Auckland Air Quality 101: navigating the air of the isthmus

Extract

In the vibrant landscape of Tāmaki Makaurau, the air we breathe is far more than a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen. The air sustains the life of our region, and most of the time, it can be characterised as clean in most places. However, the air also carries invisible pollutants from various sources which degrade our air quality.

Our Advantageous Geography

Auckland’s geography is quite unique, which has very significant impacts on how the air moves and the air quality resulting from our daily activities. Positioned between the Manukau and Waitematā harbours, the city exists in a state of constant dialogue with the sea. Sea breezes are the norm and move air to and from the sea nearly every day. Also, as a "remote island nation" in the Pacific, New Zealand is far removed from the transboundary industrial pollution common in places like Europe or Asia. This isolation ensures that our baseline air is among the purest on the planet. The flip side, however, is that most air pollution affecting Aucklanders is generated locally. So, while the harbours provide a source of fresh marine air, it is our activities in the city that give rise to air pollution issues.

The weather patterns of the isthmus serve as the city’s primary "wind engine." Auckland is typically characterized by regular sea-breezes and very frequent strong prevailing westerlies. Sea breezes move urban emissions to and from the shores while the westerlies flush our city’s air. This coastal influence is the primary reason why Auckland’s air is often perceived as high-quality by international standards, however, air quality is not the same everywhere, all the time. In fact, this meteorological engine has a "stall" mode. Under specific conditions, such as cold and calm weather, pollutants don’t go very far and stay close to the ground. In these instances, the city's topography of basins and valleys results in localized spikes in pollution that can linger for hours. ...

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See also

Our Auckland

Auckland celebrates an air quality ‘victory lap’

Environment Auckland Data Portal