Air Quality Monitoring

Air Monitoring

Florida's statewide air quality monitoring network is operated by nineteen state, local, and private environmental programs. The air is monitored for carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), particulate matter (or particle pollution [PM10 and PM2.5]), and sulfur dioxide (SO2).   The monitors tend to be concentrated in areas with the largest population densities.  Not all pollutants are monitored in all areas.

The department's Florida's Air Quality System provides the public and units of local, state, and federal government with measurements of pollutant concentration levels in the ambient air - ambient air being generally defined as that portion of the atmosphere near ground level and external to buildings or other structures.

Ambient air quality standards, defined at levels below health standards, are established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for six pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), nitrogen dioxide  (NO₂), ozone (O₃), particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) Since health-based criteria were used to establish the standards, these six pollutants are referred to as "criteria air pollutants".

An essential component of air quality management in the state is the identification of (1) areas where the ambient air quality standards are being violated and plans are needed to reduce pollutant concentration levels to be in attainment with the standards and (2) areas where the ambient standards are being met but plans are needed to ensure maintenance of acceptable levels of air quality in the face of anticipated population or industrial growth.

The end-result of this attainment/maintenance analysis is the development of local and statewide strategies for controlling emissions of criteria air pollutants from stationary and mobile sources.  The first step in this process is the annual compilation of the ambient air monitoring results, and the second step is the analysis of the monitoring data for general air quality, exceedances of air quality standards, and pollutant trends.

Real Time Ozone Data Sites 

AirNow
This link to the US Environmental Protection Agency provides an archive of animated and daily peak ozone concentrations as well as current day's displays for Florida and much of the rest of the country.

AirData

Monitor Data Queries
Monitor Reports show the prevailing levels of air pollution in cities and towns across the United States. Information presented in these reports comes from the Air Quality Subsystem (AQS) of the AIRS database.

AirData Reports & Maps
Maps give a bird's eye view of air pollution information for the entire United States.

Air Quality Where You Live

What's Happening in Your Area?
Links to Air Quality Index forecasts, monitoring data and maps

State and Local Air Quality Forecasts
Air Quality Index forecasts for select cities

Local Air Program Links

Orange County Environmental Protection Division
Daily Air Quality Data

Duval County Environmental Resources Management Department
Daily Air Quality Index data and monitoring network information

Broward County Department of Planning & Environmental Protection
Summary of Air Quality Index data and network description

Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management
Daily Air Quality Index data and county air data reports

Palm Beach County Health Department
Daily Air Quality Index data and pollen counts

Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission
Daily Air Quality Index data and county programs

Pinellas County Department of Environmental Management
Annual Reports and Air Quality Brochure

Sarasota Air and Water Quality Program
Daily Air Quality Index data