West Midlands air quality forecasting and alert system launched
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) launched their new air quality forecasting system for the West Midlands this week. The region’s mayor, Richard Parker, switched the system on yesterday, Tuesday 16th December. Residents can now sign up for air quality alerts and check daily air pollution levels at cleanair.wmca.org.uk.
CERC developed and support this system, which generates high-resolution, 3-day air quality forecasts and alerts for the region`s seven local authorities. The system delivers geo-referenced 5-metre resolution forecast maps for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and alerts via text, email, and voicemail. Alerts are triggered when pollution levels reach moderate or higher on the UK Government’s Daily Air Quality Index (DAQI). The system is fully integrated into the WMCA`s air quality data platform, which also shows current air pollution levels across WMCA`s network of air quality sensors.
An innovative feature of this system is that the alert messages are tailored to personal activities. For example, people with wood burning stoves that are not their main heating source will be encouraged to minimise their use when a pollution alert is in effect, to reduce their own pollution exposure as well as their neighbours`. Alert messages also include practical tips to help people minimise their exposure to poor quality air, for example by seeking out areas with lower pollution when exercising outdoors.
CERC has over 15 years of experience in operational air quality forecasting, with a proven track record through services like London`s airTEXT, Manchester`s Clean Air Greater Manchester service, and York`s air quality alert service. These systems are powered by CERC`s world-leading ADMS-Urban model, which incorporates local emissions data, urban morphology, and regional pollution transport to deliver street-level accuracy.
The project to develop this system built on CERC`s longstanding collaboration with the University of Birmingham through initiatives such as WM-Air, WM-NZ, and WM-Adapt. These projects demonstrate how high-resolution air quality and temperature modelling can inform regional policy, leading to health and environmental benefits over the West Midlands region.
Clean air campaigners and NHS lung health experts have welcomed the action being taken by the Mayor and the WMCA to cut premature deaths linked to poor air quality. The image shows WMCA Mayor Richard Parker with Nicky MacDuff, nurse consultant in respiratory medicine, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, and Florence Cadge, clean air campaigner with Birmingham Healthy Air Coalition.