New UK Daily Air Quality Index (January 2012)
The index used by the airTEXT forecasts to describe air quality has changed. airTEXT now uses the daily air quality index for the UK, which was announced by Defra and the Devolved Administrations and came into effect on 1st January 2012.
The new index is similar to the old index in that it represents air quality using a 1-10 scale divided into four bands ("low", "moderate", "high" and "very high") but some of the levels have been changed and as a consequence more days with moderate, high and very high pollution will be predicted. The division between low and moderate air pollution has been brought into line with the latest World Health Organisation recommendations and legal limits.
An index for PM2.5 has been introduced for the first time. PM2.5 is not currently forecast by airTEXT but will be added early in 2012.
Find out more:
airTEXT trial daily health bulletin service for Islington (June 2011)
Click on the icon to download the current daily health bulletin for Islington
What is the airTEXT daily health bulletin?
Forecasts of today’s air pollution, UV index, pollen and temperature in a one-page format suitable for display in public spaces. Just print out in colour or greyscale and pin up.
What is it for?
Moderate and high levels of air pollution, UV, pollen and air temperature can all adversely affect health. Knowing what to expect helps people to prepare and if necessary to take action to reduce harmful effects.
Is it created every day?
The bulletin is generated every day for the duration of this trial service, which lasts for 2 months starting on 14th June 2011.
Why is it only available for Islington?
This is a trial service, supported by EU project PASODOBLE, with support from Islington Borough Council. If successful it may be extended to other regions of London in the future.
How do I get it?
Although the trial is now over the current bulletin can still be downloaded here.
The bulletin is no longer circulated by email.
For more information and advice, download a leaflet about the daily health bulletin service.
airTEXT forecasts now on Twitter and in Android smart phone app (October 2010)
Thanks to improvements to CERC’s yourAir forecasting system, the airTEXT air quality forecasts for London are now published on Twitter and as an RSS feed. A smart phone application is also being developed.
- The forecasts are "tweeted" daily at about 8am. You can follow the forecasts through the Twitter name @airTEXT or on our Twitter home page.
- You can also follow the forecasts with our RSS feed, which is also updated daily at about 8 am. An RSS feed is a popular way to follow frequently updated content. It is supported by news readers like Internet Explorer, Google Reader and several mobile phone applications.
- CERC are developing a smart phone application for the forecasts. The latest forecast will always be displayed on the phone’s home screen with simple wording and colour-coding so the latest forecast is available at a glance. The forecast application will be a free download for Android phones. If you have an Android phone and you would like to volunteer as a "beta tester", we’d be delighted to hear from you via forecast@cerc.co.uk.
airTEXT Evaluation Project (June 2008)
Dr. Kirsty Smallbone of the University of Brighton’s School of the Environment has started an 11-month project that will evaluate the airTEXT project. The research will aim to decide if the scheme is operating effectively, its overall usefulness and provide recommendations for continuation and improvements. Kirsty and her team will draw on their considerable experience in working with national and local respiratory groups, patient support groups, health professionals and environmental health officers. The research methodology will include focus groups, questionnaires, diaries of activity and measurements of peak flow readings during forecast periods of elevated and low pollution.
For further information contact Dr Kirsty Smallbone by email, phone: 01273 643306 or post: MSc Environmental Assessment and Management Course Leader, University of Brighton, Cockcroft, Lewes Road, Brighton. BN2 4GJ.
EEA-PROMOTE User Workshop on GMES Atmosphere Services (June 2008)
The User Workshop was held in Copenhagen on 12-13 June 2008. The London airTEXT system was presented on the first morning and was part of the training sessions held on the second afternoon, when users had a chance to try out the different PROMOTE services. The airTEXT presentation can be downloaded here (PDF file, 1.8MB).
London Launch (March 2007)
The London wide expansion of the airTEXT project was launched at the Greater London Authority City Hall on March 28th 2007. Speakers included the Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron, Steven Briggs from ESA and Lord Hunt from CERC, the developers of the yourair forecasting system that powers airTEXT. Read the full story here...
Accuracy of the system
You can download an Excel file that tracks the accuracy of the system here. Overall, the current system correctly forecasts pollution episodes 73% of the time, with 76% of alerts being issued correctly (eg 25% of alerts are false alerts).
A short report outlining the accuracy of the Croydon airTEXT pilot service that ran from 5 May 2005 to 28 March 2007 can be downloaded here.
Monday 6 February, 2012
LOW air pollution expected everywhere
