Canberra Air

Local Canberra scientist, with detailed smoke forecasts and tips to stay healthy.

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

Folks, two years ago I created this to help with an airborne menace. Now we're in the middle of another one. This is what I'm concerned about, and this is what we can do to help.

[Jeremy Howard @jeremyphoward]

New research summary: with better masks & ventilation, & rapid tests, we could halt the outbreaks in NSW and Vic. 1/🧵
https://t.co/vTJVVZjs9F

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

Apologies for going silent. Right as the bushfires ended, we had a baby!

To weather this next crisis, take a look at this site my brother put together: https://t.co/WSubtWcCHl #covid19

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

The point isn't the absolute accuracy of these numbers (ACT Health _should_ be more accurate, at the time of reading), but their promptness in updating. The local Crossfit ran an outdoor class this morning under a red sun.

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

#Canberra Air Report:

WARNING: ACT Health hourly data (at times) DO NOT REFLECT prevailing conditions. People are running outdoors and that is UNSAFE (and heartbreaking). Real-time updates are important right now, as winds can change suddenly. #airquality

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

@Penny_Perez https://t.co/q4PfI6aKjV

Last day for ordering.

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

#Canberra Air Report:

Fair to poor. Improving slowly until 6pm. #Smoke coming in from SE at around 7pm.

New Feature: Customized real-time reporting! Let me know of any bugs, please. Last day to sign up for bulk PurpleAir sensor order.

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

https://t.co/9RKSEnUaos

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

#Canberra Air Report:

Hazardous, but NOT from smoke. This is dust blowing in from the NW. Smoke from the close #beardfire should blow East (away from Canberra) until at least Fri evening.

[PM10 dust is larger than PM2.5 smoke, and can trigger asthmatic reactions.]

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

If you _are_ (south) east of, or very close to, the beard fire, the smoke from there is extremely dangerous. Do everything you can to filter or avoid it.

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

@passing_gas Default is the PA-II (wifi); the form includes an option for the SD addition.

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

#Canberra Air Report:

Breath deep, my friends. Recent rain and favorable wind has led to some real fresh air.

I have secured a bulk discount from PurpleAir for folks to order real-time air quality monitors. Fill out this form: https://t.co/q4PfI6aKjV to participate.

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

@Yoshi_Kobayoshi Shweet, thank you! Would you happen to know more about the details of these sensors? Are they calibrated to the same standard/sensitivity? Makes it hard to post absolute numbers when sensor calibrations differ.

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

@tenar63 @purpleairq Unfortunately, the resolution on your screenshots is very difficult to read. It looks like the time stamp on your purple air image is 2:55, and Canberra air is 2:42. That's enough time for the numbers to change.

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

#Canberra Air Report:

Hazardous again - #smoke from North East.
https://t.co/Pq61qF7dFv updated with real time (sub-hourly) air quality data from @purpleairq .

Keep the page open - it should auto-update with new data.

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

@AdmiralAkber @MichaloveJohan @JodieBradby @groundhogstate @rustysteelpipe @luftdaten @ACTHealth @actgovernment Working in it :) Probably as soon as you guys start putting up you're sensors.

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

@ryanbedwards @MarkusMannheim Markus has the right of it. I too use the 24-hour thresholds, because I'm wary of any PM2.5 exposure. I will be switching CanberraAir over to the ACT Health data as well, shortly.

Great resource, Markus!

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

@Yveeeee4 It was pretty good early morning, but is now getting worse. If it looks and smells bad, it is. The Air Quality monitoring stations can be an hour or two behind, though I'm looking into adding near real-time updates to the site.

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

#Canberra Air Report:

Winds from the fires to the west are reducing air quality (to Fair), but the overall outlook is better than last weekend.

I have posted the website's code on Github: https://t.co/PydGcAiPYc
Additions welcome.

[Canberra Air @CanberraAir]

@KirstenMaloney6 Depends on whether you have a purifier to clean the air afterwards, and if you have any sensitive folks in your home. Definitely turn it off the moment you smell smoke, or if you notice a sudden large upswing in the hourly graphs.