Air Data

New York State

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AirData – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Provides access to outdoor air pollution data (environmental monitoring) for the U.S., primarily from the national Air Quality System (AQS) database. AirData allows users to download data, view data on the screen, investigate monitor locations using interactive maps, and generate reports and maps that users can customize and download. For additional data (like emissions data), visit EPA’s "Other Sources of Air Data".

Data type: Monitoring
Geographic Coverage: U.S., State, County, Town, (Core Based Statistical Area, Combined Statistical Area), ZIP
Strengths: Good source of data about air pollution for health researchers, academics, and citizen scientists. User friendly, and quick to generate summary reports and visualizations.
Limitations: Air pollution data represent levels near monitors. Timeliness of data is not as good as NYS DEC Air Quality Measurement Data and AirNow.

AirNow – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Provides air quality forecasts and real-time data in a visual format for public health protection for the United States. Information on current and forecasted Air Quality Index, ozone, and particulate matter can be found here. The information also plays as loops to provide good quality visualizations for daily air quality. AirCompare provides Air Quality Index summaries for comparison of counties.

Data type: Monitoring
Geographic coverage: U.S., State, Monitoring Locations
Strengths: Provides real-time data and air quality forecasts that can be used for public health protection.
Limitations: Values represent quality of air in localized areas surrounds the monitoring sites.

New York State Air Quality Measurement Data – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Provides hourly (where available) air quality measurements from the statewide continuous monitoring network. Parameters monitored include ozone, fine particulate, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and meteorological data. Data can be views as maps, dynamic tables, or reports. Regional annual summary tables are also available.

Data type: Monitoring
Geographic coverage: Regional, Monitoring Locations
Strengths: First available air quality data; represents real time values; good for evaluating human exposure.
Limitations: Values best represent air quality near monitors because there are a relatively small number of monitors covering larger geographic areas. Values need to be verified for accuracy through quality assurance and control validation procedures.

Air Quality Index (AQI) Forecast for New York State – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. It was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale; the higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern. When levels of ozone and/or fine particles are expected to exceed an AQI value of 100, an Air Quality Health Advisory is issued alerting sensitive groups to take the necessary precautions. The Air Quality Forecast displays the predicted Air Quality Index value for eight regions in New York State. It also displays the observed values for the previous day, and an extended forecast for the following day.

Data type: Modeled
Geographic Coverage: State, DEC's Air Quality Health Advisory regions
Strengths: Users can decide whether to limit activities as a result of outdoor air pollutant levels. Timely information.
Limitations: The AQI is an index for reporting air quality and is not designed for research purposes.

Trends for Specific Volatile Organic Compounds – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
Provides air monitoring graphical data for specific volatile organic compounds (air toxics) in New York State in rural, urban and industrial environments.

Data type: Monitoring
Geographic coverage: Monitoring Locations
Strengths: Actual 24-hour measured concentrations are collected every sixth day for determining annual averages. Provides annual air levels for planning and risk assessments.
Limitations: Values represent air quality in localized area (near monitors).