A Real-Time Map of Global Air Pollution

Linda Poon shares news about a new interactive tool that tracks air pollution in cities around the world in real time.

"The map comes from Beijing-based environmental group Air Quality Index China, which worked with environmental protection agencies in more than 70 countries. It continuously collects data from more than 5,900 feeds coming from more than 8,000 air-quality-monitoring stations in nearly a thousand cities. Only feeds from government agencies are used, according to the website (“no DIY or amateur monitoring stations data” here). The map refreshes every 15 minutes."

Using the data available on the map, Poon points out the huge disparity in air quality between China and the United States, for instance, as well as more detail about air quality in the United States. For instance, at the time of Poon's research of the tool, Buffalo, New York was exhibiting the worst air quality in the country.