Arrowtown air quality

The most common air pollutant is PM10 - particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 microns. These very small particles are produced from partially burnt fuel.

In Arrowtown, as in most other Central Otago towns, they are emitted from the solid fuel burners.

This graph shows the average daily levels of PM10 recorded in Arrowtown during the previous week.

Levels vary according to how much smoke is in the air and changing weather conditions.

Temperature inversions tend to trap polluted air near the surface, while windy conditions help to disperse particulates into the air.