Since August 2019, the air quality in Australian towns and cities has repeatedly exceeded hazardous levels
These charts show the maximum daily air quality index (AQI) reading for four locations. On the worst day in Canberra, the air quality reached 26 times the hazardous level
Port Macquarie
5,000
19x
Hazardous
15 Nov 2019
AQI: 3,805
200
Aug 2019
Jan 2020
Sydney
5,000
13x
10 Dec 2019
AQI: 2,552
200
Aug 2019
Jan 2020
Canberra
5,000
26x
1 Jan 2020
AQI: 5,185
200
Jan 2020
Aug 2019
Albury
5,000
6x
7 Jan 2020
AQI: 1,101
200
Aug 2019
Jan 2020
Source: NSW and ACT government data. Graphic produced by: Jack Zhao / Small Multiples
A significant amount of the population has been exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter
These maps show the concentration of particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5) as measured from satellite
PM2.5
15 Nov 2019
Low
High
Port
Macquarie
Sydney
Canberra
Albury
PM2.5
10 Dec 2019
Port
Macquarie
Sydney
Canberra
Albury
PM2.5
31 Dec 2019
Port
Macquarie
Sydney
Canberra
Albury
PM2.5
6 Jan 2020
Port
Macquarie
Sydney
Canberra
Albury
Source: generated using Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service Information 2020. Graphic produced by: Jack Zhao / Small Multiples
Since August 2019, the air quality in Australian towns and cities has repeatedly exceeded hazardous levels
These charts show the maximum daily air quality index (AQI) reading for four locations. On the worst day in Canberra, the air quality reached 26 times the hazardous level
Port Macquarie
5,000
19x
Hazardous
15 Nov 2019
AQI: 3,805
200
Aug 2019
Jan 2020
Sydney
5,000
13x
Hazardous
10 Dec 2019
AQI: 2,552
200
Aug 2019
Jan 2020
Canberra
5,000
26x
Hazardous
1 Jan 2020
AQI: 5,185
200
Aug 2019
Jan 2020
Albury
5,000
6x
Hazardous
7 Jan 2020
AQI: 1,101
200
Aug 2019
Jan 2020
Source: NSW and ACT government data. Graphic produced by: Jack Zhao / Small Multiples
A significant amount of the population has been exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter
These maps show the concentration of particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5) as measured from satellite
PM2.5
15 Nov 2019
Low
High
Port
Macquarie
Sydney
Canberra
Albury
PM2.5
10 Dec 2019
Port
Macquarie
Sydney
Canberra
Albury
PM2.5
31 Dec 2019
Port
Macquarie
Sydney
Canberra
Albury
PM2.5
6 Jan 2020
Port
Macquarie
Sydney
Canberra
Albury
Source: generated using Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service Information 2020. Graphic produced by: Jack Zhao / Small Multiples
Since August 2019, the air quality in Australian towns and cities has repeatedly exceeded hazardous levels
These charts show the maximum daily air quality index (AQI) reading for four locations. On the worst day in Canberra, the air quality reached 26 times the hazardous level
Port Macquarie
Sydney
5,000
5,000
19x
13x
Hazardous
Hazardous
15 Nov 2019
10 Dec 2019
AQI: 3,805
AQI: 2,552
200
200
Hazardous
Hazardous
Aug 2019
Jan 2020
Aug 2019
Jan 2020
Canberra
Albury
5,000
5,000
26x
6x
Hazardous
1 Jan 2020
7 Jan 2020
AQI: 5,185
AQI: 1,101
200
200
Hazardous
Hazardous
Aug 2019
Jan 2020
Aug 2019
Jan 2020
Source: NSW and ACT government data. Graphic produced by: Jack Zhao / Small Multiples
A significant amount of the population has been exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter
These maps show the concentration of particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5) as measured from satellite
PM2.5
PM2.5
15 Nov 2019
10 Dec 2019
Low
High
Port
Port Macquarie
Macquarie
Sydney
Sydney
Canberra
Canberra
Albury
Albury
Air quality index
Air quality index 24-hour average
10 Dec
15 Nov
>
>
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
No data
Very good
Good
Fair
Poor
Very poor
Hazardous
PM2.5
PM2.5
6 Jan 2020
31 Dec 2019
Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie
Sydney
Sydney
Canberra
Canberra
Albury
Albury
Albury
Air Quality Index
Air Quality Index
31 Dec
6 Jan
>
>
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Jan
Source: generated using Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service Information 2020. Graphic produced by: Jack Zhao / Small Multiples