Kayseri air quality map

How much information about air quality is there on the air pollution map for Kayseri?

There is a lot of good quality information about air pollution on the air quality map for Kayseri and it is easy to see from the main city page. The air pollution map acts as a link which, when selected, will open up a new page containing all the relevant information.

The first thing to notice will be the overall colour of the map which is a visualisation of the current state of the air. Colours can vary between pale green and dark maroon and are standard across the entire IQAir website. The exact meaning of the colours can be seen in the legend at the foot of the screen. Darker colours represent worsening air quality. The colour at present is green which indicates that the air quality is “Good”.

There will also be several coloured circles strewn across the map which represent the location of the ground-level air monitoring stations there are that provide the data for the city and its environs. If the discs are overlapping each other, the map can be slightly expanded which will separate the discs from each other and make them easier to see.

Each of the discs displays a number at its centre which is the United States Air Quality Index reading or US AQI for short. It is calculated by taking measurements of up to six of the most prolific pollutants in the city air which are usually both sizes of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide.

This figure is then used as a standard when making comparisons between different areas and cities throughout the world. The whole system had the full backing of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Momentarily, looking back at the main city page, it can be seen in the coloured banner across the top that the city was enjoying a period of air quality which was “Good” with a US AQI reading of 38. The green background colour of the banner also reflects this level of quality. Four of the main pollutants were measured but it is PM2.5 that is considered the benchmark. This level was recorded as being 9.2 µg/m³ (microns per cubic metre) which is almost twice the suggested target level of 5 µg/m³, as recommended by the WHO.

Just below the air pollution map for Kayseri are the number of contributors there are and the number of stations they operate. In April 2023, there were four stations which were all operated by the government department of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation which control over 250 stations throughout Turkey.

Does the air pollution map for Kayseri show any more information about air quality in the region?

There is a full-screen icon at the top of the map page which acts as a gateway to all the relevant information about air quality in the area. Once selected, a new page will open with all sorts of interesting facts and figures.

A list of four options will be seen on the left-hand side of the page. These can individually be turned on or off to see the full effects they have on the map.

The option at the top of the list shows the sites of the ground-level air monitoring stations in the city and its immediate environs. Some other discs may also be seen which are not under the jurisdiction of the city. Any disc of interest can be selected which will open up a set of new pages with all information specific to that area.

The second option would show the sites of any wildfires there are that might be burning out of control in the area. At the time of writing in April 2023, there were no fires of any significance in the area. If fires are indicated, then option four needs to be consulted because it shows the speed and direction of the prevailing winds and will give a good indication of where the ensuing smoke may drift.

Option number three is very dramatic because it can change the colour of the map to reflect the current state of the air. When the air quality is poor, the map will take on dark colours which could be distracting or confusing. In this case, the option can be disabled so that the map will revert to a more subdued set of colours.

More facts and figures can be seen on the right-hand side of the screen where a table will be found. This table ranks the seven most polluted cities in the world. The rest of the world ranking can be found on extra pages which are accessed through the full-ranking section.

There is more information below the air pollution map for Kayseri where a section shows which stations have recorded the highest US AQI reading and are therefore the most polluted at the present. The dirtiest part of the city is currently around the Melikgazi station which returned a US AQI reading of 61 which is classified as being “Moderate”.

The next list shows the popularity of the stations according to the number of followers they each have. Melikgazi station is the most popular with just over 1000 followers.

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

Whilst the source of the polluted air is not shown directly on the air quality map for Kayseri it is generally known that the number of vehicles on the road and the use of very poor quality fuel is mainly to blame. Another cause for concern is the burning of poor quality coal and other matter such as plastic waste and old rubber tyres. Fuels that do not pollute the air should be used as much as possible. Natural gas can be given as an example of this.

How dangerous are PM2.5 and PM10 particles which are often quoted on the air pollution map for Kayseri?

Particulate matter, known as PM10 and PM2.5, is a term that describes extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air.

Particulate matter can consist of a variety of components, including nitrates, sulphates, organic chemicals, heavy metals, soil or dust particles, and allergens (such as pollen fragments or mould spores).

The main sources of particulate pollution are diesel motor vehicles, diesel vehicles carrying excessive loads, coal, fuel-oil and wood-burning heaters, and industry without flue gas treatment.

PM10 and PM2.5 pollution occur in residential areas where coal and fuel oil are burned for heating during the winter months.