The top panel shows the forecast for the Common Air Quality Index (CAQI) used in Europe since 2006. It is a number on a scale from 1 to 100, where a low value (green colors) means good air quality and a high value (red colors) means bad air quality. CAQI colour-coding is used in all air pollution forecast panels of the meteogram to indicate the level of pollution. For the pollen forecast there are no official guidelines for color-coding, as pollen are not part of the Air Quality Index forecast. The Air Quality index is defined separately near roads (“roadside” index) or away from roads ("background" index). meteoblue uses the background index, because weather models can not reproduce small-scale differences along the roads. Therefore, measurements along roads will show higher values than forecast here.
The second panel shows the forecast of particles (PM and desert dust) for Giethoorn. Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) are microscopic solid or liquid matter suspended in the air. Sources of particulate matter can be natural or anthropogenic. Of greatest concern topublic health are the particles small enough to be inhaled into the deepest parts of the lung. These particles are less than10microns in diameter (approximately 1/7th the thickness of the a human hair) and are defined as PM10. They are a mixture of materials that can include smoke, soot, dust, salt, acids, and metals. Particulate matter also forms whengases emitted from motor vehicles and industry undergo chemical reactions in the atmosphere. PM10 is visible by eye as the haze that we think of as smog. PM10 are among the most harmful of all air pollutants.
- PM10 can increase thenumber and severity of asthma attacks
- PM10 causes or aggravate bronchitis and other lung diseases
- PM10 reduces the body's ability to fight infections
PM10 includes fineparticulate matter defined as PM2.5, which are fine particles with a diameter of 2.5μm or less. The biggest impact of particulate air pollution on public health is understood to be from long-term exposure to PM2.5:
- PM2.5 increases the age-specific mortality risk, particularly from cardiovascular causes.
Desert Dust consists of particles smaller than 62 μm originating in deserts. Often, the dust particles are small, leading to high concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 and all related health impacts.
Forecasts of concentrations of air pollution gases are presented in the third panel. Ozone (O₃) pollution in the lower troposphere is caused mainly in urban areas. Ozone can:
- Make it more difficult to breathe deeply and vigorously
- Cause shortness of breath, and pain when taking a deep breath
- Cause coughing and sore or scratchy throat
- Inflame and damage the breathing airways
- Aggravate lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis
- Increase the frequency of asthma attacks
- Make the lungs more susceptible to infection
- Continue to damage the lungs even when the symptoms have disappeared
- Cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is a gas, which is invisible and has a nasty, sharp smell. It reacts easily with other substances to form harmful compounds, such as sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid and sulfate particles.
- Short-term exposures to SO₂ can harm the human respiratory system and make breathing difficult.
- SO₂ and other sulfur oxides can contribute to acid rain, which can harm sensitive ecosystems.
- Children, the elderly, and those who suffer from asthma are particularly sensitive to effects of SO₂.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is a reddish-brown gas that has a characteristic sharp, biting odor and is a prominent air pollutant.The major source of nitrogen dioxide is the burning of fossil fuels: coal, oil and gas. Most of the nitrogen dioxide in cities comes from motor vehicle exhaust. Nitrogen dioxide is an important air pollutant because it contributes to the formation of ozone, which can have significant impacts on human health.
- NO₂ inflames the lining of the lungs, and it can reduce immunity to lung infections
- NO₂ causes problems such as wheezing, coughing, colds, flu and bronchitis
Disclaimer
Neither the European Commission nor ECMWF nor meteoblue is responsible for any use that may be made of the forecast information presented here. Predictions are issued from an atmospheric model with 12 km resolution. Outputs may not be correlated enough with real concentrations. Please consult your local air quality agency, especially in the case of a pollution peak or a pollution alert.
FAQs
28 AQI. The air quality is generally acceptable for most individuals.
How accurate is the meteoblue weather? ›
In a global comparison study for the hourly temperature forecast 24 hours ahead, encompassing 475 stations, meteoblue came in second with 1.29°C MAE compared with 1.26°C from the best provider. For the 12 hours ahead forecast, meteoblue came in first with 0.9°C MAE compared with the 1.16°C of the next best provider.
What weather model does meteoblue use? ›
meteoblue weather models are based on the NMM (Nonhydrostatic Meso-Scale Modelling technology. Model calculations are done for "domains" - large areas covering parts of (or even entire) continents, for which a complete forecast is calculated.
What is blue rain weather? ›
Answer and Explanation: The different colors on the weather map indicate the different types and quantities of precipitation an area is experiencing. Blue on the weather map indicates that an area is receiving precipitation in the form of snow.
Where is the best air quality in the Netherlands? ›
Least Polluted Cities in Netherlands
- Eindhoven, Netherlands.
- S Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
- The Hague, Netherlands.
- Rotterdam, Netherlands.
- Maastricht, Netherlands.
- Arnhem, Netherlands.
What city has the worst air quality in the world right now? ›
Live most polluted major city ranking
Rank | Major city, country/region | AQI US |
---|
1 | Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo | 178 |
2 | Lahore, Pakistan | 155 |
3 | Dhaka, Bangladesh | 153 |
4 | Delhi, India | 114 |
112 more rowsJun 26, 2024
What is the alternative to meteoblue? ›
meteoblue Competitors & Alternatives
- CustomWeather.
- Meteomatics.
- Meteosource Weather API.
- Wetter.com.
- Marcus Weather.
Is meteoblue app free? ›
Fast: The app is faster than the meteoblue website. The use of meteoblue for iOS is free of charge. Within the app, you can sign up for the "No ads - 1 Year" subscription, which disables all ads for a period of one year. If you choose to subscribe, you will pay the price set for your country, as shown inside the app.
Where does meteoblue get data? ›
The main data sources are: Weather simulation data - These are data obtained by numerical weather models or reanalysis: meteoblue models - available for history & forecast. Third party models - available for history & forecast.
Who runs meteoblue? ›
Karl G.
Gutbrod is CEO of meteoblue. He came to meteoblue with 25 years of experience in international agri-business, as project and unit leader in development, product management, marketing, business development and information services.
Update intervals vary between 12 hours and 5 minutes, depending on the station and variable.
What is the most reliable weather forecast model? ›
Global models with worldwide weather forecasts
The ECMWF is generally considered to be the most accurate global model, with the US's GFS slightly behind.
What does the H and L mean in weather? ›
High and Low Pressure Systems
Air pressure affects the weather. Areas of high pressure are usually where weather is calm and sunny. Areas of low pressure can be stormy. Air pressure is indicated on weather maps with a blue "H" at each center of high pressure and a red "L" at each center of low pressure.
What does the letter H on a weather map show? ›
Atmospheric pressure is measured with an instrument on the ground called a barometer, and these measurements are collected at many locations across the U.S. by the National Weather Service. On weather maps, these readings are represented as a blue “H” for high pressure or a red “L” for low pressure.
What does purple mean on a radar map? ›
The location of the colored radar echoes indicate where precipitation is falling and the various colors indicate the intensity of the precipitation through the color code in the legend below. Shades of blue represent lighter precipitation while red and purple indicate heavier precipitation.
What is the air quality index in the Netherlands? ›
Real-time Netherlands Most polluted city ranking
# | city | US AQI |
---|
1 | Wijk aan Zee, North Holland | 68 |
2 | Moerdijk, North Brabant | 64 |
3 | Breda, North Brabant | 63 |
4 | Groningen, Groningen | 63 |
6 more rowsJun 26, 2024
Where is the highest air quality index in the world? ›
Cleanest air in the world in 2022. The cleanest air in the world is in Zurich. The pollution status is determined on the basis of average levels of PM2. 5 measured over a period of 12 months.
What is the air quality index in Girona? ›
Girona air quality index (AQI) forecast
Day | Pollution level | Wind |
---|
Today | Good 33 AQI US | 4.5 mp/h |
Tuesday, Jul 2 | Good 22 AQI US | 11.2 mp/h |
Wednesday, Jul 3 | Good 21 AQI US | 8.9 mp/h |
Thursday, Jul 4 | Good 25 AQI US | 8.9 mp/h |
6 more rowsJul 1, 2024
Where is the poorest air quality in the world? ›
List (based on 2020 UChicago data)
Rank | Food | particulate matter (PM2.5) in (μg/m3) WHO-Guideline=5 |
---|
1 | Bangladesh | 76.90 |
2 | India | 55.80 |
3 | Pakistan | 47.13 |
4 | Nigeria | 44.17 |
116 more rows