Minneapolis air quality map

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

There is a great deal of very interesting information about air quality on the air pollution map for Minneapolis which is very easy to find from the main city page. The map icon appears at the top of this main page and by clicking on it, a new page will open which is filled with lots of information about air quality.

Once opened, the first thing the viewer will notice is the overall colour of the map. This is a direct indication of the current air quality. At the start of 2023, the colour was yellow which indicated the air quality was “Moderate”. The explanation of the meaning of the colours can be seen at the foot of the page. Colours range from pale green to dark maroon and are standard across the entire IQAir website. There are also many coloured circles scattered across the map which represent the locations of the ground-level air monitoring stations. Initially, they will appear to be superimposed over each other, but by slowly expanding the map, they will begin to separate. Each can then be individually selected to reveal all the information about that specific area of the city.

Each disc displays a number at its centre which is the United States Air Quality Index reading or US AQI for short. These readings are calculated by taking the measurements of up to six of the most prolific pollutants found in city air. They are usually both sizes of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone. This entire system is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is used as a standard when comparing air quality in different cities across the globe.

Looking back to the main city page, it can be seen in the coloured banner at the top of the page that at the start of 2023, Minneapolis was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 88. The main pollutant was PM2.5 with a recorded level of 29.9 µg/m³ which is almost six times higher than the recommended target figure of 5 µg/m³ as suggested by the WHO.

Scrolling down the page to just beneath the air pollution map for Minneapolis can be seen the number of contributors there are that supply all the data regarding air quality. There are currently 37 contributors. One of which is the government department known as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the remaining 36 contributors prefer to remain anonymous.

Is there a lot more fascinating information about air quality on the air pollution map for Minneapolis?

There is much more detailed information about air quality on the air pollution map for Minneapolis but the page needs to be viewed in full-screen mode to be able to see all there is. The icon to select this maximum size can easily be seen at the top right of the opening screen. A list of four options will appear on the left-hand side of the screen and all of these can be individually turned on or off which will show the effects they each have on the map.

The first option shows the location of all the ground-level air monitoring stations which are in the area but are not necessarily supplying data to Minneapolis as there are very many in this area. Each one can be explored further by selecting a disc and opening a new page filled with new information about that specific part of the city.

The second choice shows the location of any wildfires than might be burning in the vicinity. At the start of 2023, there were no such icons on the map because no fires were detected. If there are fires burning out of control then option four needs to be explored because it shows the speed and direction of the prevailing winds and might indicate where the ensuing smoke might blow.

The third option is responsible for the overall colour of the map. It gives an instant visual idea of the current air quality. If viewers find it confusing, then it can be deactivated and the map will revert to standard colours which can often be seen on a map.

More interesting information can be found on the right-hand side of the screen where a table will be seen. This table shows the ranking of the top seven cities with the highest levels of air pollution. By selecting the full ranking section, a new page will open showing all the world’s participating cities and their current level of pollution.

Are areas of high pollution visible on the air quality map for Minneapolis?

These areas of high levels of pollution can easily be identified on the air quality map for Minneapolis by looking for the disc with the highest number and/or darkest colour.

Perhaps the easiest option is to look just below the air pollution map where all the stations are listed according to their levels of air quality. The most polluted is at the top of the tables and the rest descend from there. Currently, the station with the worst level is Powderhorn which shows a US AQI reading of 141. At this level, the air quality would be classed as being “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”.

Following on from that list is another which shows the popularity of each station and the number of followers they each have. Currently, the most popular is Minneapolis - Andersen School with over 1,800 loyal followers.

PM2.5 is often mentioned on the air pollution map for Minneapolis, but what is it?

Particulate Matter (PM) is a combination of solid and liquid particles that are suspended in the air. These are categorized into coarse, fine and ultrafine. PM2.5 are fine particles that have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres and remain suspended in the air because of their small size for longer durations. The health risk with PM2.5 is that it can travel deep into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs and entering the bloodstream through the alveoli.

Prolonged exposure to fine particles can also affect lung function and worsen pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. Scientific studies have linked increases in daily PM2.5 exposure with increased respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions, visits to the doctor and deaths.