B.C. air quality news

December 2024

A report on PM2.5 concentrations measured by a low-cost sensor network in Smithers during 2022 to 2023 has been written to support future air quality management actions in the Bulkley Valley airshed:

• PurpleAir Sensor Air Quality Summary Report: Smithers January 2022 to December 2023 (PDF, 12.6MB)

August 2024

Visit the latest air zone reports to access the reports. This report describes the achievement of the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) and management levels for:

• Fine Particulate Matter (PM_2.5)
• Ground-level Ozone (O₃)
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)
• Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂)

August 2024

The air quality parameters have been fully validated to December 31, 2023, including:

• Nitric oxide (NO)
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
• Ground-level ozone (O₃)
• Particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter (PM_2.5)
• Particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter (PM₁₀)
• Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
• Total reduced sulfur (TRS)
• Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), and
• Carbon monoxide (CO)

These hourly data sets, together with the statistical summaries from 2010 to 2023, are now available in the BC Data Catalogue.

July 2024

Communities can submit their program proposals from July 2024 to September 15, 2024.

As a reminder, First Nations can apply throughout the year.

Begin your community application.

May 2024

The air quality parameters have been fully validated to December 31, 2022, including:

• Nitric oxide (NO)
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
• Ground-level ozone (O₃)
• Particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter (PM_2.5)
• Particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter (PM₁₀)
• Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
• Total reduced sulfur (TRS)
• Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), and
• Carbon monoxide (CO)

These hourly data sets, together with the statistical summaries from 2010 to 2022, are available in the BC Data Catalogue.

February 2024

An inventory of air pollutant emissions in Vanderhoof and surrounding areas (PDF, 2.6MB) has been developed to support future air quality management actions. The base year of the inventory is 2018, and the air pollutants of concern include total particulate matter, fine particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen.

January 2023

In 2020, an independent review of the Wood Stove Exchange Program (since renamed the Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program) was conducted.

To learn more, please view the 2020 Evaluation Report on the Operating a local program page.

November 2022

There's a new tool to assist with dispersion modelling.

The CALNO2 post-processor can be used to process one or more CALPUFF concentration files.

It also calculates nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations from modelled nitrogen oxides (NOx) using either:

• Ambient Ratio Method (ARM) or,
• Ozone Limiting Method (OLM)

The application of both methods is consistent with the nitrogen dioxide modelling guidance.

Visit the CALPUFF Modelling System to download this tool and its user guide.

September 2022

BC Air Indicators have been updated with latest air zone reports data.

Environmental Reporting BC Air Indicators provides an interactive presentation of the state and trends of air quality.

August 2022

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Metro Vancouver Reginal District, Fraser Valley Regional District and Environment and Climate Change Canada have developed the Lower Fraser Valley Photochemical Modelling Guideline.

This guideline provides recommendations on photochemical modelling techniques for estimating impacts of air emissions from large projects on secondary pollutants (for example, ground-level ozone and secondary particulate matter).

This guideline is primarily intended for use in the Lower Fraser Valley.

Please visit air quality modelling to access this guidance document.

June 2022

Visit the latest air zone reports page to access the reports.

Annual air zone reporting is a commitment under the national Air Quality Management System (AQMS).

This report describes achievement of the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) for:

• Fine particulates (PM2.5)
• Ground-level ozone
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
• Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and the associated management levels

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