Air Data
- EPA AirData
- Provides access to air pollution data for the U.S., including how much pollution is in the outdoor air (environmental monitoring) and where air pollution comes from (emissions). AirData summarizes two major EPA databases: the national Air Quality System (AQS), which provides outdoor environmental monitoring data and the National Emissions Inventory (NEI), which estimates annual emissions of pollutants from sources. It also generates reports and maps users can customize and download.
Data type: Monitoring, Release
Timeframe: Annual
Geographic Coverage: U.S., State, County, Town, ZIP
Strengths: Good summary data about air pollution and sources of air pollution. User friendly. A database status shows the dates that the database was last updated.
Limitations: Annual data. Air pollution data represent levels near monitors. Emissions data are estimates. Timeliness of data is not as good as NYS DEC Real Time Monitoring Data.EPA information on AirData limitations. - NYS DEC Near Real Time Air Monitoring Data
- Provides hourly (where available) air quality measurements from the statewide continuous monitoring network. Parameters monitored include ozone, fine particulate, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, methane/nonmethane hydrocarbons, and meteorological data. Regional annual summary tables are also available.
Data type: Monitoring
Timeframe: Hourly
Georgraphic coverage: Regional (Air monitoring site 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
- 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.
Data type: Modeled
Timeframe: daily
Geographic Coverage: NYS, DEC Region, monitoring location
Strengths: Users can decide whether to limit activities as a result of outdoor air pollutant levels.
Limitations: The AQI is an index for reporting air quality and is not designed for research purposes. - Volatile Organic Compounds Monitoring
- Provides air monitoring data for volatile organic compounds (air toxics) in New York State in rural residential, urban and industrial environments.
Data type: Monitoring
Timeframe: Annual
Geographic coverage: Regional (Monitoring site locations)
Strengths: Actual 24-hour measured concentrations that are collected on a one in six day schedule for determining annual averages. Provides annual air levels for planning and risk assessments.
Limitations: Values represent air quality in localized area (near monitors). - More Environmental Data
- Get additional data. Find out more about data types, strengths, limitations, etc.