Kannur air quality map

How much interesting information can be found on the air pollution map for Kannur?

There is a lot of extremely interesting information about air quality and it is very easy to access from the main city page. Clicking on the air pollution map for Kannur will open a new page which is filled with all the latest information about air quality.

When this new page is first viewed, the overall colour must be one of the first things to notice about it. This colour is a direct indication of the current air quality. Colours can range from pale green to dark purple to indicate worsening air quality as they get darker. These are standard colours used throughout the entire IQAir website. At the time of writing, the colour was a dark yellow which would indicate “Moderate” air quality. The meaning of the various colours can be seen in the legend at the foot of the page.

Usually, there will be several coloured circles scattered across the map which show the locations of the ground-level air monitoring stations. However, not all cities have such physical stations and instead rely on data supplied by overhead satellites. Kannur is one of these cities.

Briefly looking back to the main city page, contained within the coloured banner across the top of it is the United States Air Quality Index reading or US AQI for short. This figure is calculated by taking measurements of six of the most prolific pollutants found in the city air. These pollutants are usually both sizes of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. The current reading is 78 which classifies the air as being of “Moderate” quality. The asterisk to the right of the number shows that the figure is derived from data supplied by overhead satellites and not by ground-level air monitoring stations. The results are very much the same, though, whichever method is used. The entire system has the backing of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The main pollutant was found to be PM2.5 with a recorded level of 25.2 µg/m³ which is five times higher than the suggested target figure of 5 µg/m³ as recommended by the WHO.

Is there any more useful information about air quality on the air pollution map for Kannur?

There is a lot more really interesting information on the air pollution map for Kannur, but in order to reap the full benefits, the page needs to be viewed in full-screen mode so all the information becomes visible. This can be obtained by selecting the icon at the top of the page which will open a new page filled with all the appropriate information.

When the new page reopens there will be four options that appear on the left-hand side of the screen. These can all be explored individually to see the effects they each have on the map.

The first option would show the sites of the ground-level air monitoring stations, but there are none in Kannur because it gets its data about air quality from satellite modelling.

The second option shows the location of any wildfires there are that might be burning in the vicinity. At the time of writing in March 2023, there were no reports of wildfires in the local area. If and when fires are detected, then option number four needs to be considered because it shows the speed and direction of the prevailing winds and will give a guide as to where the ensuing smoke may blow.

The third option deals with air quality by the use of colour to indicate the current level of pollution. It can be very dramatic and maybe a little intense. If this is the case then it can be deactivated so the colours will revert to a more subdued set.

There is more information about air quality on the right-hand side of the screen. Here, a table will be found showing the World AQI Ranking. By default, the top seven most polluted cities can be seen with access to the rest of the world’s participating cities by exploring the full-ranking section which will open up a series of pages showing the rest.

Is it possible to see the source of the air pollution on the air quality map for Kannur?

Whilst it is not possible to see the source of air pollution on the air quality map for Kannur, it is well-known that vehicle emissions, fuel oil and natural gas for heating homes, by-products of manufacturing and power generation, especially coal-fired power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the primary sources of man-made air pollution.

The impact of vehicular emissions and noise is widespread while that due to industrial emissions is limited to areas around industries. Advancements in technology have significantly reduced both the noise and emissions from vehicles. Cleaner production processes have developed that reduce emissions from some industries, but the huge growth in the number of vehicles as well as industries is counteracting the gains. This increase is evident in urban areas. So, there is increasing pressure on air quality around these areas.

The deterioration of air quality in urban areas is due to increased use of fossil fuels and personal transport. Improper collection and disposal of waste is causing the waste to decompose before it is removed. Scientific disposal facilities are inadequate even in large cities. Most of the garbage is burnt in the open which causes more air pollution.

PM2.5 is always talked about on the air pollution map for Kannur, but how dangerous is it?

PM2.5 is a fine particulate matter dissolved in the air. These particles are 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter. When PM2.5 levels are high, smog only increases. The level of visibility also decreases. PM10 is called particulate matter. The size of these particles is 10 micrometres or less in diameter. This includes dust, dirt and fine metal particles. PM10 and 2.5 are further increased due to dust, construction and burning of garbage and straw.

We are always in direct contact with air and polluted air causes eye, throat and lung problems. There is no system in the body to block these particles while breathing. In such a situation PM2.5 reaches inside the lungs and harms children and the elderly the most. This increases the problem of eyes, throat and lungs, coughing and difficulty in breathing also occur. Chronic exposure can also lead to lung cancer.