Hue air quality map

What information can be got from the air quality map for Hue?

The air pollution map for Hue can be accessed via the main city page, you will be invited to select the map before a dedicated page opens with all the information on it. Once opened, the first thing the viewer will notice is the overall colour of the page. This colour generally represents the overall air quality. The meanings of the different colours are explained in the legend at the bottom of the screen. The colours range from pale green which indicates good quality air through yellow, orange, red, purple and maroon which is the worst and represents hazardous quality. There are no ground-based air monitoring stations in Hue, so all the information about air quality comes from satellite data.

If there are any fires burning in the vicinity these will show up on the map using a special symbol. The direction of the wind is also shown on the map which is very useful to look at when there are any fires raging. It will help see whether or not the city will be affected by the ensuing smoke.

When the map is opened in full-screen mode, a table can be seen on the right-hand side of the screen. This is a table showing the ranking of the cities with the worst air pollution at that time. This can be interesting when comparing the air quality of the home city with others across the world.

Can any other information be found on the air quality map for Hue?

On the left-hand side of the screen can be seen four options which can be turned on or off. They depict the options that are seen on the map. The first choice shows the position of the ground air monitoring stations (if there are any in the area). As previously stated, there are no monitoring stations in Hue because all the data for air quality is obtained through overhead satellites. The second option shows the position of any wildfires which are burning in the vicinity. The third option relates to the background colour of the map. By default, it shows the overall state of the air pollution, but can be turned off if the colour is confusing. The last option is the wind direction which is useful to know where there are fires burning.

The closest ground station to Hue is in Da Nang, which is further down the coast. The disc carries the colour of the air pollution and also a number. The number is the US AQI reading which is an internationally used set of metrics when comparing air quality in cities across the world. It is calculated by measuring up to six of the most prolific pollutants and is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

For the most comprehensive information about air quality, the city page should be read in conjunction with the air quality map page because different pieces of information are offered on both pages. During the second quarter of 2022, Hue was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 64. The main pollutant was recorded as PM2.5 with a level of 18.1 µg/m³. This level is currently over three and a half times the recommended level of 5 µg/m³, as suggested by the WHO.

There follows some brief advice as to how to stay safe during times of elevated levels of pollution. Closing doors and windows to prevent more dirty air from entering the building and restricting time spent outdoors.

A weather forecast follows giving the latest temperature, humidity, wind speed and air pressure. There is then an AQI forecast which shows the possible levels of air pollution over the next few days. This can be invaluable if planning to travel.

Are the areas suffering from high pollution shown on the air quality map for Hue?

Because the data regarding air quality is from overhead satellites, it is not possible to pinpoint local areas of high pollution. Local residents may know of these areas but such information is not divulged on the air quality amp for Hue. City centres are often more heavily polluted than other residential areas, especially during the morning and evening rush hours.

Can the source of the air pollution be seen on the air pollution map for Hue?

The province in which Hue is situated issued a directive in March 2021 to strengthen the monitoring and control of air pollution, minimize adverse impacts on people's health, and promote socio-economic development.

Farmers' organisations signed a commitment not to burn rice straw, and not to discharge straw indiscriminately into irrigation and drainage canals. They also agreed to not dry rice or straw or burn straw on the roads.

Local authorities committed themselves to regularly spraying water onto roads, especially at junctions to keep the dust from rising into the air. They also propose to strengthen the planting of trees in urban areas, main roads, parks and resettlement areas.

Based on the monitoring network planning and implementation situation, it is recommended to invest in building a continuous automatic monitoring network to ensure the synchronous monitoring of air quality in the province.

PM2.5 is often seen on the air pollution map for Hue, but what is it?

Particles known as PM2.5 are tiny particles (solid or liquid) present in the air and cannot be seen with the naked eye except under a microscope. Particles are measured in micrometres or microns. The shape of the particle, its material and the distribution of the shape and mass of which they are made vary dramatically from region to region and from period to period. In urban areas, for example, PM particles may contain toxic gaseous pollutants. Also, during the spring period, PM particles contain pollen (up to 100 μm), which is one of the causes of allergies.

Large particles over 10mm such as dust are not as dangerous to our health as they are often caught by the body’s natural defence system in the nose and the airway and hardly reach the lungs. However, tiny particles below 2.5 mm are much more dangerous. They reach the lungs and from there directly into the bloodstream. According to experts, breathing large amounts of such particles can cause stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and other diseases. Air pollution according to the latest publication of the World Health Organisation is responsible for 20 per cent of deaths worldwide.