Baguio air quality map

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

The air pollution map for Baguio is very easy to access from the main city page. Clicking on the map icon will open a new page which is dedicated to the air quality of the city and its environs.

Once the map page is open, the viewer will first notice the overall colour of the map. The colouration reflects the general state of the air which at the moment is pale green which indicated “Good” air quality. The meaning of all the various colours is explained in the legend at the foot of the page. These colours are used throughout the entire IQAir website so as to avoid confusion. There would usually be many coloured circles dotted over the map which would represent the locations of the ground-level air monitoring stations. However, not all cities have these actual stations and rely instead on overhead satellite data. Baguio is one such city.

When looking back at the main page, to the right of the US AQI number is an asterisk which denotes that the information on the page is derived from data supplied by overhead satellites. Any discs on the map would also carry this number as it is used as a standard when comparing air quality in different cities. It is calculated by measuring Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. These are six of the most commonly occurring pollutants found in city air. The entire system is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Briefly looking back at the main city age, it can be seen that in October 2022 Baguio 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 6.1 µg/m³. This level is slightly above the target figure of 5 µg/m³ as recommended by the WHO.

Can much more information be found on the air pollution map for Baguio?

There is a lot more information to be gleaned from the air pollution map for Baguio, but in order to see it all, the screen must be viewed at maximum size.

Once viewed in this way, a list of four options can be seen on the far left-hand side of the screen. The first option would show the position of the ground-level air monitoring stations, but in this city, there are none as it relies on data provided by overhead satellites. The next option shows the location of any active fires burning in the area. There are currently no icons on the map which depict the position of the fires. Option four shows the speed and direction of the prevailing winds which can help decide if the ensuing smoke will affect the city or not.

The third option is the most theatrical because it can change the overall background colour of the map to reflect the current level of pollution. This can be deactivated to make the map revert to a more subdued set of colours which might be easier to understand.

More information can be found on the far right of the screen in the form of a table which ranks world cities according to their levels of air pollution. By default, there are only seven cities shown, but the full ranking is available if desired. In this way, all the world cities are listed.

Is the source of the polluted air shown on the air quality map for Baguio?

The source of the polluted air is not directly shown on the air pollution map for Baguio, however, it is thought that coal-fired plants contribute to the major part of Baguio’s polluted air closely followed by fumes from the exhausts of vehicles using the city’s road network.

Vehicles are a major source of air pollution but data also shows that improving mobility in cities is a key solution to the problem. The transport systems urgently need to be reorganized so that they use energy and resources efficiently and operate without emitting harmful pollutants. The cities need fewer and cleaner vehicles operating alongside greater use of public transport and widespread investments in shared mobility, walking and cycling. Immediate policy reforms are essential to promote and encourage inclusive, sustainable and equitable mobility systems for the well-being of the people. Air pollution is expected to increase given the projected 4.6 per cent annual growth rate in energy demand. This demand is consistent with the projected increase of road vehicles to 24.8 million by 2030, compared to a baseline of 6.6 million in 2010.

The solution to air pollution is also the solution to the climate crisis. The current administration must stop energy companies from building new coal plants, should retire existing coal plants and invest in sustainable clean energy generation, such as wind and solar. Cities and municipalities must start planning sustainable transport and mobility options by prioritizing environment-friendly public transport, along with safe walking and cycling infrastructure.

PM2.5 is used as a benchmark on the air pollution map for Baguio. but what is it?

PM2.5 refers to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) that has a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres, which is about 3% the diameter of a human hair.

Commonly written as PM2.5, particles in this category are so small that they can only be seen with a microscope. They are even smaller than their counterparts PM10, which are particles that are 10 micrometres or less, and are also called fine particles.

Fine particles can come from various sources. They include power plants, motor vehicles, aircraft, residential wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning, volcanic eruptions and dust storms.

Some are emitted directly into the air, while others are formed when gases and particles interact with one another in the atmosphere under the influence of ultraviolet light. For instance, gaseous sulphur dioxide emitted from power plants reacts with oxygen and water droplets in the air to form sulphuric acid as a secondary particle.

Because they are so small and light, fine particles tend to stay suspended in the air longer than heavier particles. This increases the chances of humans inhaling them. Owing to their minute size, particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres are able to bypass the nose and throat and penetrate deep into the lungs and some may even enter the circulatory system via the alveoli. Once in the bloodstream, they can travel throughout the body.