The network monitors 275 parameters, with 130,086,000 minutes-data points added annually
Skyline of Abu Dhabi Al Reem Island. Mangrove forest in foreground
Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD) has a large network of air quality monitors, centered around an accredited calibration lab. This supports the agency’s quality assurance, control measures, and procedures, resulting is high data quality.
The network consists of 20 stations that monitor air quality. They have an excellent 99 percent capture rate and data accuracy. Two mobile stations are also available to conduct air quality studies.
The network monitors 275 parameters, with 130,086,000 minutes-data points added annually. The database currently holds over 1,561,032,000 valid points.
Data is provided for over 70 activities, with a 30% increase in data requests year-on-year from key stakeholders like local and federal government agencies as well as academic institutions. The data is then broadcast in real-time on a dedicated website which, over the past year, has seen 6,861 visits stemming from the UAE and 78 other countries (www.adairquality.ae).
Faisal Al Hammadi is the Acting Executive Director for the Environment Quality Sector at EAD. He said: Throughout 2021 we expanded our monitoring program to enhance and protect Abu Dhabi’s air quality. We recorded that 83% of the days of the calendar year (303 out of 365) adhered to the National Air Quality Index limits. We also collaborated with international and local partners to increase our knowledge of air pollutants and improve our monitoring and measurement strategies.
He said: “Throughout the year, we had many achievements, such as successfully completing 2020 Annual Ambient air Quality report. The data used to create the Abu Dhabi air quality report is from our ambient air quality monitoring network. The 2020 data was quality checked and prepared to be used in the report. The network monitors up 14 pollutants, 6 meteorological parameters, and noise at the EAD Air Quality Monitoring Stations.
EAD also collaborated with international partners during the year, including publishing the scientific paper ‘The Influence on COVID-19 Preventive measures on the Air Quality in Abu Dhabi’ which was published in Springer Nature. This paper is important because EAD saw a significant improvement in the air quality of Abu Dhabi during 2020 due to the emergence and control of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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EAD also partnered up with the World Health Organization (WHO), to join the Global Air Pollution and Health Technical Advisory Group. The GAPH–TAG is a logical step towards formalizing an Expert Group regularly convened by the Global Platform on Air Quality and Health. Since 2014, this has been WHO’s mechanism for facilitating the harmonization data pertaining to health and air pollution. It also helps countries to address health risks related to air pollution.
EAD also participated in the 4th International Conference on Atmospheric Dust 20,21 and celebrated 2nd United Nations International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. EAD held a technical workshop on Abu Dhabi’s air quality and engaged the public via social media to help them work towards cleaner air for all.
ADNOC and EAD partnered to create the Air Emission Monitoring and Measurement Strategy For Air Pollutants In ADNOC Group Companies. This strategy addresses emissions from the oil and natural gas sector. EAD and Abu Dhabi Ports and Emirates Global Aluminium have been working closely together to establish real time data exchange between their ambient air quality monitoring network with EAD’s monitoring system.
EAD also completed the Fine Particle Sampling in Abu Dhabi Study, which was a significant milestone for Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a whole. This study provides a solid scientific basis for air quality management plans, contributes to forecasting, and helps in understanding sand storms. It also helps to determine the relative contributions of fine particulate material (PM2.5), from natural and human-caused sources, and allows for an effective assessment of health impacts.
