Extract

Summary:

• No breach of national air quality standards has occurred this year (January to July).
• Overall, air quality has slightly improved in Auckland over the last two years. A key contributor is COVID-19 restrictions.
• Over the past two years, there is a downward trend in nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) concentration in the Auckland CBD.
• PM_2.5 source apportionment modelling study indicates that 61% of the concentrations come from five common sources across Auckland urban sites: biomass burning (mainly from home heating), motor vehicles, sea salt, marine diesel and soils (windblown soil, road dust, and dust generated by earthworks, construction, and road works).
• The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 alert level 4 lockdown (week one) depended on the contaminant and the monitoring site. Concentrations of particulates matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5), NO₂, and ozone were significantly lower than the previous two years average. Generally, average concentrations of particulate matter, ozone (O₃) and black carbon were slightly higher than the 2020 week one lockdown. However, the average concentration of NO₂ was slightly lower than the 2020 week one lockdown.
• There was no clear impact of the lockdown on SO₂ and CO concentrations.

Read the frequently asked questions about the air quality monitoring in the Auckland region.

For more information or questions, please send inquiries to: environmentaldata@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Auckland Council, August 2021