Dirty Air Alert System Launched Across the West Midlands

The free air quality forecast and alert service provides those who live, work and visit the West Midlands region advance warning of when air pollution is expected to be higher than usual, up to 3 days ahead. Alerts can be provided to subscribers by text message, email and voicemail.

The forecast and alert service covers the 7 constituent local authorities in the WMCA – Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Dudley Metropolitan District Council, Sandwell Metropolitan District Council, Solihull Council Metropolitan District Council, and City of Wolverhampton Council.

The air quality forecasts are produced by Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants (CERC). The system combines weather forecasts, European-scale pollution forecasts and very detailed data on pollution sources across the West Midlands region using CERC's Atmospheric Dispersion Modelling System for urban areas (ADMS-Urban), to predict air quality up to 3 days ahead.

These forecasts are issued twice a day at around 7:00am and 7:00pm. The forecasts are routinely compared with monitored levels to improve accuracy. Hourly concentrations of four pollutants are calculated: nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulates (PM10 and PM2.5) and ozone (O3).

From the hourly concentrations the daily air quality index (DAQI) for each pollutant is derived. The overall air quality index at any location is the highest index for any of these pollutants at that location. An alert is issued if more than 10% of the alert zone area is predicted to reach one of the DAQI alert thresholds.

To read the full article and the alert messaging levels, please click the link below:

Air Quality Forecast and Alert System Article

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