The Air Quality — Carbon Dioxide indicator shows the daily mean concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmospheric column, expressed in ppm (parts per million). CO2 is the main anthropogenic greenhouse gas, responsible for approximately 64% of total radiative forcing. Monitoring is essential for assessing a site's emission contributions and the effectiveness of carbon sequestration strategies implemented through vegetation management.
Atmospheric CO2 exceeded 420 ppm in 2024, increasing at approximately 2.5 ppm per year. Elevated CO2 levels stimulate photosynthesis in some plant species (fertilisation effect) but alter plant community composition, reduce crop nutritional value, and contribute to ocean acidification. Sources include fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, cement production, and industrial processes.
Data come from the CAMS model (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) via the Open-Meteo Air Quality API, with 11 km spatial resolution and hourly updates. Daily values are calculated as 24-hour averages.
Data come from the Open-Meteo Air Quality API, based on the CAMS model (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service). The variable used is carbon_dioxide (atmospheric CO2 concentration in the atmospheric column).
The calculation process follows these steps:
Unit: ppm (parts per million)
Formula: Daily CO2 = mean of 24 hourly values (ppm)
| Source | Provider | Coverage | Resolution | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-Meteo Air Quality API (CAMS) | Open-Meteo / Copernicus CAMS | Global (Europe: 11 km) | 11 km | 2013 — present |
Line Chart. A time-series chart showing the daily CO2 concentration over time, with colour-coded quality bands.
Purpose: To show how atmospheric CO2 concentration varies day by day at the site, highlighting periods of elevated greenhouse gas levels and seasonal patterns.
Description: The chart is titled "Air Quality" with the Carbon Dioxide measurement type selected from a dropdown that also offers PM10, PM2.5, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other air quality variables. The X axis shows dates, and the Y axis shows concentration in ppm. The chart background is divided into colour bands corresponding to the 5-level quality scale. A resolution toggle allows switching between daily and hourly granularity. A date picker allows selecting a specific date or date range.
How it's calculated: Each point represents the daily mean (or hourly value if hourly resolution is selected) of CO2 concentration at the site's coordinates, retrieved from the CAMS model via the Open-Meteo API.
Legend: The chart uses a 5-band colour scale for CO2 concentration:
| Band | Range (ppm) | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good | 0 — 800 | ■ #00A67A | Normal outdoor concentration; no concern |
| Fair | 800 — 1,000 | ■ #00DF80 | Slightly elevated; still within acceptable range |
| Moderate | 1,000 — 2,000 | ■ #FFD21E | Elevated; may indicate proximity to emission sources |
| Poor | 2,000 — 5,000 | ■ #FF8B16 | High; significant local emission source likely present |
| Very Poor | 5,000 — 40,000 | ■ #FF367F | Very high; extreme concentration, hazardous environment |
Interpretation example:
If the chart shows a daily CO2 value of 415 ppm (green band), the concentration is at typical global background levels. If a spike reaches 950 ppm (light green band), this indicates locally elevated CO2 — possibly due to proximity to dense traffic, industrial activity, or poor atmospheric dispersion conditions during temperature inversions.
Highlights Table Row. A row in the risk overview table within the Highlights section, showing the air quality status for the site based on CO2 and other pollutant data.
Purpose: To provide a scannable summary of the site's air quality alongside other risk-category KPIs.
Description: The row appears in the "Risk" section of the overview table and is labelled "Air quality". It shows the current status or value for the site. The column shows "N/A" when data have not been generated yet for the site.
How it's calculated: The value reflects the air quality assessment based on CO2 and other pollutant concentrations from the CAMS model, aggregated according to the platform's air quality scoring methodology.
Interpretation example:
If the "Air quality" row shows a green indicator, the site's CO2 levels (and other pollutants) are within healthy ranges. A red indicator would signal that one or more pollutant concentrations are at concerning levels.
IPCC (2021). "Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis." Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). Cambridge University Press.
Friedlingstein, P. et al. (2023). "Global Carbon Budget 2023." Earth System Science Data, 15, 5301-5369.
European Environment Agency (2023). "European Air Quality Index." Available at: airindex.eea.europa.eu
World Health Organization (2021). "WHO global air quality guidelines." WHO, Geneva. Available at: who.int
Open-Meteo (2024). "Air Quality API Documentation." Available at: open-meteo.com
Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). "European air quality reanalysis." ECMWF.
See the Calculation Methodology section for the core computation. Additional processing details are documented here for expert users.