the major one with a level of 15.4 µg/m³ (microns per cubic metre) which is over three times the suggested target figure of 5 µg/m³ as recommended by the WHO.

Below the air pollution map for Bitola can be found the number of contributors there are that collect and collate all the data about air quality on behalf of the city. There are currently two stations which are both operated by government departments, one is the Air Quality Portal of Macedonia and the other is an unidentified government office.

Is there much more information about air quality on the air pollution map for Bitola?

There are a lot more interesting facts and figures about air pollution on the air quality map for Bitola. To take full advantage of all of these, the page needs to be viewed at full-size. This is achieved by clicking the full-screen icon which will reopen it at full-size. This enables all the information to be seen.

A list of four options will be seen on the left-hand side of the screen which can each be turned on and off individually to see the effects they have on the map.

The first option reveals the sites of the city’s ground-level air monitoring stations. By expanding the map slightly there are other stations that will come into view in neighbouring regions that can all be explored further.

The second option reveals the location of any wildfires there are that happen to be burning out of control in the area. At the beginning of April 2023, there were no reports of any wildfires in the vicinity. If fires are noticed, then option four should be consulted because it shows the speed and direction of the prevailing winds and will give a good indication of where the smoke will blow.

The third option changes the background colour of the map to reflect the current air quality. When this is good, the map will have a pale green background but as the quality worsens so the colours become darker and maybe a little confusing. If the colours are too dark for the viewer, then the option can be deactivated and the map will revert to a subdued set of colours more associated with a map.

Immediately below the air pollution map for Bitola can be seen the stations that are situated in the most polluted part of the city, based on their US AQI reading. Currently, the station known as Bitola 1 UHMR has the highest reading of 41, but at that level, it is still classified as being “Good”.

The next list shows the stations in order of their popularity and the number of followers they each have. Currently, the most popular station is Bitola 1 UHMR with almost 4,000 loyal followers.

Can the source of the polluted air be seen on the air quality map for Bitola?

Whilst it is not possible to directly see the source of air pollution on the air quality map for Bitola it is generally known that one of the main sources of pollution in Bitola is the REK Bitola power plant, which is located 13 kilometres east of the Bitola 1 station. Another major source of pollution is domestic heating. There is no district heating in the city, so each winter the inhabitants of Bitola will be heated with wood, which will increase air pollution.

In the last six years, Bitola has been trying to reduce this source of pollution by subsidizing pellet stoves and inverter air conditioners. However, with the new prices of electricity and the increase in prices of other energy sources, in the city that does not have gas, central heating, or organised central heating, many of the citizens will return to wood for heating their homes, which will increase air pollution.

How dangerous is PM2.5 which is often quoted on the air pollution map for Bitola?

Fine particulate can come from a variety of sources. These include power plants, motor vehicles, aircraft, wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning, volcanic eruptions and dust storms. Some are released directly into the air, while others are formed when gases and particles interact with each other in the atmosphere. For example, gaseous sulphur dioxide emitted by power plants reacts with oxygen and water droplets in the air to form sulfuric acid as a secondary particle.

PM2.5 particles are dangerous because they are so small and light, fine particles tend to stay in the air longer than heavier particles. This increases the chances of people and animals breathing them into their bodies. Thanks to their size, particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres can bypass the nose and throat and penetrate deep into the lungs, while some can also enter the circulatory system.