‘‘Moderate’ air pollution forecast from King’s College London

 

Valid from         12:00 Friday 10^th February 2012

Valid until:         12:00 Monday 13^th February 2012

 

Current air pollution

 

‘Moderate’ nitrogen dioxide is currently being recorded at Kensington and Chelsea – Earl’s Court Road.

 

PM₁₀ particulate at the Ealing 8 monitoring site on Horn Lane, Acton is currently predicted to be ‘low’ today. The site is affected by specific local sources of PM₁₀ particulate and it is not representative of other areas within the Borough. The Ealing 8 measurement site forms part of an investigation of the local PM₁₀ sources at this location.

 

Current air pollution

 

‘Moderate’ nitrogen dioxide is currently being recorded adjacent the King’s Road in Chelsea and in Putney High Street.

 

Forecast

 

Elevated nitrogen dioxide and particulate pollution has been occurring for much of the week and will continue into the first part of the weekend as still, calm weather conditions persist with addition of pollutants arriving from north-eastern Europe.

 

There is a 60% chance of ‘moderate’ PM_10­ occurring at roadside sites and 40% chance of ‘moderate’ PM_2.5. There is a reduced (10%) chance of ‘moderate’ nitrogen dioxide due to lower local emissions during the weekend.

 

Pollution levels are likely to be lower into the second half of the weekend as the weather is forecast to start to change to slightly more unsettled conditions and influx of pollution from the continent is not expected.

 

Air pollution is expected to remain ‘low’ in your area for the following pollutants throughout the forecast period:

 

Ozone

Sulphur dioxide

 

This forecast is intended to provide information on predicted pollution levels across your borough where significant public exposure may reasonably be expected. It may not apply in very specific areas close to unusually strong or short-lived local sources of pollution

 

New Daily Air Quality Index

 

The UK air quality index changed on 1^st January. For details about the new index please see http://www.londonair.org.uk/LondonAir/guide/AirQualityBands.aspx

 

Nowcast

 

Current pollution levels across London can be viewed in greater detail and in comparison with Defra’s new Daily Air Quality Index at:

 

http://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/nowcast.asp

 

Louise Mittal

Duty Forecaster