Winter air reports

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Winter air reports

Technical Report

Ashburton Winter Air Report - May-August 2008 (60 KB)
Every winter, high air pollution levels affect the health of many Ashburton residents. Old woodburners and open fires are the main cause of this pollution which typically happens on cold, still nights. So, how bad was the air pollution this year (2008)?
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2008 Type: Technical Report
Christchurch Winter Air Report - May-August 2008 (60 KB)
The number of days with high air pollution was slightly higher than the previous winter (19 days in 2008, 14 in 2007). In the past, Christchurch has had between 27-51 high pollution days a year. The windy and cloudy weather in June and July, typically the months with the highest air pollution levels, kept the number of high pollution days down this year (2008).
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2008 Type: Technical Report
Kaiapoi & Rangiora Winter Air Report - May-August 2008 (68 KB)
Every winter, high air pollution levels affect the health of many Kaiapoi and Rangiora residents. Old woodburners and open fires are the main cause of this pollution which typically happens on cold, still nights. So how bad was the air pollution this year (2008)?
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2008 Type: Technical Report
Timaru, Geraldine, Waimate Winter Air Report - May-August 2008 (60 KB)
Every winter high air pollution levels affect the health of many Timaru, Geraldine and Waimate residents. Old woodburners and open fi res are the main cause of this pollution which typically happens on cold, still nights. So, how bad was the air pollution this year (2008)?
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2008 Type: Technical Report
Canterbury Winter Air Report - May-August 2007 (1036 KB)
The number of high pollution nights each winter depends on the weather as well as how much air pollution is produced by solid fuel burners. The worst pollution usually happens after sunset on clear, calm and cold nights, often when a frost is forecast. This winter (2007), few frosts, low cloud and some wind kept most of the air pollution away, except in Timaru where the weather patterns were different.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2007 Type: Technical Report
Ashburton Winter Air Report - May-August 2007 (280 KB)
Ashburton had 13 high air pollution nights during the winter to 31 August 2007, less than half the previous year’s total of 29 nights to date, but similar to earlier years. Ashburton’s highest concentration this year (2007) was 89 on June 28.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2007 Type: Technical Report
Christchurch Winter Air Report - May-August 2007 (211 KB)
Christchurch had 13 high air pollution nights this winter to 31 August 2007. The maximum concentration recorded at the representative site of St Albans was 119 on July 23. Last winter (2006) there were 27 high air pollution nights at the St Albans site.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2007 Type: Technical Report
Geraldine Winter Air Report - May-August 2007 (276 KB)
Geraldine experienced one high air pollution night this winter (2007), with a concentration of 54 on June 28. The previous time air pollution was monitored in 2004 the town had three high readings and 5 in 2003.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2007 Type: Technical Report
Kaiapoi & Rangiora Winter Air Report - May-August 2007 (401 KB)
Kaiapoi had 19 high air pollution nights this winter to 31 August 2007, compared to 28 by this date in 2006. In previous years the number of high pollution nights was between 17 and 35. Rangiora experienced 5 high readings this year (2007), much less than the 15 high pollution nights in 2006. In previous years the number of high pollution nights was between 6 and 10.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2007 Type: Technical Report
Timaru Winter Air Report - May-August 2007 (281 KB)
Timaru experienced the highest number of air pollution nights for any town in Canterbury, with 34 recorded this winter to 31 August 2007. The previous year, Timaru had a total of 36 high air pollution nights for the entire winter. The highest concentration of 123 was recorded on July 10 this year (2007), while the previous highest reading in Timaru was 190 in June the previous year.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2007 Type: Technical Report
Waimate Winter Air Report - May-August 2007 (271 KB)
Waimate had no high air pollution nights this winter (2007) compared to 10 days to the end of August the previous year, when snow and colder temperatures meant Waimate residents may have used their solid fuelburners more often to keep their houses warm. The highest recording in Waimate was 50 on June 13 this year (2007). Environment Canterbury has monitored Waimate’s air quality in 2002, 2003 and 2006, when the maximum concentration of 95 was reached in the town. In 2003, there were six high pollution nights and only one in 2002.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2007 Type: Technical Report
Canterbury Winter Air Report - October 2006 (97 KB)
The number of high pollution days that occur each winter depends on the weather as well as how much air pollution is produced. In Canterbury, weather conditions inland have meant calm conditions whereas coastal towns like Christchurch and Timaru had cloud and night-time breezes this winter. This resulted in fewer than average days of high air-pollution in Christchurch and Timaru and more in Ashburton, Rangiora and Waimate in 2006. This winter (2006) Timaru, Ashburton, Rangiora and Waimate experienced their worst ever high pollution day with the highest daily concentration in Christchurch the worst since 2002 and in Kaiapoi since 2003.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/10/2006 Type: Technical Report
Ashburton Winter Air Report - October 2006 (70 KB)
During the winter of 2006, Ashburton had 28 high pollution days, the highest number in the (then) four years air pollution has been monitored in the town. In previous years, this number was between 13 and 18. The highest concentration in the 2006 winter was 178 compared to the highest in previous years of 97.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/10/2006 Type: Technical Report
Christchurch Winter Air Report - October 2006 (64 KB)
Altogether (in winter 2006), there were 32 days when the PM10 threshold was breached (24-hour average greater than 50 μg/m3) in the Christchurch air shed from January 2006. This number is lower than average with the annual totals during the previous 5 years ranging from 28 to 52 days. A reason for this may be the reduction in burners being used, but is most likely to be because there was more coastal cloud and night-time breezes this winter (2006).
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/10/2006 Type: Technical Report
Kaiapoi Winter Air Report - October 2006 (71 KB)
This winter (2006), Kaiapoi had 28 high pollution days to the end of September. This compares to annual totals ranging from 17 to 40 during the previous 5 years. The highest concentration this winter (2006) was 159.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/10/2006 Type: Technical Report
Rangiora Winter Air Report - October 2006 (72 KB)
This winter (2006), Rangiora had 14 high pollution days to the end of September. In previous years, the number of high air pollution days ranged from 6 to 11 days. The highest concentration this winter (2006) was 136 compared to the highest in previous years of 99.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/10/2006 Type: Technical Report
Timaru Winter Air Report - October 2006 (72 KB)
This winter (2006), Timaru experienced 36 high pollution days to the end of September. This number is lower than average with the annual totals during the previous 5 years ranging from 33 to 51 days.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/10/2006 Type: Technical Report
Waimate Winter Air Report - October 2006 (70 KB)
This winter (2006), Waimate experienced nine high pollution days. When the town’s air quality was last previously monitored there were six high pollution days in 2003 and four in 2002. The highest concentration this winter (2006) was 95, compared to 82 in 2003 and 51 in 2002.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/10/2006 Type: Technical Report
Ashburton Winter Air Report - September 2005 (49 KB)
While the interval between monitoring makes it difficult to draw comparisons, the 18 high pollution days experienced in Ashburton this year (2005) was at the high end. Monitoring was previously last carried out in Ashburton in 1999 and 2000, when 13 and 17 high pollution days were recorded.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2005 Type: Technical Report
Christchurch Winter Air Report - September 2005 (55 KB)
Christchurch’s 2005 winter was milder than most, with fewer frosty nights. Although winds were often light and the days sunny, many nights were cloudy, which meant the number of high pollution days - 32 - was lower than usual. In previous years this has varied from 28 (2002) to 52 (2001).
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2005 Type: Technical Report
Kaiapoi & Rangiora Winter Air Report - September 2005 (47 KB)
There were fewer frosts than usual in Kaiapoi and Rangiora this winter (2005), with temperatures generally milder than normal. Many nights were cloudy, cutting down on the potential for high pollution, so there were only 16 high pollution days in Kaiapoi. In previous years this has varied from 17 (2004) to 40 (2001). Rangiora’s total of 10 compares with 6 the previous year and 11 and 7 when monitoring prevuiously took place in 1999 and 2000.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2005 Type: Technical Report
Timaru Winter Air Report - September 2005 (52 KB)
Timaru experiences high pollution on nights with light northerly airflow and this year (2005) there were plenty of those. While there were fewer frosts than usual, the 48 high pollution days was near the top end of Timaru readings. In previous years, this has varied from 33 (2002) to 52 (2000).
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2005 Type: Technical Report
Christchurch Winter Air Report - September 2004 (1118 KB)
A report outlining the air quality over Christchurch.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2004 Type: Technical Report
Timaru Winter Air Report - September 2004 (1085 KB)
A report outlining the air quality over Timaru.
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 25/09/2004 Type: Technical Report
Canterbury Winter High Pollution Days (579 KB)
Why is the number of high pollution days in Christchurch higher in 2011 compared to recent years?
Author: Environment Canterbury Published: 10/10/2011 Type: Technical Report