What Is an Air Quality Map and How to Use It?

An increasing number of people realizes that long-term exposure to air pollution can be dangerous for health. If you want to keep your finger on the pulse, checking an air quality map on a day-to-day basis can help you do it. Keep reading to learn what is an air quality map, how to analyze it, and why you should do it!

Air quality map - what is it?

An air quality map is a graphical representation of air pollution levels in a given area. The map can show current air quality conditions or forecast them for a future time period. It provides valuable information concerning air humidity, temperature, and concentration of specific pollutants.

How to use it?

Using an air quality map is a child’s play. Actually, all you need to do is enter a website offering these solutions (such as Airly), and provide your city name manually or enable location settings.

Then, you should see a map with green, orange, and red markings. As you may guess, they symbolize air quality in your location. Green indicates good parameters, orange means that the air quality is acceptable but leaves much to be desired, whereas red indicates you should better stay home and resign from outdoor activities if possible.

Benefits of an air quality map

There are a few reasons why it’s a good idea to use an air quality map. The most important ones include:

• the possibility to avoid areas with poor air quality - if you know that a specific area is polluted, you can resign from traveling there or limit the amount of time you spend there. This is especially important for people who have respiratory problems or other health conditions that are exacerbated by air pollution.
• the possibility to receive air quality alerts - some air quality maps can send you alerts when the pollution levels in your areas are high. This can help you plan your activities for the day or week so that you can avoid being in those areas when the air quality is at its worst.
• the possibility to understand and analyze air quality trends - pollution levels can vary day to day, and change over time. By looking at an air quality map, you can get a sense of whether the situation in a particular area is getting better or worse. This information can be used to help make decisions about where to live, work, or play.

The takeaway

Using an air quality map can help you make better decisions regarding your outdoor activities and exposure to certain pollutants. It’s worth taking advantage of this free solution, as it can have a positive impact on your health.