Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is heading into the bushfire season with its biggest ever network of air quality monitors, twice daily forecasts and live data available 24 hours a day.
Chief Environmental Scientist at EPA, Mark Patrick Taylor said that following the recent addition of 49 new regionally based air quality sensors, EPA’s AirWatch website now offered live air quality data from 90 stations in Melbourne, Geelong, the Latrobe Valley and across broader Victoria.
“Each summer carries with it the risk of bushfires and AirWatch is designed to equip Victorians to take action to protect their health,” Professor Taylor said.
“AirWatch tweets twice daily forecasts for each region and offers actions you can take to reduce the effects of smoke on your home, your health and your family,” he said.
“The scientists in EPA’s forecast team use a range of tools including weather forecasts, satellite imagery and smoke modelling, backed up by valuable on-the-ground information from the AirWatch network.”
Professor Taylor said AirWatch offered Victorians hourly air quality data from each sensor in an easy-to-read format that showed levels of smoke and other fine particles.
“During summer bushfires, people want to know if there is going to be smoke and how smoky it is going to be,” he said.
“They need current conditions, a reliable prediction for tomorrow and professional advice on what do to protect themselves.”
Professor Taylor said the air quality sensors in regional cities and country towns were based with local Victoria State Emergency Service volunteer units and Country Fire Authority volunteer brigades, “and in some cases with educational institutions”.
EPA’s AirWatch can be accessed at this PS News link.
