Quick guide on how to use "Current air data" information pages | Umweltbundesamt

Overview: Our range of information on current air data

The "Overview" webpage provides a brief description and links to the following five sources of information:

• Air quality index
• Maps
• Stations
• Exceedances
• Annual tabulation

Air quality index: How good is the air at each monitoring station?

Our air quality index lets you see at a glance how good the air is at each measuring station in Germany. It is calculated from the measured concentrations of five air pollutants: nitrogen dioxide, PM₁₀ particulate matter, PM_2.5 particulate matter, ozone and sulfur dioxide. The pollutant with the worst air quality determines the index class. Based on the air quality index, you receive an assessment of whether the air quality is very good, good, moderate, poor, or very poor. At the same time, you are given relevant health tips.

The map shows you at a glance all stations for which measurement data is available in the current calendar year, and the legend indicates how good the air quality was there most recently. If not all five pollutants are measured at a station, this is indicated by a circle with one corner missing.

Under Select station you can zoom in on specific federal states or stations, or display data for other days and times. For the selected station, a trend graph displays the AQI and the values ​​of the individual pollutants in the AQI classes for the selected period. This makes it clear which pollutant determined the AQI over time.

See the calculation base for more information on the index calculation.

Maps: Germany - wide maps showing pollution levels and forecasts

The maps allow you to see at a glance the regional levels of pollution in Germany for one of six selectable air pollutants on specific days and, in some cases, at specific times. These maps are based on data from monitoring stations, which are then calculated (interpolated) to cover the entire area. For ozone, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, NO₂ and SO₂ a forecast is also available for the current day and the next two days. The forecast maps are the result of model calculations supplemented with measurement data.

Above the map you can make various settings to display a map of other air pollutants, days and (depending on time scope of the measured air pollutant) sometimes also times.

The slider allows you to access maps for other days and (if available) times. The play buttons below the slider let you view the maps chronologically, forwards or backwards, as a video to see how the values ​​change over time. You can stop the playback at any time using the pause button. Below the map legend, you'll find further information, such as the limit or target value for the selected pollutant, how many stations in Germany measured values ​​above this limit or target value at the selected time, and the lowest and highest values ​​recorded. For detailed information on how the maps are calculated, please see our background information.

Stations: Detailed data from all monitoring stations

Under Stations you can access detailed measurements from each station. The map displays all stations providing data in the current calendar year at a glance. The legend indicates the range of measured concentrations for the selected air pollutant and time. For individually selected stations, data can be viewed and downloaded in lists and charts.

Exceedances: Exceedances of limit and target values in the current year

Under Exceedances you can access separate tables for the pollutants particulate matter (PM₁₀), nitrogen dioxide and ozone. These tables show how often the short-term limit values ​​or the target value have been exceeded at each monitoring station this year.

You can sort the table entries individually by clicking the double arrows in the header. You can scroll both horizontally and vertically using the scroll bars.

Above the table, you can download the respective table as a CSV file using the download link. Also above the table, you will find a link to further information about the exceedance table for the selected pollutant.

Annual tabulation: Evaluation of all station data from past years with regard to limit and target values

Under Annual Tabulation you will find, in a table for each pollutant and year, all evaluations relevant to limit or target values ​​from the stations listed.

In the selection menu, you can choose the desired pollutant and year. Information about the respective limit or target value will be displayed next to or below this selection.

You can sort all entries in the table individually by clicking the double arrows in the header.

You can scroll horizontally and vertically in the table using the scroll bars. Above the table, you can download the table as a CSV file using the download links.

Also above the table, you will find a link to further general information about the selected pollutant.

General explanation / Time scopes

You can view your currently displayed and, if applicable, individually configured page on a different tab/browser or device. To do this, use the link displayed under Filter-preset export and paste it into the alternative tab/browser or device under Filter-preset export. For Maps and Stations, you can select a Type scope in addition to the pollutant. A brief explanation is provided below:

Particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5)

• Daily average: Average over the 24 hours of the respective day (corresponds to the EU daily limit value for PM₁₀ to protect human health)
• One hour average: Average over a full hour, i.e., the preceding 60 minutes

Carbon monoxide

• Eight hour average: Average value over the selected hour and the preceding seven hours (rolling eight hour average)
• Maximum eight hour average: Highest eight-hour average value for a day (corresponds to the EU limit value for the protection of human health)

Ozone

• One hour average: Average over one hour, i.e. the previous 60 minutes (relates to the EU information and alert threshold)
• Maximum one hour average: Highest one-hour average for a day
• Eight hour average: Average over the selected hour and the preceding seven hours (rolling eight-hour average)
• Maximum eight hour average: Highest eight-hour average for a day (corresponds to the EU target value for the protection of human health)

Sulphur dioxide

• Daily average: Average over the 24 hours of the respective day (corresponds to the EU daily limit value for the protection of human health)
• One hour average: Average over a full hour, i.e., the preceding 60 minutes (corresponds to the EU hourly limit value for the protection of human health)
• Maximum one hour average: Highest one-hour average of a day

Nitrogen dioxide

• One hour average: Average over a full hour, i.e., the preceding 60 minutes (corresponds to the EU hourly limit value for the protection of human health)
• Maximum one hour average: Highest one-hour average of a day