The Air Quality — PM10 indicator shows the daily mean concentration of atmospheric particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 micrometres (PM10), expressed in μg/m³. PM10 includes fine dust, pollen, spores, and particles generated by vehicular traffic, industrial combustion, agricultural activities, and natural processes such as wind erosion.
PM10 is one of the most regulated atmospheric pollutants. High concentrations reduce air quality, damage vegetation through deposition on leaf surfaces, compromise pollinator health by obstructing respiratory spiracles, and alter soil chemical properties. The European daily limit is 50 μg/m³ (not to be exceeded more than 35 times per year), while the annual mean limit is 40 μg/m³ (EU Directive 2008/50/EC). The WHO recommends a stricter guideline of 45 μg/m³ for daily exposure.
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 PM10 (concentration of particulate matter at ground level with aerodynamic diameter < 10 μm).
The calculation process follows these steps:
Unit: μg/m³
Formula: Daily PM10 = mean of 24 hourly values (μg/m³)
| 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 PM10 concentration over time, with colour-coded quality bands and a threshold line.
Purpose: To show how PM10 concentration varies day by day at the site, highlighting periods of elevated pollution and their relationship to regulatory thresholds.
Description: The chart is titled "Air Quality" with the PM10 measurement type selected from a dropdown that also offers PM2.5, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and other air quality variables. The X axis shows dates, and the Y axis shows concentration in μg/m³. A horizontal dashed line marks the daily threshold (50 μg/m³ for PM10). 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 PM10 concentration at the site's coordinates, retrieved from the CAMS model via Open-Meteo API.
Legend: The chart uses a 5-band colour scale based on the European Air Quality Index thresholds for PM10:
| Band | Range (μg/m³) | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good | 0 — 40 | ■ #00A67A | Low concentration; no health or ecological concern |
| Fair | 40 — 50 | ■ #00DF80 | Moderate concentration; approaching regulatory threshold |
| Moderate | 50 — 100 | ■ #FFD21E | Elevated; daily limit exceeded, risk to sensitive groups |
| Poor | 100 — 150 | ■ #FF8B16 | High; significant air quality degradation |
| Very Poor | > 150 | ■ #FF367F | Very high; severe pollution event |
Interpretation example:
If the chart shows a daily PM10 value of 28 μg/m³ (green band), the air quality is good and well below the 50 μg/m³ daily limit. If a spike reaches 85 μg/m³ (yellow band), this indicates an elevated pollution event — possibly due to Saharan dust intrusion, nearby agricultural burning, or heavy traffic — that may stress vegetation and pollinators.
Line Chart. A time-series chart showing the number of days per month in which PM10 daily mean concentration exceeded the EU regulatory threshold.
Purpose: To track how often the daily PM10 limit is exceeded, providing a direct indicator of regulatory compliance and chronic air quality issues.
Description: The chart is titled "PM threshold exceedance days" and shows monthly bars or line points representing the count of days in each month where PM10 exceeded the daily threshold of 50 μg/m³ (as set by EU Directive 2008/50/EC). A toggle allows switching between PM10 and PM2.5 threshold views. The tooltip explains: "This chart shows how many times in a month the daily mean of PM10 has exceeded the daily threshold."
How it's calculated: For each month, the number of days where the daily mean PM10 concentration exceeds 50 μg/m³ is counted. The EU allows a maximum of 35 exceedance days per calendar year.
Interpretation example:
If a month shows 8 exceedance days, it means PM10 exceeded 50 μg/m³ on 8 separate days that month — a potentially concerning pattern if sustained across the year. The EU limit of 35 days per year means an average of about 3 days per month is acceptable; 8 days in a single month suggests a seasonal pollution peak.
Progress Bar. A horizontal progress bar showing the site's annual mean PM10 concentration as a percentage of the legal annual limit (40 μg/m³).
Purpose: To show at a glance whether the site's annual PM10 average approaches or exceeds the EU annual mean limit of 40 μg/m³.
Description: The element is titled "PM annual average exceedance" with a tooltip explaining: "Percentage of the annual mean of PM10 relative to the legal limit (PM10: 40 μg/m³)." The bar fills proportionally: 100% means the annual mean equals the legal limit. Values above 100% indicate exceedance. A toggle allows switching between PM10 and PM2.5 views.
How it's calculated: The annual mean PM10 concentration is divided by the EU annual limit of 40 μg/m³ and expressed as a percentage.
Formula: Percentage = (annual mean PM10 / 40) x 100
Interpretation example:
If the bar shows 62%, the site's annual PM10 mean is approximately 24.8 μg/m³ — well within the 40 μg/m³ legal limit but still above the WHO guideline of 15 μg/m³ for annual exposure. If the bar exceeds 100%, the site fails the EU annual mean standard.
Highlights Table Row. A row in the risk overview table within the Highlights section, showing the air quality status for the site based on PM10 (and other pollutants) 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 PM10 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 PM10 levels (and other pollutants) are within healthy ranges. A red indicator would signal that one or more pollutant concentrations — including PM10 — are at concerning levels.
World Health Organization (2021). "WHO global air quality guidelines: particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide". WHO, Geneva. Available at: who.int
European Environment Agency (2022). "Air quality in Europe 2022". EEA Report No 05/2022. Available at: eea.europa.eu
European Parliament and Council (2008). "Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe". Official Journal of the European Union.
Open-Meteo (2024). "Air Quality API Documentation". Available at: open-meteo.com
European Environment Agency (2023). "European Air Quality Index". Available at: airindex.eea.europa.eu
See the Calculation Methodology section for the core computation. Additional processing details are documented here for expert users.