UNSW CFRC - Modelled NO2 and PM10 Particulate Air Pollution Sydney (Point) 2008

This dataset presents the footprint and spatial distribution of the modelled annual average nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter 10 micrometres or less in diameter (PM10) concentrations in the year 2008 across the Greater Sydney area. The data are plotted on a 1km x 1km point grid and expressed in microgram per cubic metre. Elevated levels of NO2 are of concern to our urban communities as it affects human health. PM10 is also known to have adverse effects on human health and the environment.

For more information, please visit the University of New South Wales - City Futures Research Centre.

Please note:

• Modelled concentrations were generated by adapting European Research Group's (ERG) London Air Quality Toolkit (LAQT) for Sydney using local meteorology and emissions data.

• The model is a simplified version owing to the limitations in spatial resolution of available emissions data.

• The modelled data were validated against reference monitors operational in 2008 in the Greater Sydney area. Other than for industrial point sources, the emissions were only available at km2 resolution. Therefore the model was only run at km2 level, before being interpolated to a 20m x 20m for presentation as grids, and the point sources' emissions then also added to the model on this grid. The grids were then resampled back to 1km x 1km cell size and converted to point format for presentation in systems that require vector data.