Extract:

Pollutant concentrations increased across all sites as the alert level was eased from Level 4, with the largest rise of NO₂ (108%) at Henderson and PM₁₀ (41%) and PM_2.5 (33%) at Queen Street, compared to the Level 4 lockdown period.

•The city centre (Queen Street) showed a marked increase in NO₂ (24%) and the largest rise in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5.

•The traffic pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) stayed below normal levels (of previous years), reflecting below-normal traffic activities.

•Particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) rose to above or near normal levels, possibly due to wet and windy weather in the weekend which increased the contribution of non-traffic sources (e.g., dust or sea salt) to particulate matter.

Air pollution in the Auckland region has been monitored by Auckland Council since the late 1990s at representative monitoring sites across the region. Data from our monitoring network is used to assess compliance with the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality (NES-AQ)...

For all queries, please email RIMU@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

See also

Reduction of air pollution levels seen in the Auckland Council air quality monitoring network for the lockdown (Level 4 Alert) period (26 March-27 April)

May 2020