CONA - Community Observation Networks for Air

The start of any CONA project is always frantic. May is always an exciting time as we launch each Community Observation Networks for Air initiative, and this fifth season, in the pretty but polluted South Island town of Arrowtown, has been no exception. Spatial variation of smoke in Arrowtown As I write from the relative calm of early June I can report we have 23 outdoor PM sensors (ODINs) and 10 new indoor PM sensors (HauHaus) in place around the town, with more ready to roll out. And not a moment too soon. According to www.lawa.org.nz the ‘official’ air quality monitor in Arrowtown has already recorded 4 exceedences of the National Environmental Standard (PM10 over 50 micrograms per cubic metre as a daily average), and a peak hourly concentration of 195 on 22nd May.  PM10 and air temperature data for the month of May 2019 from www.lawa.org.nz Ironically that was the day before the Cosy Homes Trust hosted its Warm Homes Show in Arrowtown. Around 55 people...

As a part of Unlocking Curious Minds project , NIWA scientists spent their day at Arrowtown School with Year 8 students performing air quality experiments and learning about connections between air quality, weather and health in Arrowtown, New Zealand and around the world.  Students observed particles in the air, measured air quality and weather and found out about their own lung capacity. Highlight of the day for students One of the things they learned was about how the cilia in our lungs help us breathe easily by keeping the particles out (to be honest though, they practiced the art of throwing paper balls at their teachers, while teachers failed miserably to defend themselves!!) - as is obvious from their facial expressions, they loved it.. Highlight of the day for scientists and teachers: All the little activities during the day and 5-minute discussions around them triggered a huge variety of questions in their creative minds, some of them below: D...