How do ambient air quality monitoring station work
With the development of industrialization and urbanization, the issue of air quality has become more and more public concern. In order to know the air quality situation accurately, AQI ambient air quality monitoring stations have been set up in various cities, so how do these stations work? In this article, we will have an in-depth discussion of their working principle and technology.
Definition of AQI
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a numerical value that indicates the level of air pollution, taking into account the concentration of various pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), respirable particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3). The higher the value, the more serious the air pollution.
How do ambient air quality monitoring stations work
The core of an ambient air quality monitoring station is a variety of sensors that can detect the concentration of different air pollutants.
Particulate matter sensor: Using the laser scattering principle, airborne particles scatter light when they pass through a laser beam. The sensor detects this scattered light and calculates the concentration of the particulate matter based on its intensity.
Gas Sensor: Utilizes the reaction between a specific chemical and a target gas to detect the concentration of the gas. For example, the electrodes in a sulfur dioxide sensor react with SO2, causing a change in current and thus detecting its concentration.
Data Transmission and Processing
The detected data is first stored in the internal memory of the monitoring station. The data is then transmitted to a central data processing center, either wirelessly or wired. Here, the data is further processed and analyzed, and the AQI values are then calculated.
Data Distribution
The calculated AQI values are published on various platforms such as TV, radio, websites, and mobile applications. In this way, the public can be informed of the current air quality situation in real-time.
History of Ambient air quality monitoring station
The history of Ambient air quality monitoring stations can be traced back to the late 19th century when people began to realize the harm of air pollution and tried to use some simple instruments and methods to measure soot and sulfate in the air. With the progress of science and technology and the growth of social demand, these kinds of scientific and technological products have been continuously developed and perfected, from the initial chemical analysis and weight method to the later optical method, electrochemical method, mass spectrometry, etc., from a single parameter detection to a variety of parameters detected at the same time, from the analog display mode to the digital display, from the wired transmission mode to the wireless transmission mode, from the single-point monitoring mode to the network monitoring mode. to network monitoring, from manual operation to automatic operation, from offline analysis to online analysis. The types and functions of these products are getting more and more abundant, meeting the needs of users in different fields and levels.
An ambient air quality monitoring station is a kind of scientific and technological product closely related to human life, which provides human beings with windows and tools to observe and change the air environment and also brings more knowledge and value to human beings. As the air pollution problem becomes more and more serious and complicated, the role and significance of these kinds of scientific and technological products are becoming more and more important and prominent. We should make full use of the advantages and functions of such scientific and technological products to scientifically monitor and assess air quality, rationally plan and manage air resources, and actively take and support measures for air protection.
