Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
6.4
Overview of EWS for Slow-Onset Hazards
6.4.1
Air Quality
Air quality monitoring systems exist for many countries worldwide, but appear to
be most developed in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Additional successful
systems are operational in Asia (Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, and
Thailand), in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico City), and in Africa
(Cape Town, South Africa). Nevertheless, most systems only provide real-time air
quality information collected from ground stations or satellite observations. Only
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), European Space Agency (ESA),
Prev'Air, and the Environmental Agencies of Belgium, Germany, and Canada pro-
vide forecasts.
The US EPA AIRNow provides air quality information in real-time (online or by
e-mail, cell phone, or pager) allowing to take preventive steps to protect from
unhealthy conditions (see Fig.
6.5
).
Fig. 6.5
US EPA's AirNow (Source:
http://www.airnow.gov/
)
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