Libby air quality map

When the air quality map for Libby is opened, how much information about air pollution does it contain?

There is an abundance of good information about air quality on the air pollution map for Libby and it is very accessible from the main city page. The air pollution map icon itself acts as a link which, when clicked, will open a new set of pages filled with all the latest facts and figures about air pollution in the region.

Once the new set of pages is open, the background colour of the map will appear to be quite striking because it uses colour to display the current state of the air. Colours can vary between pale green and dark maroon and are used as a standard across the entire IQAir website. As the air quality gets worse so the colours get darker. The full meaning of the various colours is shown in the legend at the bottom of the page.

There are many coloured discs that can be seen dispersed across the air pollution map for Libby which represent the sites of the ground-level air quality monitoring stations both in and around the city. If they are superimposed on top of each other, the map can be enlarged so they will start to separate. They carry the same colour as their level of air pollution and also display a number at their centre. This number is the United States Air Quality Index reading or US AQI for short. It is calculated by recording the levels of up to six of the most commonly found pollutants in the city air. They are usually both sizes of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide.

The figure is then used as a metric when comparing levels of air pollution in different areas across the globe. The entire system is encouraged by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Each station carries its own set of data which is pertinent to that specific area. Access to this information can be invaluable when travelling across different regions.

The coloured band running across the top of the main city page takes on the colour of the appropriate level of pollution as a visual indication. It also displays the latest US AQI reading which is currently 29 and therefore classified as being “Good”. The main pollutant was found to be PM2.5 with a recorded level of 7 µg/m³ (microns per cubic metre) which is almost one and a half times higher than the target figure of 5 µg/m³ as recommended by the WHO.

Below the air pollution map for Libby can be seen the number of contributors there are that collect and collate all the data before publishing their results. In June 2023 there was just one contributor who operated one station in Libby and that person wished to remain anonymous.

Is there any more useful information about air quality on the air pollution map for Libby?

There is a lot more high-quality information about the state of the air on the air pollution map for Libby. There is a “full-screen” icon at the top of the first page, which when pressed, will open up a whole new set of pages at maximum size so no information will remain covered.

Four options will now be visible down the left-hand side of the page which can all be looked at individually to get an idea of the effects they each have on the map.

The first option shows the locations of all the ground-level air quality monitoring stations there are, both in and around the city. Each station can be individually explored by choosing the appropriate disc because they all contain a lot of interesting information about their own specific areas. These figures are constantly updated and are extremely informative when travelling around the area.

The second option shows if there are any wildfires burning in the area or not. In early June 2023, there were no icons on the map so no fires of significance were burning out of control. When fires are detected, option number four needs to be explored because it shows the speed and direction of the prevailing winds and will give a good indication of where the drifting smoke will go.

The third option colours the background of the map to show the current level of air quality. This is a direct visualisation but some may find it overwhelming so by disabling it, the colours will revert to a more neutral palette.

On the right-hand side of the page is a table that ranks the top seven most heavily polluted cities according to their levels of pollution. There are more facts and figures to be seen in the “full-ranking" section where the remainder of the participating world cities can be studied in descending order.

Nearby the contributors’ section is another one which shows where the most polluted areas of the city are according to the data from the monitoring stations. There is also a section that shows which station is the most popular going by the number of followers they have. But because Libby has only one station, Libby Courthouse is at the top of both lists. It has garnered 629 followers.

Can the cause of the polluted air be discovered on the air quality map for Libby?

The source of air pollution is not shown directly on the air quality map for Libby but at certain times of the year, it is badly affected by wildfire smoke which drifts in from neighbouring states. Libby is also the site of one of America’s worst disasters caused by the deadly asbestos dust from the vermiculite mines which continued to operate until 1990. Residents are still suffering from the contamination.

What are PM2.5 and PM10 which are often quoted on the air pollution map for Libby?

Airborne particulate matter (PM) is not a single pollutant but is a mixture of many types of different chemicals. It is a complex mixture of solids and aerosols composed of droplets of liquid, dry solid fragments, and solid cores with liquid coatings. Particles vary in size, shape and chemical composition, and may contain inorganic ions, metallic compounds, elemental carbon, organic compounds, and compounds from the earth’s crust. Particles are defined by their diameter for air quality governing purposes. Those with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM10) are inhalable into the lungs and can induce adverse health effects. Fine particulate matter is defined as particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5).