|
|
Indicator Type: Environmental Condition
This indicator shows trends in the Air Quality Index (AQI) for Alberta. It illustrates the percentage of time, in hours, that the outdoor air quality is rated "good", "fair", "poor", and "very poor" in the province for each calendar year.
More about the Air Quality Index
Return to Top
|
Trend: No clear trend
Percentage of Time* with Good, Fair, Poor and Very Poor Air Quality
*Based on the number of hours the air monitoring stations were operating
|
What does the indicator show?
Alberta's air quality has been rated as "good" over 94 per cent of the time between 1998 and 2007. "Poor" or "very poor" air quality events rarely occurred (0.1% per cent or less of the time). Alberta's target of maintaining "good" air quality 97 per cent of the time was not met for 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 or 2006. The number of "fair" air quality events increased from 2000 to 2002, but decreased after 2004. None of the trends over 1998 to 2006 are statistically significant.
See the attached figures for 2007 Air Quality Index values for specific Alberta communities.
In 2007, there were 56 hours of poor air quality and four hours of very poor air quality at monitoring stations in Alberta. 67 per cent were caused by forest fire smoke. 18 per cent were caused by
wintertime smog, 12 per cent were caused by summertime smog and three per cent by windblown dust. Trends in the pollutants that make up the Air Quality Index can be viewed at the following indicator pages: Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Ozone, Fine Particulate Matter, and Sulphur Dioxide.
Return to Top
|
Why is this indicator important?
The Air Quality Index ratings are based on the effects of air quality on people, animals and the environment. The index is a simplified tool to help the public have easy access to information on Alberta's air quality.
Air quality depends on the rate at which pollutants are emitted into the atmosphere. It also depends on the ability of the atmosphere to scatter or "disperse" these pollutants. The movement and dispersion of air pollutants is controlled by wind, temperature, atmospheric mixing, and any changes caused by mountains and valleys. Major influences on air quality include vehicle emissions, forest fires, and industrial emissions. In Alberta, "poor" or "very poor" air quality episodes are usually caused by smoke from forest fires or summertime and wintertime smog events.
The current Alberta target is to maintain "good" air quality at least 97 per cent of the time
in urban areas, with no "poor" air quality events. These and other air quality objectives are outlined in the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and the National Air Quality Objectives. Additional information on the Air Quality Index can be found in the Air Quality Index Fact Sheet. The current Air Quality index is available 24 hours a day on Alberta Environment's Air Quality Index Website or by dialing (toll-free) 1-877-247-7333.
Follow this link to a description of the AQI rating system with associated effects on the environment, vegetation, human health and visibility.
Return to Top
|
What actions are being taken?
Currently, Alberta Environment manages air quality on an individual pollutant basis, with Air Quality Objectives, Management Frameworks or regulations. The AQI is predominantly driven by fine particulate matter and ozone concentrations. Alberta and other provinces have committed to significantly reducing particulate matter and ground-level ozone by 2010 under the Canada-Wide Standards (CWS) for PM and Ozone. In Alberta, the Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA) developed a framework that sets out four levels of action for achieving the Canada-Wide Standards. Alberta Environment has been working with stakeholders to develop air quality management plans for particulate matter and ozone in the Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary regions. These air quality management plans will be implemented in 2009. For more information, please visit Alberta Environment’s Particulate Matter and Ozone website.
The Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA) is currently developing a new Clear Air Strategy for Alberta. CASA launched a public consultation in 2008 to engage stakeholders and all interested Albertans and gather their views on air quality. With the public consultation now complete, CASA will develop recommendations to the Government of Alberta for managing air quality issues in the future. For more information on The Clean Air Strategy for Alberta, please visit www.clearairalberta.ca.
Alberta Environment continues to improve and expand Alberta's air quality monitoring network. Coverage of the Air Quality Index is expected to increase as there are more stations reporting hourly concentrations in real time via the Alberta Environment Air Quality website. With more data and information, Alberta Environment and other stakeholders are better able to manage air quality and target hot spot or high-risk areas.
Alberta Environment has developed a poor air quality notification system. This system is designed to alert Albertans when poor air quality is occurring and give advice on what action to take. This initiative is a partnership with Environment Canada, Capital Health and Alberta Health & Wellness.
Along with this notification system, Alberta Environment is teaming up with Alberta Health & Wellness to improve Alberta's Air Quality Index and associated health messaging.
Return to Top
|
Links to additional information
Air Quality Index website: http://www.telusgeomatics.com/tgpub/ag_air/default.asp
Air Quality Index factsheet: http://environment.gov.ab.ca/info/library/5729.pdf
Particulate Matter and Ozone Framework for Alberta: http://environment.alberta.ca/1970.html
Clear the Air: A Clean Air Strategy for Alberta: http://www.clearairalberta.ca/
Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA) Data Warehouse: http://www.casahome.org
Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA) Airshed Zones: http://www.casahome.org/?page_id=87
Return to Top
|
Feedback
E-mail the SOE Coordinator: SOE.Coordinator@gov.ab.ca or complete this short on-line questionnaire to provide your feedback: http://www.zoomerang.com/
survey.zgi?p=WEB224DW6P3E2K.
Return to Top
|
|
